Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary is an ideal chimpanzee viewing destination for visitors who prefer short chimpanzee tours or cannot afford the luxury of planning a whole chimpanzee safari in Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest or even Semliki National Park. This exquisite Sanctuary is fringed by the tranquil waters of Lake Victoria (Africa’s largest freshwater Lake).

This Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Ngamba Island is a charming haven to about 49 orphaned chimpanzees that were rescued from poachers across the country. During your visit you will be informed that most of the chimpanzees at the site were actually rescued by Uganda Wildlife Authority from poachers’ wire snares with little or no hope of living but this Sanctuary provided them second chance to life. Surprisingly, these chimpanzees found home in Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and as it is now, they are unlikely to survive reintroduction into their natural habitats (forests).

History of Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary was founded in 1998 by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust), an NGO that is currently responsible for most affairs of this Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The prime purpose of setting this Chimpanzee Sanctuary was to offer second chance to life and care for the orphaned chimpanzees across the East African region. Much as chimpanzees are the stars of the show at Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the site also houses other remarkable wildlife and bird species as you will discover during your visit.

Size of Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary sprawls for about 100 acres of which 95 acres are mainly natural rainforest, isolated from Ngamba Sanctuary Camp by an electric fence, thus providing these outstanding Great Apes the chance to freely wander as well as munch on vegetation within their natural environment. The Chimpanzees spend most of their time roaming within the verdant dense forest and only come out twice a day-in the morning at 11:00am and in the afternoon at 2:30pm to enjoy supplementary foods such as carrots, cabbages thus visitors to the site can get a chance to view as well as take part in feeding them at the raised platform.

Ngamba Island is characterized by varying altitudes, with the northern side being primarily flat and this altitude gently rises to 1158 meters above sea level within the southern side of the Island. Vegetation types also differ with 95% of the Island being forested with patches of grassland covering about 5% of the entire Island Landscape.

The chimpanzees at Ngamba Island enjoy a wide range of vegetation (totaling to 50 vegetation types for food, although their diet is always supplemented by carrots, cabbages, and jack fruits. Visitors to this Site also get the chance to feed or observe them feeding at the viewing platform.

Location of Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

This Chimpanzee Sanctuary is situated within the Island of Ngamba (part of the Koome Islands surrounded by Lake Victoria). Other magnificent Islands that make up the Koome group of Islands are Bulago, Damba, Kiimi and Nsazi Islands. This popular Chimpanzee Sanctuary is about 14 miles by boat south-east of Entebbe Town.

Captivating attractions to see in Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The endangered Chimpanzees are the stars of the show within Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary although travellers also have chances of seeing fruit bats, otters, monitor lizards, snakes and sometimes Nile crocodiles and huge Hippos wallowing in the shallow waters.

Besides the animals, a plethora of bird species (totaling to 120) call the lush Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary home and these include African green broadbills, weaver birds, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, African fish eagles, Marabou storks, African grey parrots, spotted wood kingfishers, cormorants, Grey crowned cranes, pied and giant kingfishers, Egyptian goose, black-headed weavers and Doherty’s Bushshrike among others.

Thrilling activities to do within Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Chimpanzee viewing and feeding

Chimpanzee viewing and feeding is the prime reason why thousands of tourists visit Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, and this activity is done within the raised platform in the company of professional guides who provide detailed information on different chimpanzee behavior, history and individual chimpanzee personality during the viewing process. Additionally, visitors who visit at the right time are lucky enough to feed and watch them grappling for food.

Birding tours

With about 120 bird species in Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and surrounding area, birding tours are possible and conducted through boat cruises, guided walks around the shores, guided forest walks with chances of spotting grey-crowned cranes, African fish eagles, pied and giant kingfishers, grey-crowned cranes, spotted wood kingfishers, cormorants, Egyptian goose, and Marabou storks among others.

Fishing trips

Fishing trips (in form of half and full day trips) are organized for visitors to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and are done in the company of professional fishing guides as well as various equipment such as hooks, baits and even nets. The commonly caught fish species are Tilapia and Nile Perch (Lake Victoria’s largest fish species).

Captivating boat cruises

When we mention boat cruises, we don’t mean that ones that connect visitors from Entebbe Dock to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary but instead the spellbinding sunrise and sunset cruises that reward visitors with the views of fishermen casting their nests, the untouched fishing villages as well as a chance to cross on both northern and southern hemispheres.

Volunteering Programs

Volunteering programs are offered in Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, and include the one-week program or the four weeks program in the areas of health, care and welfare to raise awareness on the importance of these Great Apes and their natural environment.

When to visit Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary can be visited throughout the year although the pleasant months that offer unforgettable experiences are January, February, June, July, August, September and December. During these months, water levels are lower and therefore ideal for boat cruises and more comfortable to walk through the forest

Places to stay in Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The sole place to stay in Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary is the Ngamba Island Tented Camp provided four Safari Tents on raised wooden platform that look across the tranquil waters of Lake Victoria as well as lush rainforest. Each of these Tents features twin beds, en-suite bathrooms and solar-powered for lighting and heating.

Getting to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary is about 14 miles by water south-east of Entebbe Dock and visitors arrive by water transport, the 45-minute speed boat or the 90-minute motorized canoes from the Entebbe Dock (close to Uganda Wildlife Education Center).