Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary: Established in 1997 as a project of the Chimpanzees Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, or “CSWCT,” Ngamba Island offers over 40 orphaned chimpanzees a place to live out their lives since it is impossible for them to return to their natural habitat while also teaching tourists and the local community about their amazing species and the value of protecting their delicate forest habitat.
About 100 acres make up Ngamba Island, 98 of which are forested and separated from the visitor area by an electric fence. During the day, the chimpanzees roam around this region.
Note: Chimpanzee experiences are available as a half-day or full-day tour at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Among other wildlife encounters, you will witness a chimpanzee feeding in the morning or afternoon from the visitor’s platform area on the edge of the sanctuary fence, listen to an educational presentation by sanctuary staff, eat lunch with a great chance to see a nearby fishing village, and observe birds.
Meeting location: Entebbe, Banga Beach, where there is secure parking and a covered waiting area prior to jetty departure. Travel timings are estimated to be 60 minutes by speedboat or 90 to 120 minutes each trip by traditional propelled boat, depending on the lake conditions and weather.
Speedboat trips for half a day start at $110 per person.
Viewing hours are 9:00 am to 1 pm in the morning.
Viewing in the afternoon Weather-dependent, the estimated travel time from 12:45 to 5:00 p.m. is 50 to 60 minutes each trip. Subject to minimum numbers on board and habitation category, the price includes return boat trips and island entrance costs.
Traditional Full-Day Motorized Canoe Trips: Starting at USD 91 per person
Hours: Morning viewing from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.
Viewing in the afternoon from 10:30 am until 5:00 pm Weather-dependent, the trip takes about 90 to 120 minutes each way.
Rainsuits and life jackets are among the necessities that guests are given when on a boat. Please take note that all of the prices listed above are estimates that could vary after reservations are confirmed.
Children under five are admitted free of charge, while those aged five to fifteen pay half price. Subject to minimum numbers on board and habitation category, prices include return boat transfer and island entrance costs.
On request, special discounted rates are offered to foreign wholesalers, school groups, tour operators, travel agencies, and East African residents. Please do not hesitate to contact All In Africa Safaris for any information.
A day’s caretaker Experience: $200 USD per day per person
Visitors can experience a day in the life of a chimpanzee caregiver by taking on the role of caregivers themselves in this fantastic activity! You will be thrilled to see the chimps eat, but you will also be thrilled to help prepare and feed them as one of the chimp caregivers.
You can help the staff with any tasks that are taking place at the sanctuary that day, such as medical examinations, research and observation, setting up the chimps’ holding places, administrative tasks, or any other task that calls for your expertise.
Furthermore, our initiative aims to raise money for the welfare of our orphaned relatives on Ngamba Island and to assist our visitors comprehend and respect what it takes to care for them. The team will work with you to demonstrate the care required for these primates, their uniqueness, and what makes them so wonderful.
Although “direct contact” is prohibited, it is feasible under the careful supervision of a resident caregiver. As a caregiver, you get the opportunity to meet and engage with every chimp on the island. Excursion requires numerous CSWCT preapprovals.
Health Checks for Visitors
It only applies to those who intend to stay overnight and take part in the Forest Walk or Caregiver Experience.
Rates of Accommodation on Ngamba Island
Depending on the number of passengers and the season, full board rates start at USD 248 per person per night.
Children between the ages of 5 and 11 have 50% adult rates.
Overnight boat cruises start at USD 150 per person return on scheduled boats, with private boats available for an extra fee.
On request, special discounted rates are offered to international wholesalers, tour operators, travel agencies, school groups, and East African residents.
Chimpanzee Trekking in East Africa – Complete Guide
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are our closest living relatives, sharing approximately 98.7% of human DNA. Watching a habituated chimpanzee family in the wild – their complex social dynamics, tool use, and remarkable expressions – is one of the most intellectually and emotionally engaging wildlife experiences Africa has to offer.
East Africa’s premier chimpanzee destination is Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda, home to over 1,500 chimpanzees – the highest density of primates in Africa. Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park offers another outstanding option within one of Africa’s largest montane rainforests.
Kibale Forest National Park – Uganda’s Chimpanzee Capital
Kibale Forest covers 776 km² of moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forest in the Rwenzori foothills of western Uganda. The park’s Kanyanchu tourism site is where chimpanzee trekking takes place, with several habituated communities accustomed to human observation.
A standard chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale costs USD 250 per person and covers one hour with the chimps after tracking them through the forest. The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) costs USD 250 per person and runs from 6 AM to 6 PM, allowing a full day following a semi-habituated community – a far more intimate encounter. Permits are available through Uganda Wildlife Authority or licensed tour operators.
Beyond chimpanzees, Kibale is home to 12 other primate species including red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey. Over 375 bird species have been recorded, making it one of Uganda’s premier birding destinations.
Recommended Tours: 3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale | 4 Days Kibale & Queen Elizabeth Safari
