Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a forested island on Lake Victoria, about 23 km from Entebbe, that has cared for orphaned and rescued chimpanzees since 1998. Around 50 chimps live there, most of them confiscated from the illegal pet and bushmeat trade, and they cannot be returned to the wild. Visitors arrive by boat and watch the chimps from a raised platform during feeding times.
What a visit is like
Day trips leave Entebbe by speedboat, taking around 45 minutes to an hour. The chimps spend most of the day in the island’s forest and come to the edge for supplementary feeds, usually late morning and mid-afternoon, when you can watch them from a viewing platform and hear caregivers explain each chimp’s story. Overnight stays in tented accommodation and caregiver experiences can also be booked.
Sanctuary and conservation
The sanctuary is run by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, which also supports conservation education and community projects. Because the chimps were rescued, the island also shows why poaching and the pet trade harm wild populations. It is a complement to, not a substitute for, seeing wild chimps in Kibale.
Planning your visit
Bring sun protection and a light rain jacket for the boat, and check boat times when booking. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to chimpanzee facts, Kibale Forest, a gorilla and Ngamba itinerary and the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre.
Frequently asked questions
About 23 km, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by speedboat.
Around 50.
No; visitors watch from a viewing platform.
Yes, there is tented accommodation by booking.
