Chimpanzees at Ngamba island are over 52 in number and they include those that have been orphaned and rescued from different parts of Uganda. The Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary is located on Lake Victoria and is about 23 kilometers south east of Entebbe. It consists of forests which cover about 90% of the island and provides home for the chimpanzees.
There is also grassland on the island which makes up the feeding area of the chimpanzees found at the Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary.
Full day and half day tours can be done when visiting the Ngamba island for a chance to watch the chimpanzees. Tourists during their tour of the island can enjoy watching as the chimpanzees are fed which they can do from a raised platform.
The chimpanzees at Ngamba island sanctuary move feely around the island by are protected by a fence and they are looked after by different caretakers, veterinary doctors and volunteers. In the morning and afternoon, the chimpanzees get fed with preplanned meals to ensure they are healthy.
The staff at Ngamba island provide information about the chimpanzees at Ngamba island during the tour. Being a caretaker of the chimpanzees for a day is one of the exciting things to do while visiting the island and it is charged differently.
The caretakers get to participate in feeding the chimpanzees for the day and also preparing the food. They also take part in checkups of the chimpanzees with the staff, monitoring among other activities for the day carried out on Ngamba island sanctuary.
Food given to the chimpanzees is put in a large bucket and watching the chimpanzees feed is an exciting experience and sometimes they return to the forest after having their meals and respond to the call of their caregivers when it is time to eat.
During the experience of being a care taker of the chimpanzees of Ngamba for a day, visitors get to experience a close relationship with these primates and also understand the chimpanzees and watching them closely under supervision by the staff.
Cost of tour at Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary
There are different costs associated with visiting the Ngamba island sanctuary to see the chimpanzees and they include the following;
The speedboat taken to Ngamba island sanctuary from Entebbe for a half day trip costs 110 USD per person. This boat ride operates from 09:00 am to 01:00 pm for morning trips and in the afternoon it operates from 12:45 pm to 05:00 pm.
The 110 USD fee which is paid for the half day speed boat trip to Ngamba island is inclusive of entrance fees and also boat ride fees. This boat operates from 08:00 am to 03:00 pm and also around 10:30 am and 05:00 pm.
Canoe trips to the island using the motorized boat cost about 90 USD per person for a full day trip to Ngamba island sanctuary. Children below the age of 5 years are not charged for this boat ride while children aged between 5 and 15 years pay about 45 USD which is half the adult price.
Different safety precautions are done while on the boat to Ngamba island including use of life jackets which are given to every passenger on the boat and reservations have to be made for the boat. The fees for the boat ride also vary depending on the residency of the passenger.
When visiting the Ngamba chimpanzee island, tourists can enjoy being a caretaker of the chimpanzees for a day which costs about 200 USD per person for a day.
Tourists can also choose to spend the night on Ngamba island after their tour in the self contained accommodation which consists of cottages as well as tents.
The different fees paid for visiting the Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary contribute to the wellbeing of the chimpanzees.
Activities to do at Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary
There are different activities which tourists enjoy when visiting the Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary and they include boat rides, fishing and also volunteer programs.
A briefing is done by the staff of Ngamba island sanctuary before tourists engage in different activities on the island.
- Boat rides to Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary take place on Lake Victoria and are done in the morning and afternoon.
Group tours and private tours are organized by different tour operators to the island for chance to spend time with the chimpanzees. Sunset boat rides are also part of the experience tourists can enjoy when visiting the island.
- Fishing is another activity which can be done during tours at the Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary.
Half day and full day fishing excursions are done when visiting the Ngamba island with fishing guides. Different fish species can be caught during the activity which takes place on Lake Victoria.
Ngamba island is also home to various bird species which can be seen around Lake Victoria and also in the forests on the island.
Volunteering at Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary
When visiting Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary, volunteering is also part of the experience and these programs can be done for a period of about 1 week to 1 month.
The fees for volunteering on Ngamba island range from 715 USD per person to 2035 USD per person for a period of 1 week and 2600 USD to 6240 USD per person for 4 weeks.
How to get to Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary
There are different ways to get to Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary during tours in Entebbe and they include using a motorized boat, a speedboat and flights can also be booked from Entebbe international airport to the island.
Using speed boats from Entebbe to Ngamba island takes about 50 minutes while using a canoe which is motorized to get to the island takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Flights from Entebbe to the island can take about 20 minutes and can also be booked from Kajjansi airfield.
Prior to visiting the island, bookings can be made with the reservation office at the Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary.
