In the visitor’s center at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, you may learn about their history, conservation activities, and residents. A chimpanzee caregiver will give you a personal tour and let you watch a feeding from an elevated terrace on the enclosure edge (full-day guests see two feedings). Joining the feeding squad lets you throw food to the chimps and watch them excitedly compete for your fruit. Staying overnight at the Ngamba Eco Lodge lets you watch the chimps build their nests, take a sunset sail on Lake Victoria, and see other animals and birds. Being able to participate in the chimpanzee enrichment program and challenge their critical thinking while staying overnight gives you extra time with them.

Daytime caregiver experience: This experience is offered to island guests who stay overnight. Visitors will learn what caregivers do to keep chimps happy and healthy. Eligibility requires thorough medical testing and clearance. Chimpanzee care includes feeding and food preparation by participants. You clean the chimp sleeping chambers, do medical testing, conduct research, and watch individual chimps during the caretaker for the day experience. The event lets guests care for chimps and raises money for the sanctuary.

Long-stay visitor program: For long-term island visitors; This program enrolls participants in a highly trained and experienced team that cares for the chimps daily. This program allows you to clean chimp cages, aid with island building, cook chimp food, work in the island shop, treat chimps, and gather, enter, and analyze data.

Ngamba Island young chimpanzee integration: Newly rescued chimps must integrate with the island group, which is crucial. The older chimps may take time to embrace newcomers or island babies. Rescued chimps assimilate into society at different rates depending on sex, trauma, and age. The new chimp must adjust to life indoors, with smaller groups outside, and with the complete group in the forest.

To avoid being bullied by older chimps, new ones reside in a separate enclosure until they integrate. Different adult chimps are presented to the children periodically for familiarity. Integration participants will stroll the young chimpanzees in the forest while holding their hands or carrying some on their backs. A forest walk teaches toddlers to be comfortable living and exploring the woodland.

Monitor Lizard during a forest walk: A forest trail on Ngamba Island ensures that visitors learn about the island's fauna and plants. Visitors can also stroll alongside some of the juvenile chimpanzees in the forest. Chimpanzee babies act like humans. Play hide-and-seek or carry a playful adolescent monkey. Young chimpanzees enjoy teasing and attention like humans. In addition to chimps, the island has monitor lizards, otters, fish eagles, spiders, and fruit bats.

Ngamba Island boat cruise: A fun activity on Ngamba Island is fishing. Nile Perch and Tilapia dominate the catch. The Lake Victoria fishing experience will be wonderful whether you fish half or full days. The UK-certified skippers know where to get the biggest fish. Bring your fishing gear or ask the sanctuary where to acquire it.

Sunset cruises are held at sunset: On the trip, you may see fishing villages and fishermen throwing their nets while sipping wine in a lovely setting.

The sanctuary provides 1 and 4 week volunteer programs to help chimp conservation. Volunteers prepare food, feed animals, clean their sleeping quarters, and participate in enrichment activities and behavioral observations. 

Ngamba Eco Lodge is a peaceful retreat on Lake Victoria's edge, great for unwinding after a day with the chimpanzees. 4 permanent luxury cabins, ten double camping tents, and five single tents are available.

The best time to visit the Ssese Islands is during the cooler dry seasons from late June to October. There is a much smaller chance of rain curtailing planned activities during these months, and wildlife viewing opportunities around the island are better.

Entebbe to Ngamba Island is a 45-minute speed boat or 90-minutes by motorized canoe ride from Nakiwogo Dock, and the chimpanzee sanctuary organizes the transfers. Prices range from $336 for one person to $73 per person if there are 8 or more people. 

A cheaper alternative would be to take the ferry from Entebbe to Buggala, the main island in the Ssese Islands, and then a lake taxi to Ngamba. If you are already staying in the Ssese Islands, lake taxis connect the islands and transport to Ngamba Island can be arranged by your accommodation.

A half day tour with a speed boat costs about $115 per individual. The same tour with a slower motorized boat costs $ 80 per person. Children below 5 years do not pay anything while teenagers pay half the price. Ugandan citizens, tour companies and school on an education are given discounts. If you are interested in the Caregiver for a day experience, you will need to pay $200. This experience is only available for those who are spending a night or two in the island.

For comprehensive chimpanzee safaris Uganda experience, consider adding chimpanzee trekking safaris in Kibale National Park as a complimentary trip to your Ngamba Island adventure. Kibale National Park, located in western Uganda, is renowned for its diverse primate population, including a large community of habituated chimpanzees. On guided chimpanzee trekking safaris through the lush forest to observe these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat, witnessing their playful antics and social interactions up close. With experienced guides leading the way, visitors have the opportunity to track and spend time with the chimpanzees, gaining insights into their behavior and conservation efforts in the region.

Pairing Ngamba Island's chimpanzee sanctuary experience with chimpanzee trekking safaris in Kibale National Park offers a well-rounded exploration of Uganda's primate-rich ecosystems. After immersing yourself in the daily lives of rescued chimpanzees at Ngamba Island, venture into the wilds of Kibale to encounter their wild counterparts in a different setting. The combination of these two experiences provides a deeper understanding of chimpanzee conservation efforts in Uganda and the importance of protecting these intelligent and endangered species for future generations. So enjoy gorilla and chimpanzee trekking Uganda safaris in Uganda by starting at Ngamba Sanctuary.

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As a local tour operator based in Uganda, Dav Safaris is proud to offer custom-made gorilla and chimpanzee trekking Uganda safaris. For any inquiries, detailed itineraries or reservations contact us via email at info@davsafaris.com and davsafaris@gmail.com. For personalized assistance, kindly reach out via phone call or WhatsApp to +256701412430 and +256757795781.