The sanctuary was established in October 1998 to care for orphaned chimpanzees that have been rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Many of the chimpanzees were rescued from poachers and are unlikely to survive reintroduction to the wild. Ngamba Island is 100 acres of rain forest situated a short boat ride, 23 km away from Entebbe, near the Equator in Lake Victoria. It supports a rich diversity of natural wildlife and provides a variety of natural foods for the chimpanzees. The island is set up as an eco-friendly project with compost toilets, rainwater collection, proper waste management practices and solar energy for electricity and hot water.
The Sanctuary is a non-profit organization which is co-ordinated and managed by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust. The Trustees are:
The sanctuary is open all year round to visitors who pay a nominal entrance fee to view one or both of the chimpanzee feedings. Day and overnight visits are available and can be booked through the booking agent, Wild Frontiers Uganda.
Surrounded by the peaceful waters of Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to 49 orphaned chimps rescued from throughout Uganda. Island facilities offer day trips and overnight trips which provide exceptional opportunity to closely observe and interact with these fascinating great apes in this unique setting. Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, an NGO, is responsible for all aspects of the sanctuary at Ngamba Island. Deeply committed to and involved in the conservation education of local communities, CSWCT also works with the Ugandan government and wildlife authorities in their rescue operations of orphaned and confiscated chimps.
