Chimpanzee Safari tours Uganda-Chimpanzee Tracking Adventures
Ngamba Island is a chimpanzee sanctuary surrounded by the beautiful waters of the vast Lake Victoria and inhabits 49 orphaned chimpanzees that are rescued from all over East Africa. Travelers can transfer to visit the sanctuary during Day and Overnight to experience the best of chimpanzees at a close distance. It was established in 1998 covering an area of 95 acres of natural forest in which the chimpanzees live feeding on the leaves, shoots, stems, insects, etc. The chimps have the freedom to wander around any area of the forest, stay for the night where they build nests to spend the night.
The sanctuary was constructed to educate travelers around the world to know what it takes to care for 49 orphaned chimpanzees that have 95 acres of land to wander on a daily basis. This involves knowing how they feed, how the care takers look after them as well as their social character at the viewing podium. You will learn about what it takes to take care of the chimpanzees in the wild as well as their threats in their natural habitat i.e poaching, habitat loss, hunting for bush meat, illegal pet trade etc.
How to Get to the Island
Getting to the island requires travelers to transfer with a boat for there are boats transferring all kinds of travelers’ budgets. These can be booked through the Ngamba Island Reservations Office.
The Speed Boat transfers from the dock to Ngamba Island for a period of 45-50 minutes. The rates for these include; 1 Person–$326, 2 Persons–$168, 3 Persons–$118, 4 people/more–$88 per person. (Paid in US Dollars)
The traditional Motorized Canoe transfers from the dock to the Island for a period of 90 minutes. Rates for this include; 6 People–$84, 7 People–$78, 8/more People–$73 per person. (Paid in US Dollars)
By Air you will travel for only 20 minutes from Entebbe International Airport/ Kajjansi Airstrip.
Note: Rides are all dependent on the weather condition at the time.
Activities to Do at the Island
Chimpanzee Tour
You will transfer from the dock to Ngamba Island and as you approach the island, you will spot the chimpanzee feeding within the trees. On reaching the island, you will transfer to the visitor’s center where you will be briefed shortly about the whole process of chimpanzee adventure, as well as the history, the project then later, you will transfer to view the chimpanzees feeding from the platform raised above the feeding area. You will spot other wildlife like monitor lizards, birds etc. The boats to the island transfer from either 9:00am or 12:45pm daily. Book your trip prior to the day of arrival so that it can be reserved as well as to avoid any disappointment.
You can view the chimpanzees in the;
- Morning from 9:00am – 1:00pm
- Afternoon from 12:45pm – 5:00pm
Other activities travelers can do include;
- Shopping at the Gift Shop
- Bird Watching
- Experiencing other wildlife encounters
- Swimming on the equator
- Visiting the nearby fishing village
- Sun bathing and relaxation
- Feeding the chimpanzees