Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
By no means a support act to the gorillas, Uganda’s chimps are a draw in their own right. Occupying different habitats to the gorillas and living within distinct social …
Ngamba Island, a sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees, is a primate paradise. Visitors can feed, watch, and play with the chimps. A day trip or overnight stay provides a unique insight into the intricacies of the troop's social interactions.
Tucked away in Lake Victoria's northwestern corner, in the Ssese Islands lies Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
The sanctuary was set up in 1998 to rescue orphaned and confiscated chimpanzees from the illegal pet and bushmeat trades across East Africa.
Today, 49 chimpanzees live at the sanctuary and are free to roam the 95 acres of thick forest covering the island. The aim is to help them recover from their initial trauma and eventually thrive over their long lives of up to 60 years.
The chimps have the liberty to stay in the forest at night or return to night-time enclosures, where they can construct nests and receive their dinner.
Upon arrival at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, you will have the chance to learn about their history, conservation efforts and residents in the visitors centre.
You will then be given a personal tour by a chimpanzee caregiver and view a feeding from a raised deck on the enclosure edge (full day visitors will observe two feedings).
If you join the feeding team, you can throw food down to the chimps and watch as they excitedly vie for your attention, all seeking the delicious piece of fruit in your hand.
A tasty lunch is provided on the island and usually costs between $10 and $15.
If staying overnight at the Ngamba Eco Lodge, you can observe the chimps making their nests and then take to Lake Victoria's calming waters for a sunset cruise, and look for some of the other animals and birdlife that inhabit the island and surrounding lake.
Staying overnight also offers more one on one time with the chimpanzees, as you can take part in the chimp enrichment program, where you will be involved in challenging the chimps critical thinking.
You have an excellent chance of seeing chimps in Kibale.
The sanctuary offers one and four-week volunteering programs where you can directly contribute to the conservation efforts of the chimps.
While volunteering, you will gain hands-on experience by preparing their food, feeding them, cleaning their sleeping area and taking part in enrichment activities and behavioural observations.
You can stay in their volunteer dormitories or the Ngamba Eco Lodge.
Situated on the water's edge with uninterrupted views of Lake Victoria, Ngamba Eco Lodge is a tranquil sanctuary of your own, perfect for unwinding after a day spent with the chimps.
They offer four permanent luxury cottages, ten double standard camping tents and five single standard tents.
Full amenities are provided, including hot water for showers, electricity, bathrooms and a private deck.
Swap stories around the evening campfire, while you listen to the distant chimp hoots and enjoy a freshly prepared 3-course dinner in the thatched-roof dining area. Fall asleep to the sound of the crashing waves of Lake Victoria.
Luxury cottage interior.
The best time to visit the Ssese Islands is during the cooler dry seasons from late June to October.
There is a much smaller chance of rain curtailing planned activities during these months, and wildlife viewing opportunities around the island are better.
Entebbe to Ngamba Island is a 45-minute speed boat or 90-minutes by motorised canoe ride from Nakiwogo Dock, and the chimpanzee sanctuary organises the transfers. Prices range from $336 for one person to $73 per person if there are eight or more people.
A cheaper alternative would be to take the ferry from Entebbe to Buggala, the main island in the Ssese Islands, and then a lake taxi to Ngamba.
If you are already staying in the Ssese Islands, lake taxis connect the islands and transport to Ngamba Island can be arranged by your accommodation.
Lake Victoria is an integral part of any Ugandan adventure.
By no means a support act to the gorillas, Uganda’s chimps are a draw in their own right. Occupying different habitats to the gorillas and living within distinct social …
For those who want more than a brief encounter with the chimpanzees of Uganda, you can join the habituation team and head out into the Kibale Forest in search for groups of chimps …
Uganda is one of the world's best primate destinations - and there are over 5,000 chimpanzees in the country. Kibale Forest National Park in the southwest of Uganda, is home to …
Budongo Forest Reserve is found in the Murchison Falls National Park. It is a mahogany tree-lined home to the largest number of chimpanzees in Uganda.
Tall trees encased by jagged rocky walls, thick undergrowth, running streams of cool water and bushes ripe with fruits. A primate's paradise and a captivating adventure for those …
There is something wonderful about sensing a country change, finding your way through yet another of the Earth’s folds down into a different world, subtly different from the one …
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
Combine chimp trekking in Kibale Forest with mountain gorilla treks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A well-paced highlights tour unlocking some of Uganda's most impressive experiences. Consider breaking up the journey from Kibale to Bwindi with a classic safari at…
If you had the chance to trek through lush forests; to stand metres away from a family of Mountain Gorillas - deep in the heart of Central Africa - would you take it? This 4-day adventure works great as a…
Game drives and boat safaris connect the dots between chimpanzee and gorilla trekking. An epic adventure across the wilderness of Uganda's southwestern safari circuit.…
Mt. Stanley's Margherita Peak, at 5,109 metres, is the highest point in Uganda and the third-highest point in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. This 10-day trip includes 8 days on the mountain, summiting Margherita Peak on day 6.…
Combine gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with beautiful lakeside retreats at Lake Mutanda. Tough treks and primate encounters paired with idyllic, calming lakes and oases make for an unforgettable experience in this remote pocket of Uganda.…
The forested slopes, clouded valleys, and snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains call out for exploration. Combine this perfect introductory trek with other destinations in the southwest to create a magical Ugandan…
Light adventuring and charming safaris in Lake Mburo National Park coupled with lakeside retreats and days of reflection and exploration around Lake Mutanda. Close out the trip with a few days canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking and more in Jinja, Uganda's…
Board a Cessna light aircraft and head into the southwestern pocket of Uganda. Trek through the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of the mountain gorillas. Retreat to luxury lodges for sundowners and delicious food. Hard days, soft…
Beautiful landscapes, diverse wildlife, and a undercurrent of the wild vastness of central Africa that lies just beyond the borders, the north of Uganda beckons adventurers who dream of exploring the frontiers. It's proper adventuring, but luxury lodges mean you…
Spend 4 hours in the company of a gorilla family by joining the habituation trek. Combined with a luxury safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park, this trip offers truly once-in-a-lifetime wildlife…
Discover the exceptional bio-diversity of Uganda by combining the beautiful savannah grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park with chimpanzee trekking in the forests of Kibale National Park. Connect the dots with epic road trips looping through northwestern Uganda.…
Combine safaris in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park with a 4 day gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Top and tail with overnights in the bustling capital of Kampala.…
Trek the Rwenzori Mountains where forests morph into ice-clad mountain peaks, cut through jungle thickets to hang out with mountain gorillas, and finish your trip relaxing lakeside amongst the staggering beauty of Lake Mutanda. This is Uganda.…
The quintessence of Ugandan exploration. Start your adventure in the wild Kidepo Valley in the northern tip of Uganda before weaving down to meet the gorillas in southwestern jungles. Epic landscapes, incredible safaris, and luxury lodges; this is a proper…
The full western circuit complete with luxury lodges, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, and the best safaris Uganda has to offer. Close out your adventure with kayaking and canoeing on the rapids of the river Nile.…
Open top road trips looping through Uganda's epic southwestern pocket; this is the safari adventure of your imagination. Track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, go in search of gorillas in Bwindi, cruise the savannah plains of Queens, and look out for…
Two visits to the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, moving through the forest along the most awesome trekking routes, and staying the night at the best lodges and exclusive camps in the park. This is Uganda gorilla trekking at…
Travel to the farthest corners of Uganda where towering volcanoes mark the border between the thick jungles of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the untamed vastness of central Africa. After trekking the gorillas in Mgahinga, head inland for a couple…
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