To visit this sanctuary requires you to use a boat from the shores of Lake Victoria at Entebbe to the Ngamba Island which is located 1½ – 2 hrs into Lake Victoria using a motor boat. This island was originally occupied by people who were fisher men but were shifted to the next Island closeby so that these people and chimpanzees didn’t have to compete for any resource on that tinny island. Today, there arent any more human settlements on this island except for the chimpanzees and the few tented accommodation available for those on a Uganda Chimpanzee Safari on this beautiful island.
Why it was formed and resource distribution
This Chimpanzee sanctuary was formed to provide a home to the so many orphaned chimpanzees at a tender age and they therefore require a lot of attention something they may not get if they stayed in the wilderness on their own. There are some which were rescued from illegal traders, so when such chimpanzees are seized especially at the airports, they are therefore transferred to places like Ngamba which is one of the best chimpanzee sanctuaries in Africa.
They spend day time in the forest which is about only 96 acres big therefore only big enough for 4 chimpanzees although in this case, this small forest accommodates 49 chimpanzees at the moment. This explains why they have to be feed as there is no enough food for them in that jungle. It also explains why a chimpanzee gets the chance to reproduce after it has left the sanctuary and back into the wilderness as reproduction while on the island is very much controlled to avoid congestion and serous competition for food and other resources which is likely to happened if births are not controlled. And just like among humans where we have to take birth control methods, chimpanzees are injected with an implant although some of them end up removing the chips and accidentally get pregnant. This is how chimpanzee babies like Sarah first as well as the young Survivor were born.
Adult chimpanzees, those that are ready and very capable of taking care of themselves in the wilderness are every now and then reintroduced to the jungle especially when there are new orphans or seized chimpanzees that have to be introduced to the sanctuary. New chimpanzees of through an integration process upon their arrival at the sanctuary.
Behavior and how they relate with each other
Generally, they are all very protective of one another and they work as a team if they must against a bully or a selfish member of the group and in that case, those that are not so much liked are often kept in a holding facility away from others for their safety. With the help of their alpha called Omutama currently, they can easily settle their difference.
To calm down an angry member of the group, Omutama will stamp his hind limbs hard enough or clap the ground hard with the fore limbs
Before introducing a new member or a baby chimp to the group, they have to go through the community integration process during which they live amidst a few chimps in a small area of the forest where they can be monitored and rescued in case of an emergence. Newborns are placed in this facility together with the mothers/ mother figures so they can groom them accordingly. The newcomers too go through similar trained with the help of some identified friendly chimpanzees so that they are not hurt once they join the large groups.
Health care and ensuring survival
To ensure their health, they undergo general check up and samples are tested from the laboratory at the island and also on the main land. They are immunized against common illness that they can easily attract or spread to humans as well as those that those that humans are immunized against like tetanus, hepatitis A and B, among so many others.
Regular check-ups are done to ensure that they don’t suffer from diseases that may cost them their lives like simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) similar to HIV in humans and once one is infected, it suffers an AIDS like illness like humans.
All chimpanzees get new implants every after 2 years. There is also an x-ray to use if there need for instance when a chimpanzee gets injured.
To keep them safe, close contact with humans is very minimal especially the guest and the care takers undergo regular treatments so they don’t transfer infections especially during the feeding time which is one of the main activities done at the island.
Different activities done at Ngamba Island
- Chimpanzee feeding is the major activity therefore
depending what time you get there, you may participate in the morning and afternoon feeding before return to the main land. You can get involved in preparing their food and cleaning after them if you wish to. - There are forest walks but this can only be done by those that are have spent the night since it has to be done very early in the morning before chimpanzees are opened to go to the forest.
- You can participate in the chimpanzee integration. This is for the infants and those that are new in the sanctuary.
- There is also sport fishing and this is done a few miles away from the sanctuary since he water surrounding there is conservation water.
- There is the sunset cruise and swimming, very good swimmers can swim at the equator too
Depending on how much time you have, you can enjoy as many activities as possibly can. Those that love the birds will be amazed by the big number of bird species found on this island.
Where to spend over night
There are self contained luxury tents which are se on wooden decks overlooking the lake. You can sleep and wake up to the sound of the water washing at the shores. The rooms are either twin rooms with two separate or a double which can also be used as a single room for the single travelers. This primate experience is very unique and it will be a very memorable one.
For more on the Chimpanzees living in Uganda, visit adventureugandasafari.com
