Ngamba Island is a magnificent island situated in Mukono district on Lake Victoria Uganda’s largest lake shared by the three East African countries. The island was established in 1998 and is occupying 100 acres where 98 acres are forested. It’s a chimpanzee sanctuary which inhabits rescued and orphaned chimpanzees from different parts of the world. It harbors 49 chimpanzees were 22 are male, 27 female and 2 born at the island and they are led by the Alpha male as their top leader.
A boat safari is boarded from UWEC at Lake Victoria shores and while travelling, you will get exposed to the amazing sea breeze with a morning mist rising off the placid waters, a view of the distant stunning islands, and fresh greenery surrounding the lake which gives nice pictorial shots. It’s by choice to travel by either a boat engine or a speed boat depending on the travel time you expect to reach the sanctuary.
A one day trip at Ngamba is a life time experience since all questions lingering in your head about chimps will find relevant answers. This Island was basically established to find sweet homes to the homeless rescued chimps from smugglers and the orphaned little ones. These homeless creatures after reaching the island are given a home and suitable names each depending on its back ground and told story. Some are named after the tourists who make contribution to their wellbeing of Chimpanzees like Rupaleria named after Sudhir Rupaleria one of Uganda’s richest business man, and others named according to their merit like Natasha.
Chimpanzees at the island are caged during night and left to roam in the forest during day. The forest is electric fenced to prevent these chimps from escaping from the island to the neighboring villages at times causing a negative impact to the humans but this occasion is rarely seen. Ngamba Island is truly a magical place to visit where you have chimpanzees as company.
Chimpanzees’ are man’s closest cousin consisting of over 98.5% human genetic code. Chimpanzees are not different from human being since it possesses characters like that of a human. The only difference is that chimpanzees are hairy all over the body and sometimes use its front limbs to move. These chimpanzees are gentile and friendly when they meet tourists. Those interested in Chimp tracking should not overlook Ngamba Island at the magical world.
Chimpanzees are ranked among Uganda’s foremost tourist attraction and one of the world’s remarkable encounters. A detour to this magical place will enable you learn more facts about this primate species such as its life style in the forest, communication skills amongst each other ,mating, shelter and the feeding style on fruits, roots and stems though Chimpanzees at Ngamba are feed by the staff with fruits and vegetables. Like pumpkins, jackfruit, watermelon, pine apples among others since they are omnivorous. Excitement will rise in your veins as you watch these creatures welcome you while clapping their small hands and making different sounds.
With the help of the guide at the sanctuary, you will get adequate information that will enable you collect relevant information. The guide will tell you the back ground of each chimpanzee at the park and how it has adopted to the life at the island. Plan an adventurous trip to Ngamba Island were you will invest little and obtain a life time experience. However, their other places where chimp tracking is done and these include Kibale national park, Kyambura in Queen Elizabeth national park, Budongo in Murchison falls national park among others.
written by: Nantamu Restty