Updated
A 3-day trip built around Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary combines an overnight stay on the island, about 23 km from Entebbe on Lake Victoria, with the best of Entebbe: the Botanical Gardens, the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre and a boat trip to Mabamba Swamp for the shoebill. It suits short stopovers, families with children too young for gorilla or chimp trekking, and travellers who want a relaxed start or end to a safari. Ngamba’s chimps are orphans cared for in a sanctuary, not wild chimps, so for wild chimpanzees you need Kibale.
About Ngamba Island
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary opened in 1998 and is run by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust. It cares for around 50 chimpanzees, most rescued from the illegal pet and bushmeat trade, which live in the island’s forest and come to the edge for supplementary feeds watched by visitors from a raised platform. Staff explain each chimp’s story and the sanctuary’s work. Boats from Entebbe take roughly 45 minutes by speedboat, longer by slower boat. See our guide to Ngamba Island.
A three-day plan
Day 1: take a boat to Ngamba around midday, watch the afternoon feeding and learn about the sanctuary, then stay overnight in the island’s simple accommodation, where evenings on the lake are peaceful. Day 2: watch the morning feeding and join any activities the sanctuary offers to overnight guests, then return to Entebbe for the Botanical Gardens or the Wildlife Conservation Education Centre. Day 3: an early boat trip through the papyrus channels of Mabamba Swamp to look for the shoebill, then lunch by the lake and your onward journey or flight.
If you have less time, a half-day trip to Ngamba from Entebbe is easy, and the other activities fit around it. Overnight stays and special activities are limited and change over time, so check with the sanctuary or your operator when booking.
Combining Ngamba with gorillas
Ngamba works well on the first or last day of a gorilla safari, since Entebbe is where most trips start and end. A 5-day trip can combine Ngamba with a gorilla trek in Bwindi; see our gorillas and Ngamba itinerary. For wild chimpanzees, Kibale is the place, with permits at US$250, rising to US$300 from 1 January 2027; see our guide to chimpanzee tracking in Kibale.
Practical tips
Bring sun protection and a light rain jacket for the boat, insect repellent and binoculars for birds on the lake. Children are welcome at Ngamba. Fees for the sanctuary and boat vary with boat type and group size, so ask for a full quote. For shoebills, see our guide to where to see the shoebill.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in simple accommodation, though availability is limited; check when booking.
About 23 km, roughly 45 minutes by speedboat.
No. They are rescued orphans cared for in a sanctuary.
Visit the Botanical Gardens, the Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, or Mabamba Swamp for shoebills.
