Three Reasons Why You Should Visit Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary



Two of the older chimp residents of the Island during feeding time 


By Timothy Ijala
Founded in 1998, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is  home to 44 orphaned and rescued chimpanzees. They are brought here as a result of the dangers and difficulties they face in the wild including destruction of their habitat, killing of their parents, being illegally kept as pets and illegally exported to other countries. It is 100 acres of land, 95 percent of which is forest and five percent for human usage. Ngamba Island is one of the many islands located in lake Victoria. It is about 23 kilometers from Entebbe and takes about 90 minutes to two hours by motorized canoe. However if you want to get there faster you can always go by speedboat which takes just 40 minutes. Here are three reasons why you should visit the Island.
You have a chance to see and learn about Chimps. You can watch them being fed as you stand on a raised platform. Having visited the Island I found this to be very entertaining. They always know their time for being fed and you will find them already waiting at the feeding point. Apart from the feeding you will be entertained by their theatrical acts. And you get a chance to tour the facilities and learn about the lives of chimps. A day or half a day is enough to do this.
If you love birds then Ngamba Island is one great place to see them. There are about 120 species that have been seen on the island. Infact when you step onto the island you could mistake it for a bird watcher's paradise instead of a Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
And lastly did I mention crossing Lake Victoria by boat to get to the Island from Entebbe town? That on its own is an adventure and a story for another day.