Fact Sheets & Video - Africa

The chimpanzee sanctuary on Ngamba Island is situated on Lake Victoria, 25 kilometres from the Ugandan mainland. The island is home to a group of adult chimpanzees and 20 infant chimps. They all needed a safe habitat to live in and luckily found refuge at the island. The environment is like an African rainforest with more than 50 species of plants, and is similar to the chimp's natural habitat.

There's plenty of room for the chimps to roam about in their island retreat, but as it cannot provide enough long-term food for the 34 chimps, they are fed four times a day. Two of these feeds are from the viewing platform where guests can observe and photograph the chimps.

A trip to Ngamba is an incredible opportunity to observe the chimps in a near-wild setting. The similarities between the animals and humans become so obvious and their playful characteristics resemble those of a human child.

The toddlers are separated from the adults and are gradually introduced into the forests to learn how to climb and find food. Visitors have a chance to join them on forest walks, and it's not uncommon for a chimp to single a visitor out to be a surrogate parent for the day. Guests are given the option of a half day, full day or overnight stay on the island. A half day incorporates a viewing of one of the feeding times and a talk by one of the sanctuary staff.

A full day at the sanctuary includes the feeding and talk plus bird watching, fishing, kayaking, swimming and lunch. If you choose to stay overnight, you'll sleep in a tented camp with all meals provided. You'll observe two feeding times and get to encounter all the other activities the island has to offer.

Ngamba Island completed its first full year of operation to visitors in 2000 and currently receives approximately 200 to 250 guests each month. Visitors are charged an entrance fee which goes towards supporting the sanctuary.

Staff are at hand through out your visit, and all guests are briefed before they enter the forest area. It's fine to take cameras, but the staff advise you to take photographs at the viewing platforms only.

The chimps are incredibly intelligent, and some of the staff have managed to learn the chimp's language. You can even try it yourself!

The Classic Safari Company offer great packages with Ngamba Island and Uganda's mountain gorillas both included in the tours. The experience at Ngamba Island is an unforgettable one - more then just a tourist excursion, you'll also have the chance to learn about chimps in a near-natural environment.

The facts

The Classic Safari Company offer six day trips starting from $1960 per person.

Classic Safari Company

Tel: 1300 130 533

South African Airways flies to Uganda. Return prices start from $2782 ex west coast and $3019 ex east coast. Includes taxes. Subject to exchange rates. Conditions apply.

Travelworld

Tel: 13 14 35

Suggested reading material: Lonely Planet

Prices correct at 31/01/05