Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a sanctuary on Lake Victoria that is home to 49 orphaned Chimpanzees rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority across East Africa. The chimpanzees have the liberty to move in the forest or return at night where they are given extra food and hay to build their nests. Their daily behavior and health is monitored by a team of care givers and veterinarians that work around the clock.
History
Ngamba Island was gazetted in October 1998 to care for orphaned chimpanzees that were rescued from different parts of East Africa. The Island sanctuary was established by the Chimpanzee Trust, a Ugandan based nonprofit organization that cares for the sanctuary.
The Chimpanzee Trust is a partnership of six organizations that are committed to the welfare and conservation of the wild animals. The organizations include the following:
- International Fund for Animal Welfare
- Uganda Wildlife Education Center
- Born Free Foundation
- New South Wales Zoological Park
- Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda(ECOTRUST)
- Jane Goodall Institute
Location
Ngamba Island sanctuary sits on 95 hectares of open rainforest habitat on Lake Victoria. It is approximately 27 kilo meters away from Entebbe, the mainland in Uganda. One can get to the Island by speedboat and this takes approximately 40-45 minutes depending on the speed. You can also opt to use air that takes approximately 20 minutes to get to the Island. Using a motorized canoe will take one 90 minutes to get to the Island. One can book for transportation means through the Ngamba Island reservations office.
Projects at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary
The Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers a wide range of projects to the visitors that enables them generate income through donations for sustaining the sanctuary. Some of these projects include the following
Adopt a Chimp
The Chimpanzee sanctuary in partnership with the U.S nonprofit partner, Friends of Chimps implemented a donation program where people can adopt one of the 49 chimpanzees at the Island. The adoption fee for a chimp is USD 50 dollars and this fund is used in supporting the care and welfare of the chimpanzees at Ngamba. After adoption, one is awarded a certificate of adoption and is updated annually on the activities and health of the adopted chimp.
Bulindi Chimpanzee and Community Project
The project is a community based conservation which helps raise funds for tuition for families by saving 133 acres of critical Chimpanzee habitat. It was founded in 2015 by Dr. Watt McLennan and the project has grown to more than 100 villages and protected 6 chimpanzee groups. Currently, more than 40 forest-owning families have been able to have their children sent to school. In this project, land owners agree not to cut down their forests in exchange for school fees. It’s a win situation for the chimpanzees who survive and the children who are sent to school.
Virtual grocery cart
With this cart, shoppers do not purchase actual food but donate food by buying food items on the website like carrots, avocados, watermelons and a lot more. The money got from the virtual shopping I used to support the care and welfare of the chimps living at the Ngamba Island sanctuary.
Activities at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
The following activities can be carried out by visitors while at the sanctuary
Day Trips
One can opt for a daytrip to the Island by taking a boat cruise out on Lake Victoria to the Island. While on the Island, you will be directed to the visitor’s center where you are briefed about the project, the history, the staff and their duties. You will receive orientation by a chimpanzee care giver and have a chance to view chimpanzees feeding from the visitors’ raised platform area along the edge of the sanctuary fence. There are two categories of the day visits: morning from 9:00-1:00 pm and afternoon from 12:45-5:00 pm. Other activities one can take on this trip include feeding the chimps, swimming on the equator, shopping at the gist shop, bird watching and many more.
Overnight Excursion
One can opt to stay for a couple of nights at the sanctuary in luxury tent accommodations and enjoy all the Island activities and view several chimps feeding.
Sunset cruise
While at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, enjoy the sunset view of fishermen casting their nets, fishing villages winding down the day and the sun setting. This magnificent adventure comes with crossing the globe from the Southern to the northern hemisphere of the equator. Take breath taking photography while sipping away on drinks.
Fishing
The island offers fishing excursions on Lake Victoria with the help of guides. Be sure to catch the Nile perch while fishing on the lake.
Volunteering
The island offers volunteer programs ranging from one to four weeks. While volunteering, you will join a dedicated team of staff devoted to the ongoing care and welfare of the Ngamba Island’s residents which in turn help them care for the chimpanzees. The volunteer activities include food preparation, chimpanzee feeding, carrying out enrichment exercise for chimps, enjoying Island wildlife and much more.
