A day tour at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Book with Standard Safaris to have a fun-filled tour experience at the unique Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, in Lake Victoria, central Uganda. The Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was gazetted in 1998 offering a haven for orphaned chimpanzees deemed unfit to survive reintroduction in their natural home. There are over 50 individual chimpanzees that call this place home. The Uganda Wildlife Authority rescued some of them, especially from poachers. The chimpanzees are cared for by a dedicated team of people who ensure they are available 24 hours every week.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is managed by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT), in collaboration with various non-governmental Organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute and the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center. Ngamba Island spans around 0.4 square kilometers covered by grassland and dominated by forested habitat, where the chimpanzees spend some time. Ngamba Islands’ highest point is about 1,158 meters above sea level but generally flat. The distance of Ngamba Island from Entebbe is about 23 kilometers southeast.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established with multifaceted objectives. Firstly, raise awareness and appreciation of the chimpanzees and their environment to the public. The target groups are students, youth opinion leaders, and land owners. This is achieved by changing their attitude toward sustainable energy use, forest restoration, and conservation education. Secondly, mobilizing resources for the CSWCT, by organizing fundraising events, creating and implementing sustainable marketing and publicity strategies, writing proposals to attract local and foreign funders and donors, etc. Thirdly, the sanctuary is a haven for orphaned and rescued chimpanzees. Here they can offer veterinary support, nurturing the vulnerable primates, and more. The Island also ensures that infrastructure is repaired or replaced where necessary. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary also helps in conserving chimpanzees in their natural habitat. This is achieved through habitat monitoring, documentation, and capacity building for local communities adjacent to the chimps’ protected areas.

What to do at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers a variety of unique tour opportunities for visitors to appreciate. Among them are the following,

Volunteering

The volunteering program aimed at primate enthusiasts in Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is an opportunity for visitors to have a more intimate experience in the destination. Visitors can gain insight into chimpanzee behavior by participating in feeding, nursing, cleaning and actively raising awareness of their conservation to the general public. These can take a day or weeks depending on the visitor’s preference.

Fishing

Anglers get on a boat to participate in a fishing activity on Lake Victoria. The main fish to catch is the tilapia or the Nile perch. However, for a successful offshore fishing adventure carry your fishing equipment.

Forest/nature walks

This hiking adventure allows visitors to move around Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary as they explore its luxurious tropical vegetation. There is also an assortment of fauna including insects, birds, rodents, and reptiles. You will encounter juvenile chimps, monitor lizards, geckos, otters, bulbuls, fish eagles, fruit bats, spiders, and numerous butterfly species.

Sunset cruise on Lake Victoria

This is one of the most serene activities a visitor can experience while on a boat on the expansive but calm Lake Victoria. This is suitably done during sundown as it transitions from day to evening. Romantic couples often have a great time during this exciting activity.

Other tour experiences at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary include birdwatching and camping.

Best time to explore Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is open for exploration throughout the year. The dry season however is more fun since there are few chances of rainfall to interrupt your tour experience. The dry season is experienced from December to February and June to August.

How to reach Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

If you are from Entebbe International Airport, you can access Ngamba Island only by water transportation. The time to reach there is about 45-50 minutes for a speed boat and 90 minutes when on a motorized canoe from Nakiwogo dock. From Kampala, the road distance to Entebbe is around 37 kilometers away, and reaching there will take you only an hour depending on traffic and the road conditions. A registered tour operator like Standard Safaris can arrange your transport. We can also secure all the necessary water transportation on your behalf. It is better if done in advance to avoid inconveniences that could ruin your day.

Packing for a tour in Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Exploring the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary requires that you pack the following essential items,

Insect repellent
Sunglasses
Suncream
Refillable drinking water
Daypack
Wide-brimmed hat
Light clothes including a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of trousers or long pants
Picnic lunch
Refillable water bottle
Comfortable walking shoes with ankle support
Warm sweater
Light jacket
Camera/smartphone

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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