Managed by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust), a nonprofit organization, this 100-acre forested Island on Lake Victoria is home to 52 orphaned Chimpanzees from all across East Africa as of September, 2024. It was founded in 1998 by a collaborative effort between the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) and several international organizations. The CSWCF aims to rescue, care for and conserve chimpanzees as well as increase public awareness of conservation issues affecting the chimpanzees and engagement of communities living alongside chimpanzee populations.
Incidentally, all of the chimpanzees here were born in the wild, are unrelated, and are orphans of the illegal trade in chimpanzee bushmeat, having been confiscated from poachers but are deemed unlikely to survive being reintroduced into the wild. During the day, the chimpanzees are released to to roam freely within their designated territories, mimicking their natural behavior in the wild. This natural yet protected environment comprises 98 acres which are enclosed in an electric fence.
Volunteering and Activities at Ngamba Chimpanzee Santuary
Ngamba Island has a well-organized volunteer program where you get to feed the chimpanzees while being the care giver for the day, observe chimpanzee behavior and interactions from a raised platform, participate in their various enrichment activities and improve the island’s infrastructure. The chimpanzees are fed in the morning and afternoons.
Half day excursions, full day excursions, or overnight stays can be arranged depending on each traveler’s preference.
Getting There
Located roughly 23 kilometers southeast of Entebbe, reaching Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is an adventure in itself, offering various transportation options to suit every traveler’s preference. Most visitors begin their journey in Entebbe, a town on the shores of Lake Victoria that is home to Uganda’s major international airport.
From Entebbe, one can embark on a boat ride across the lake to Ngamba Island and on landing use their tour operators of choice to offer guided tours to the sanctuary. The boat journey offers beautiful views of Lake Victoria and its surrounding landscapes as visitors approach the sanctuary. It takes roughly about 60 minutes on a speed boat and 90 – 120 minutes on a normal motorized boat/canoe to reach the Island. Traversing the lake is highly dependent on the weather which in turn affects the lake conditions.
Other than the boat ride, chartering a private boat or helicopter directly to Ngamba Island is also possible.
