Combining Boat Excursion To Ngamba Island With A Canoe Ride To Mabamba For Shoebill Stork Experience

Combining Boat Excursion To Ngamba Island With A Canoe Ride To Mabamba For Shoebill Stork Experience. Engaging in a tour to Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary is an opportunity to be with some rescued chimpanzees. Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary is located in Koome in Lake Victoria. This is the rescued home for chimpanzees saved from snares, abandoned and cannot return to their community.

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Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary can be reached by boat that is the norming and afternoon ride. From Entebbe, Ngamba Island is about 23 kilometers away. This chimpanzee rescue project is under the care of the CSWCT (Chimpanzee Sanctuary And Wildlife Conservation Trust).

While at the Island, you may engage in chimpanzee feeding from the visitor platform, birding, beach walk, swimming, scenic viewing, caregiving, chimpanzees up close and others. The sanctuary also provides so limited accommodations for those wishing to spend the night at Ngamba Island.

Mabamba swamp is home to some of the elusive shoebill stork and other birds. To get to this island, you need a boat ride. Other bird species are also residents of Mabamba Island. Enjoy the incredible views of the surroundings.

What To Do In Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Day Trips For Chimpanzee Viewing

Chimpanzee viewing is the main activity at Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary where you may take part in chimpanzee feeding at 1100 hours and 1430 hours each day. Look out for the stunning views, natural wildlife, birdlife, engage in some sports by the beachside and much more.

Overnight At Ngamba Island

A night or more at Ngamba Island is refreshing with chances of listening to the calls chimpanzees in the jungle. In the evening, may watch the sun set behind the horizon as several bats emerge from the forest into the colorful sunset. 

Early morning you get the opportunity to listen to these human relatives’ calling loudly to any person who cares to listen. 

Some accommodations are available for you to spend the night but advance booking is required for better preparations.

Sunset Cruise

Relaxing while enjoying the sunset cruise at Ngamba Island is refreshing. Look out for numerous water birds that grace the close by vegetation and the water, may get chance to spot otters, monitors lizards and others. Visit the fishing village and much more.

Chimpanzee Integration program

To engage in caregiving, you accompany some young chimpanzees on a walk in the forest in the morning or afternoon. This happens under the supervision of an experienced Island staff for your safety. Before proceeding, you are advised to follow instructions for chimpanzee integration like not provoking the chimpanzees, dumping garbage is forbidden and others.

You need to undergo inoculation before engaging in this activity to prevent chances of passing any infection to these primates.

Chimpanzee Caregiving

As a tourist, you join other members of staff of Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary to help in the daily routine of the sanctuary like food preparation, cleaning, health checkups and others. These however require advance booking so that all necessary procedures can be made.

Both chimpanzee care giving and integration require one to overnight at the Island.

Beach walks, birding and others Ngamba Island activities can be arranged.

What To Do At Mabamba Swamp

Bird Watching

Mabamba Swamp is famous location for shoebill stork watching. Because of the remoteness of this Island, you have to board a canoe boat to get to it. This is an extraordinary experience but you are encouraged to also participate in beating the tides with the peddles.

Other water birds may also be spotted at the Island like African skimmers, kingfisher and others.

Scenic viewing at Mabamba Swamp

The swamp vegetation around Mabamba Island is mesmerizing with papyrus reeds that host a number of water birds. Butterflies may also be seen in the swamp.

When is the best time to visit Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary and Mabamba swamp?

Although all these locations ae open all year, the dry season is most preferred when the lake is calm and not rough from the strong winds. Chimpanzees at Ngamba Island are more fun to look at on a dry day and most of the activities at the island are open door activities.

While searching for the shoebill stork, the dry weather provides a conducive environment since most of the canoes do not have covers over the top to shield you from the rains.

The dry season also attracts more tourists to engage in these safari adventures which requires advance booking especially during the peak season. Competition for the best birding guides in Uganda is high since they are few who are knowledgeable and experienced.

Is It Safe To Visit Ngamba Island And Mabamba Swamp?

