About Ngamba Island – Uganda’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Adventures of a lifetime)

Where is Ngamba Island?

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a chimpanzee conservation center found on the Ngamba Island of Lake Victoria of Uganda. Surrounded by the peaceful waters of Lake Victoria which offers great adventures of a lifetime.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to 49 orphaned chimpanzees rescued from across East Africa. The sanctuary is run by Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust) an NGO and responsible for all aspects of the sanctuary.

They work closely with the Ugandan government and wildlife authorities to offer both half and full-day trips to the sanctuary which provides an exceptional opportunity to closely observe these fascinating great apes in a unique setting.

About Ngamba Island – Uganda’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary

It is referred to as one of the leading primate sanctuaries in Africa. Visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers an extraordinary experience that cannot be missed and forgotten when undertaken.

At the sanctuary, tourists receive personal attention from trained staff to observe chimpanzee residents up close and personal from a raised viewing platform that provides a full view of their behavior and interactions.

To reach the island for a tour, you take a boat cruise on Lake Victoria which is also an experience of its own. The boat docks at the Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Centre in Entebbe.

The speedboat takes approximately 45 minutes from Entebbe to the island. The motorized canoe boat ride takes approximately 90 minutes from Entebbe to the island.

Enjoy flexibility and personalized services for your small group guided tour. For those on longer stays rather than the 1-day Ngamba island tour, enjoy unforgettable wildlife encounters, cultural interactions, and overnight stays in our luxurious cottage accommodations.

Activities at the island include chimpanzee feeding, challenge the chimp critical thinking, chimp nest preparation, visiting the fishing villages, sunset cruise, community cultural experience, boat cruise, local fishing, and borne fires.

Honeymoon packages are also offered at the island for 3 days as they beckon you to begin your new life together in a truly unforgettable and original setting.

During this period, you enjoy three days of rustic relaxation and adventure surrounded by chimpanzees, island wildlife, and an attentive staff catering to your every need.

If you love to spend your time out on the water fishing, take fishing cruises on Lake Victoria. Take part in hooking the famous Nile Perch one of the world’s largest freshwater fish on either a half or full-day activity.

Beyond just day tours, those interested in volunteering and staying longer can also visit Ngamba Island. The volunteer program lasts 4 weeks.

During this time you gain experience with chimpanzees in a natural habitat and witness the very real issues threatening their survival.

During volunteering, you participate in a variety of tasks all vital to the continuation and sustainability of the Chimpanzee Trust and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

The main five areas that you will be involved in are; behavioral observation, behavioral enrichment, infrastructure improvements, and the daily caregiver schedule.

How do I get to Ngamba Island?

To get to the chimpanzee sanctuary at Ngamba Island, you use a speed boat from the dock in Entebbe. The boat cruise will last about 45 to 50 minutes by speed boat. On a traditional motorized canoe, it takes about 90 minutes.

In case you want to use an aircraft, it’s just approximately 20 minutes from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield when charter flights are pre-planned.

Chimpanzees being man’s close relatives are amazing primates to visit and Ngamba Island is such a perfect destination to visit. For any visit, you can have a day tour or spend about 3 days on the island.

For a chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda, choose to visit Kibale National Park or Budongo forest. Uganda gorilla tours, Rwanda tours, Kenya safaris, and Tanzania tours are also part of our expert planned itinerary packages. Check out our different packages for very affordable Africa safari trips.

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