Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
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Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island, about 23 km southeast of Entebbe on Lake Victoria, is a 100-acre forested island that serves as a sanctuary for rescued and orphaned chimpanzees managed by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust. Around 50 chimpanzees live here, all of them rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.

Visits to the island involve a boat journey of about an hour from Entebbe, a guided walk along the island's forest edges, and timed feeding sessions where the chimpanzees emerge from the interior forest to receive fruit — the closest safe viewing distance is modest, but the animals are habituated and the interactions are remarkable. Half-day, full-day, and overnight visits are available; booking in advance is essential. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe can help with arrangements, or contact the Chimpanzee Trust directly.

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A story
All of the chimpanzees at Ngamba Island were orphaned by the bush meat trade or illegal wildlife trafficking — most were confiscated as infants from people attempting to sell them as pets. The sanctuary cannot release them back to the wild because they were removed from their mothers too young to have learned the social behaviours and food knowledge that wild chimpanzees acquire from their parents over years of observation.