Chimpanzees are an endangered species of great apes found in Africa. They share about 98% of their DNA with humans. Those who get the chance to see these close relatives of humans in the wild often describe it as a magical experience.
Ngamba Island is the best place to see chimpanzees, especially for visitors who cannot visit national parks due to time constraints.
Ngamba Island is located in the beautiful Lake Victoria, at the southern end of Uganda. Lake Victoria is one of Africa’s great lakes and is the largest lake in Africa by area. It is also the world’s second-largest freshwater lake and the largest tropical lake in the world.
History of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary
The chimpanzee sanctuary on Ngamba Island was established in October 1998 to care for orphaned chimpanzees rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority from poachers or illegal export as pets.
The Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Trust in collaboration with other organizations, including the Uganda Wildlife Society, Born Free Foundation, Jane Goodall Institute, Uganda Wildlife Education Center, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda.
Chimpanzees at the Sanctuary
Ngamba Island is home to about 50 chimpanzees, including some born on the island. It has become one of Uganda’s top destinations for viewing chimpanzees, alongside Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge.
At Ngamba Island, visitors can participate in feeding the chimpanzees during their designated feeding times. The chimpanzees have been habituated, making it possible for them to interact with humans. Tourists can get excellent views of the chimpanzees from raised platforms.
Chimpanzee Intelligence and Behavior
Chimpanzees are very intelligent apes. They can learn to use human sign language, and they also use tools such as sticks to collect termites from holes, stones to crack hard nuts, and leaves to gather water.
The chimpanzees at Ngamba Island know their feeding times and always move to the feeding area at the scheduled hours: 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
Other Activities at Ngamba Island
A visit to Ngamba Island can be combined with a trip to a nearby fishing village to meet the locals and learn about their way of life. Alternatively, visitors can take nature walks in the forest, relax by swimming, or enjoy sand bathing.
Ngamba Island is also home to various bird species, so bird watchers should not forget to bring binoculars. At around 6:00 p.m., the chimpanzees walk to a large cave, where they spend the night.
Why Ngamba Island Is Worth a Visit
For travelers with limited time who still want a genuine, up-close encounter with chimpanzees, Ngamba Island offers an accessible alternative to a full forest trek, being just a short boat ride from Entebbe rather than a multi-hour drive to one of Uganda’s forest parks. Combined with its conservation mission and the chance to see rescued chimpanzees thriving in a semi-wild island setting, it makes for a rewarding half-day or full-day excursion for anyone passing through Kampala or Entebbe.
