Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary — Attraction in Mukono

After 10 years + of not visiting this chimp Island, this July, I got the opportunity to visit and experience the island again.

The Chimpanzee Sanctuary was celebrating world chimpanzee day. Our group trip was composed of quite a good number of tourism travel and hospitality, media fraternity alongside conservationists and doctors.

Our morning transfer to Ngamba Island started at Pelican Marina near Entebbe International Airport.

The start of our lake cruise was characterized by windy conditions that kept splashing waters of part rains and lake to our boat (MV Nathalie) but that never stopped us from travelling through the beautiful nearby islands (Nsazi Island, Kimi Island).

To our surprise, after crossing the Uganda Equator line, the waters were much calmer until docking at the Ngamba Island Pier.

I must say that the team, sponsors, and the communities that neighbour this chimp Island have worked so hard to keep this place is kept alive even during the fabulent times as covid-19 and lockdown.

The post covid time brought lots of challenges into the tourism attraction sector. Stealing to survive was on the rise in some communities. Information shared by the chimp sanctuary management indicated otherwise.

"The staff don't steal chimp food." I guess the same applies to other property facilities.

The facilities on the island are in good condition and are well maintained.

The chimps are well fed and seemed to be happy to receive us.

Apart from the rising lake water levels, especially on the island shoreline as a result of recent rains in the greatlakes area, the rest of the amenities on the island remain fully functional and operational.

The support team is also healthy and well organized.

Our 30-minute interaction, which comprised of feeding the Chimpanzees and listening to stories of the caretakers, we are all amazing

Thank you to the teams behind this sanctuary, and please keep up the good work you're doing to promote Chimpanzee conservation in Uganda.

My trip was sponsored by Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary with its sponsored.

I won a contest run on Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary social media platform as part of the World Chimpanzee Day...

Hands down, the worst experience from my 4 week holiday throughout East Africa.

Started off with a lightning storm of which we were not comfortable getting on the boat, however was assured it would be ok by the captain and the storm would blow over. As we travelled on the boat for 45+ minutes through the lightning storm, we feared for our lives. When organising the trip, I had been in contact with the manager who outlined that we would have ample time with the Chimpanzee’s, and be able to explore the island, relax and enjoy the experience for the day, this was not true at all.

Once we got to the island we had a 10 minute explanation about the chimpanzee’s, followed by a quick walk to see the Chimps get fed (we were not allowed to feed them, only watch) this took about 20 minutes, where the guide only talked about all the different ways the chimps had tried to escape over the years - clearly they are miserable and feel trapped on the island.

We were then pushed to pay $188 US dollars per person and were quickly shuffled off the island as soon as the feeding was completed. After the initial shock of the whole experience was gone, I tried to contact the manager who I had been in contact with to talk through the experience, however they have completely ignored my emails and attempts to communicate. A truly awful experience and poor tourist trap for...

Don't waste your money.

Donate from your lounge room couch and then go to the zoo. At least at the zoo you'll see more and have a more engaging experience. You'll even be able to spend more time with them.

For 188usd per person this might be the most money you'll pay in 60minutes in Uganda.

Our experience: 1 hour boat ride there 10 minute informal chat in a hut -30 minute seeing the staff feed the chimps pay 188usd get back on the boat to Entebbe.

The work itself of acting as a sanctuary is important and the team seem to be doing a good job, that's why we wanted to come and see. It was however, overshadowed by teams constant reminder to pay and get off the island promptly whilst on our visit.

1 comment that didn't sit right with us was the fact that 2 chimps would be suitable for the size of the island our host told us. Currently there are 47 chimps on the island. That's not...