Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a 100-acre patch of rainforest on Lake Victoria about 23 km southeast of Entebbe, gives a home to orphaned chimpanzees rescued from across East Africa, most of them victims of poaching or the illegal wildlife trade who could not survive if returned to the wild. Gazetted in October 1998 and run by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Ngamba is one of the easiest wildlife encounters to combine with an Entebbe stay.
The sanctuary at a glance
- 100 acres of rainforest on an island in Lake Victoria, about 23 km southeast of Entebbe
- Gazetted in October 1998 as a dedicated refuge for orphaned eastern chimpanzees
- Chimpanzees are rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, most having survived poaching or the illegal pet trade
- Managed as an eco-friendly project using solar power, rainwater collection and sustainable waste management
A sanctuary, not a safari park
Unlike the wild, habituated chimpanzee communities trekked at Kibale or Kyambura, Ngamba’s chimpanzees are rescued individuals unable to survive independently in the forest, many having lost their mothers to poaching or having been kept illegally as pets before confiscation. The island gives them a safe, semi-natural forest environment for life, while allowing visitors a close and reliable view of chimpanzee behaviour that wild trekking cannot guarantee.
A visit built around feeding times
Day visits to Ngamba are built around the sanctuary’s chimpanzee feeding sessions, when the animals gather at viewing platforms for fruit and vegetables, offering visitors an excellent opportunity to watch chimpanzee social behaviour up close. Longer overnight stays are also available for visitors wanting more time on the island and a quieter, more immersive experience of the sanctuary’s rainforest setting.
Things to do
- Watching chimpanzee feeding sessions from the sanctuary’s viewing platforms
- Taking a boat outing across Lake Victoria to reach the island
- Overnight stays on the island for a longer, more relaxed visit
- Learning about the sanctuary’s rescue and rehabilitation work
Practical information
- Reached by boat from Entebbe, making it an easy half-day or overnight addition to a stay there
- Visits run year-round and are typically timed around the sanctuary’s feeding sessions
- Bookings are best made in advance, particularly for overnight island stays
Ngamba Island offers a rewarding, easily accessible chimpanzee encounter right beside Entebbe. Offmap Safaris can add a day outing or overnight stay to your itinerary. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and responsible travel.
