Did you know that chimpanzees live in families headed by parents and the young ones remain orphans in their absence? Just like humans, chimpanzees may be in peril and require rescue. The primate kingdom follows the same rule, which is why they are called our relatives. They have more than 98% DNA similar to humans and can adapt to life in captivity. Their diet is not limited to only stems, fruits, roots, leaves, and insects, but also eat other things.
Situated roughly 23 kilometers southeast of Entebbe town, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is on the shores of Lake Victoria, one of Africa’s largest freshwater lakes. Ngamba is part of the Koome island group. The island’s northern region has a slowly rising terrain of about 1158.24 above sea level. Scattered over the roughly 100 acres of land are beautiful forests and barely around 10% grassland.
It was established in 1998 and currently encompasses approximately 100 acres of lush vegetation, including a forest cover where the chimps spend the night in their nests. The primary goals of this sanctuary are to support the local communities, give tourists hands-on educational opportunities, and give the chimpanzees a haven. The chimps are cared for by staff, volunteer groups, and veterinary teams around the clock, year-round. The park provides an excellent chimpanzee exhibit.
The chimpanzees on Ngamba Island have a chance of survival because, in the event of their parent’s death, a human parent will be there to provide for, feed, and habitat. Your full-day tour to Ngamba Island allows you to see firsthand how orphaned chimpanzees sleep, eat, play, and survive. You support their attempts to move on from the past and experience love and affection. In this sanctuary, there are about fifty-two chimpanzees some have been rescued, while others are orphans attempting to survive and overcome a life of loneliness.
This location has two visiting hours, a morning session from 9 am to 1 pm and an afternoon session from 12:45 pm to 5:00 pm. It takes a speedboat forty-five minutes to get to the island. You can rent boats to sail to Ngamba Island from the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) through a local tour company. Starting from Nakiwogo dock, a motorized canoe voyage lasts around 90 minutes. The sole expense associated with the search for the chimpanzees is the boat excursion to the island, which runs from USD 318 to USD 350 and includes both transportation and admission. On the island, lunch costs anywhere from USD 10 to USD 30.
The lake provides access to the island for all visitors. You will proceed to the tourist center as soon as you get on the island to receive an overview of the island’s history, activities, people, and situation. When you get to the viewing platform, the chimpanzee caretakers will orient you and show you where to look to see the primates being fed. You can see the two feeding sessions if you visit the refuge for the entire day in addition to shopping, bird watching, or exploring the nearby fishing villages.
There is an option of requesting to feed the chimps from the platform as part of the day’s events. As they compete for your attention to get food, witness them actively trying to get your attention. Note that visiting Ngamba Island and going chimpanzee trekking is not the same thing. On Ngamba Island, observing and feeding the apes in their cages is the main activity instead of hiking.
When to go and where to stay
The dry months of June to September and December to March are the ideal times of year to see the chimpanzees. This is due to the predictable rain patterns and the lack of anxiety about getting stuck or skipping the scheduled activities. You have the option of checking into a lodge on the island or going camping.
Finally, select a morning visit to Ngamba Island between 09:00 and 12:00 or 12:45 and 17:00 to meet the chimps in their sanctuary of hope. Come to support chimpanzee conservation efforts while learning more about them.