If you are looking for a perfect weekend getaway trip or planning to fly out of Uganda the next day, then the 1-day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour will work for you. This one day trip leads you to the remote 40-hectare Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the shelter to rescued orphaned Chimpanzees as well as several reptile and bird species found in Lake Victoria.
With the existence of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, you can get the opportunity of encountering mankind’s closest relatives in their natural habitats without necessarily having to visit Kibale Forest or Budongo among other known Chimpanzee habitats. Unlike the vast forests where you have to trek for many hours to meet the chimpanzees, with your short visit to the Sanctuary you will move for few meters through a raised walkway and have perfect viewing as well as photogenic opportunities.
The pristine Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is enwreathed by the calm waters of Lake Victoria and is currently sheltering a small population (over 50 individuals) of rescued Chimpanzees from different regions of the East African region. The 1 day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour will allow you to interact with the chimpanzees but also spot unique bird species such as weavers, spur-winged plovers, ducks, sacred ibis, cattle egret, African grey woodpecker, yellow-crested woodpecker, African open-billed storks, Egyptian goose, Angolan Swallow and the Wire-tailed swallow among others that you will encounter during the boat trip.
What to expect during the 1 day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour
• A relaxing boat cruise on Lake Victoria to the Island.
• Birding.
• Watching and feeding some of the Chimpanzees at the Sanctuary along the raised walkway.
• A short visit to the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC).
• Swimming at the Equator line.
• A short visit to the neighboring fishing village.
Detailed Program for the 1 day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour
The 1-day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour begins with an early morning breakfast from the Hotel (or preferred choice of residence) and later pick-up at 7:00 am by our company driver. You will be briefed by the guide of what to expect during the trip and be driven to Entebbe.
Once in Entebbe (at the Entebbe Pier), you will take a 45-minutes’ boat ride to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and cross the Equator line. Riding on the calm waters of Lake Victoria is the coolest thing you will experience during your visit to Uganda and this 1-day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour will not disappoint you. Upon arrival at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, you will be received by one of the guides and briefed on the activities that await you. Since arrival is in the morning, you will be served a cup of coffee/tea. The caregivers will lead you to the Chimpanzee habitats where get to see them feeding (at 11:00 am) and also participate in feeding them through the raised walkway along the end of the Sanctuary fence. Also, observe they’re extraordinary behavior as they play, feed, rest and groom while identifying the different tree, plant and bird species found within the Sanctuary.
The caregiver will give you the foods to feed Chimpanzees-Cabbages, pineapples, cassava, jackfruits, tomatoes, carrots and watermelons. These foods usually supplement the vegetation they feed on while in the forest. The tour will also lead you to the Chimpanzee clinic. After over 45 minutes, you will continue to the neighboring fishing village to interact with the locals and learn how they go by with their activities.
Leave the Island and head to Entebbe Town where you will have lunch then proceed to Uganda Wildlife Education Center where you will watch most wild animals found in the National Parks protected in different ecosystem zones. After one hour here, you will embark on the journey back with a stopover at the Equator. You will be amazed at how the boat crosses between the south and North poles. Pay attention to how forces between the two poles tend to keep you in one place and the boat will use more energy to cross the Equator line.
Those who wish to swim through the Equator line will also be allowed to do so (only for those that can swim) and continue with the trip. Proceed to the waiting vehicle and be dropped-off within your place of residence in Entebbe or Kampala.
End of your 1 Day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Tour
What is included in the 1 day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour package?
• En-route lunch.
• Bottled water.
• Chimpanzee viewing permit.
• Transport with customized 4 WD Vehicle.
• Boat ride on Lake Victoria to the Sanctuary.
• Uganda Wildlife Education Center tour.
• A full-time English speaking guide.
• Airport transfer if your flight is one the day this tour ends.
• Fuel and driver allowances
• Other activities
What is not included in the 1 day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour package?
• Personal insurance.
• Personal expenses such as tips, buying souvenirs, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala.
• Visa fees.
• Airfares.
What to wear and carry for your 1 day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee tour
• Carry a good camera with zooming lenses and enough memory as well as batteries.
• Carry a rain jacket because you never know when it will rain.
• Weigh lightweight cloths (shorts and short-sleeved shirt).
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head from the sunshine.
• Wear sunglasses.
• Wear Flip-flops/sandals.