Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary; Ngamba Island is an island that is located South East on Lake Victoria next to Koome Island. The island covers 100 acres approximately 43 hectares of a tropical rainforest. From Entebbe is a distance of about 23km. By speed boat, one can access Ngamba island in about 50 minutes from the dock at Entebbe and if one prefers to use a Canoe, they spend about 90 minutes. Ngamba island is one of the few places to view chimpanzees in Uganda alongside Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest and Kyambura Gorge.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a home to about 40 orphaned chimpanzees that have been rescued and that can’t go back to the wild. Chimpanzees at Ngamba leave the forested area to feed in an open place at around 11:00 am and also around 2:30 pm. During these scheduled times is when visitors / travelers looking to explore the chimpanzees arrive at the island. This eases the activity of chimpanzee viewing. Travelers view chimpanzees easily on a raised platform. Viewing chimpanzees at Ngamba is easier unlike in the other forests because the chimps are closed off with a wire fence that is electric.

During this activity, guides are available to inform you about each chimpanzee that you see on the other side of the fence. They are well trained and knowledgeable to the extent that these guides know every chimpanzee by name and its history of where it was found and all. As you traverse Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, you will see other wildlife species like the monitor lizards. These will spice up your safari to Ngamba island.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a project of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust  (CSWCT). This body is charged with providing welfare to the chimpanzees. The CSWCT is also in charge of organising the safaris packages / tours to Ngamba island. All bookings to the Ngamba island Chimpanzee Sanctuary are channeled through this body.

The body provides half day trips which include entry to the sanctuary, guide fees and boat cruise / transportation. On a daily basis there are two trips that leave Entebbe and one of them leaves the entebbe dock at 9:00 am and returns later at 12:45 pm. The afternoon cruise leaves the dock for Ngamba at 12:45pm and returns from the island at 4:45 pm. Chimpanzee viewing rates at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary are based on the number of people on tour and the means of transport. When using a speed boat, one person is charged USD 326, 2 people are charged USD 168 each, 3 people are charged USD 118 each and four people are charged USD 88 each. Using the canoe boat, 6 people are charged USD $84 each, 7 people are charged USD 78 each & USD 73 per person. All these rates include a round trip boat ride, entrance to the sanctuary and viewing fees.

The CSWCT also gives overnight experiences and for the 1st night one is charged USD 539 and other added nights are charged USD 185 for self contained tents. These overnight charges include accommodation, full board meals, transportation, activities and sanctuary entry fees.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is one of a kind and one ought to visit the place in order to get a hold of an amazing chimpanzee viewing safari.