Chimps are very curious. Don't be surprised if the button on your shirt draws some attention and ends up missing.

Ngamba Island

The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Trust (UWECT) in Entebbe is the officially recognised sanctuary for confiscated animals in Uganda and has so far received a total of 50 confiscated chimpanzees.

Until 1997, these confiscated chimpanzees lived in small, concrete cages which were completely unsuitable for such social animals; offering little physical, mental or social stimulation. The then Director, Mr Wilhelm Moeller, recognised the need for change and a project was initiated with four other charities to form a Trust.

In 1997, the Chimpanzees Sanctuary And Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT) was formed by the Born Free Foundation (UK), International Fund for Animal Welfare (USA), the Jane Goodall Institute (Germany and Uganda), UWECT and the Zoological Board of New South Wales (Australia). CSWCT aimed to secure the future of the confiscated chimpanzees and take joint responsibility for the financial and managerial aspects of the Project.

Between the organisations it was possible to raise enough funds to buy Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria and create a sanctuary for the chimpanzees.

Ngamba Island is part of the Koome group of islands located in Lake Victoria (which also includes Kiimi, Nsadzi, Koome, Bulago and Damba Islands). It is approximately 23 km south-east of Entebbe, which lies on the mainland at 0.06’S, 32.39’E. It consists of approximately 100 acres, of which 98 acres is forested and separated from the human camp by an electric fence. The northern part of the island is generally flat, rising gently to an altitude of approximately 3800 feet above sea level to the south. The island is largely forested with gaps of grassland covering approximately 10% of the island.

The northern part of the island was until 1997 inhabited by a local fishing community. The community had cleared approximately 2 acres of forest and selectively logged large trees from the more proximal parts of the forest. One acre of this area is now used as camp quarters for staff and researchers, whilst the remaining area, located between the forest and the viewing platform is where the chimpanzees are fed during the day.

A trail system was cut just prior to the chimpanzees’ arrival in October 1998. Trails span from east to west and north to south creating 50 x 50m blocks.

Ngamba Island provides an excellent secondary forest habitat for the chimpanzees and other wildlife species including fruit bats, spiders, fish eagles, hippos (the only three in the area), otters, a crocodile(!) and monitor lizards.

Visiting the Island
Ngamba Island completed its first full year of operations in 2000 with over 3,000 visitors to the sanctuary. These visitors contribute to the recurrent costs to the island by paying an entrance fee. Currently the island receives approximately 200-250 visitors a month, and although the long-term plan is for the sanctuary to be self-sufficient, it is apparent that this cannot be achieved through tourist revenue alone. This has led to a more intensified effort by the Trustees to develop an endowment fund for the sanctuary. However, with good representation from the media, visitor numbers have been rising steadily throughout 2000.

The project now covers approximately 50% of its costs through visitor generated income, entrance fees, film crews and Friends of the Sanctuary, our membership program.

Half day trips include: viewing one of the feeding times, and a talk by sanctuary staff.

Full day trips include: viewing one or two feeding times, a talk by sanctuary staff, lunch, fantastic bird-watching, other wildlife encounters, fishing, kayaking, swimming, visit of a neighbouring fishing village or just sunbathing and relax.

Overnight stay includes: viewing two feeding times and, if you like, observing the chimp breakfast and evening meals, staying in a tented camp with all meals provided, bird and other wildlife watching, fishing, kayaking, swimming, sunbathing, bat watching in the evening, and a visit to a fishing village.

Forest Walk includes: viewing of the afternoon feeding at 2.30pm. Seeing feeding of the chimps in the holding facilities at 5.30pm, meeting the infants at the holding facilities. Then a maximum of three people joining the caregivers going back into the forest with the infants for maximum of 2 hours. Staying overnight in a tented camp all meals provided. Meeting with senior staff. Sundowners while watching the bats emerge from the forest is a highlight. Those that did not go out on the walk in the evening will join the caregivers in the morning at 6.30am to take the infants for a forest walk for two hours. Breakfast before either departing back to Entebbe or stay longer to enjoy the morning feeding session.

The Forest Walks are constantly being modified and adjusted. It takes a special person who is willing to enter the forest with 14-18 chimpanzees that are not afraid of humans. They range in age from 1 year to 20 years of age. Unlike visiting chimpanzees in the wild, these chimpanzees will come up to you, will climb on your back, will pull your hair, will steal things from your pockets, will expect to be carried and will play with you. They play rough! Chimpanzees have five times the strength of humans. Even 2-4 year old infants are much stronger then an adult human. Chimpanzees also like to play bite. Which can hurt sometimes. They do not mean to hurt us, it is just play to them. So, if you do not like being bitten or feeling pain, it is best to not join in this activity.

Staff will brief you thoroughly before entering the forest area to join the infants. One or two staff members will be with you at all times. If you have any concerns beforehand, you should let them know. If you want to leave before your designated time, please ask and a staff member will escort you out of the forest area.

Though it is fine to take in camera gear, we advise that is it better to leave it behind. We can arrange a photo session at the end of your walk. There is a risk that the camera gear can be damaged and we will take no responsibility of damage or loss to anyone’s gear. It is best to just go with the chimpanzees and enjoy the experience without worrying about whether your camera is going to be damaged or not.

Staff will check you before you enter the forest area. Please ensure you wear sturdy clothing that you do not mind getting very dirty. Also do not carry anything in your pockets. If you have long hair, we recommend you wear it tied up, but expect that you may lose your hair ties.

If you need glasses to see, it is recommended that you either wear contact lenses of go without your glasses. If you cannot see without your glasses, we suggest you have a sturdy strap to tie them with and bring a second pair. We cannot guarantee that they will not be stolen or damaged by the chimps. Please do not wear jewellery or watches in the forest. Long pants are necessary due to the vegetation, ants and chimpanzees. Sturdy, covered-in shoes are mandatory. No sandals, Teva’s of flip-flops will be accepted as footwear. In some cases, Wellington boots will be provided if needed. We recommend T-shirts and not buttoned shirts for wearing with the chimpanzees. Buttoned shirts tend to be torn.

Special conditions apply to this activity, they are: Minimum age is 18 years Maximum age is 65 years, this is also dependant on size and fitness level of the person. Management of CSWCT will assess all clients prior to departing for the island. If managers are concerned, you may be refused entry with the chimpanzees.

Health Clearance:
All visitors that participate in the forest walk, will be coming into contact with young chimpanzees. You are therefore required to be free of any flu-like disease at the time of the visit. Anyone with a herpes outbreak will also be denied entry to the chimpanzees. Our veterinarians or senior management staff will interview all visitors participating in this experience before departing for the island. If they are at all concerned about your present state of health, contact with the chimpanzees will be denied. CSWCT management staff will have the final say on who has contact with the chimpanzees, this is not negoitable. All visitors wishing to participate in this activity will be required to show proof of vaccination for Hepatitis A and B, Measles, Meningococcal Meningitis, up to date Polio, up to date Tetnus and Yellow Fever and must have had a negative TB test within 6 months of arriving on the Island.