Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island is currently home to 49 orphaned and confiscated chimpanzees, rescued from the illegal pet and bushmeat trade. Despite their initial trauma, chimpanzees living on Ngamba Island have a safe and semi-natural environment in which to recover and eventually thrive over their long lives of up to 60 years.

Founded in 1998, the island offers 95 acres of natural forest where the chimps roam and forage daily. Their diet is supplemented multiple times per day much to the delight of visiting tourists who are able to observe the feeding from a viewing platform. The chimps also have the freedom to stay in the forest at night or return to nighttime enclosures where they can build nests and receive an evening meal.

The goals of the sanctuary are to:

  • Provide a safe home for rescued chimpanzees while also caring for the environment & other wildlife on the island;
  • Provide a high-quality educational experience for visitors
  • Benefit local communities.

Ngamba Island is part of the Koome group of islands located in Lake Victoria (which also includes Kiimi, Nsazi, Koome, Bulago and Damba Islands). Ngamba Island is approximately 23 km south-east of Entebbe.  It consists of approximately 100 acres, of which 95 acres is forested and separated from the human camp by an electric fence. The northern part of the island is generally flat, rising gently to an altitude of approximately 3800 feet above sea level to the south. The island is largely forested with gaps of grassland covering approximately 10% of the island.

Whilst half and full-day trips are available, we recommend all guests to spend a night (or two) on the island at the Ngamba Eco-Lodge.  Overnighting will allow you to experience some of the many activities, including engaging with the chimpanzees behind the scenes (so to speak), visit local fishing villages, chimpanzee nest preparation and community cultural experience

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