It is safe to visit Ngamba Island as long as you follow the rules of this chimpanzee sanctuary. Use the right boat to get to Ngamba Island. Ensure you wear the safety gear and keep calm while on the trip to Ngamba Sanctuary. Even traveling to Mabamba swamp requires you to use the right boat in good condition.

On ground at Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary is Ngamba security team to protect the chimpanzees and the sanctuary at large from unlawful invaders. As a tourist, you must walk into the forest where the chimpanzees spend their time without an escorting staff. These Chimpanzees may be habituated but if you agitate them, they can charge.

We encourage clients who are to engage in chimpanzee integration or up close to inoculate to avoid chances of picking any infection from these wild animals or you passing any infection to them. chimpanzees have about 98% human DNA which opens chances for them to acquire human infections and this is why they are vulnerable primates.

How Much Is The Cost Of A Visit To Ngamba Island And Mabamba Swamp?

To cost the tour to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Mabamba Swamp, activities to engage in while on the visit need to be considered. Ngamba chimpanzee Island rates vary with what you engage in and the means of transport you hope to use. There is also the minimum number of people that the boat must have before some of these costs are applied.

How sure Can I be to see the chimpanzees in Ngamba Island?

Chimpanzees in Ngamba Island are a sure deal. These chimpanzees may be spending the day in the forested part of this island but often monitored by staff at the island. These chimpanzees are habituated to human presence since there are fed by staff at the Island.

While at the chimpanzee feeding platform at the Island, you witness the survival for the fittest coming to life as the elders pick out the big share and the weak may miss out on the meal. 

How sure can I Be To See the Shoebill Stork in Mabamba Swamp?

The shoebill stork of Mabamba swamp are living in the wild without anyone stopping them from moving in the different parts of the swamp. Some level of patience is required when searching for these ancient birds. Even the locals who encroach on the swamp to collect some raw materials like the papyrus reeds, set traps for fish and force these birds to move deeper into the swamp.

How long is the tour to Ngamba Island and Mabamba Swamp?

The tours to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary varies that is the daily visit is morning and afternoon while others may overnight at the Island. The time taken when feeding the chimpanzees varies too depending on what they are being offered but tourists are required to be at the island atleast one hour before feeding time. This is to enable you listen to the informative talk about these chimpanzees and behavior expected of you when with them.

The search time for the shoebill in Mabamba Swamp varies with their location. These birds need to find food and some protect their eggs which they lay in the swamp. This is why tourists are requested to have some level of patience. Some tourists locate the shoe bill on arrival at the swamp while others may take more time.

Is There Age Limit To Chimpanzee Viewing In Ngamba Island?

There is no age limit to chimpanzee viewing at Ngamba Island as long as the children are under the care of a responsible adult. Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary is an island that is surrounded by water and a child that is unattended may wander into the water. Even when sailing on the boat to and from the island, children need to be supervised by a responsible adult.

Are chimpanzees in Ngamba Island Sanctuary aggressive?

The chimpanzees at Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary are not aggressive because they are habituated to be in human presence first. Even the chimpanzees that are newly introduced to the sanctuary are first oriented for some time until proven ready for public viewing.

This doesn’t mean that you try to tease or provoke these chimpanzees because they are still wild animals. They may charge when provoked by hooting, walking into hiding and much more. Ensure you do not shout at these chimpanzees because this may sound suspicious to them.

Is A Visit To Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary Worth The Time And Money?

A visit to Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary is worth the time and money because it is an opportunity to see human’s closest relatives. Chimpanzees elsewhere in the world are kept in cages which may deprive them off the opportunity to showcase their natural behavior. Learn more about the behavior of the chimpanzees whose life is closely similar to that of humans.

Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary visit is one way to support the work of conserving these primates and their habitat. When this sanctuary was opened, one of its aims are to give the chimpanzees a second chance to life, educate visitors, local communities and the general public about the relevancy of protecting these primates plus the forests where they thrive.

You may also tip generally to the staff at the sanctuary to encourage them to continue with the work of supporting these vulnerable chimpanzees.

Is The Canoe Ride To Mabamba Island Worth The Time?

The canoe ride to Mabamba swamp is an unforgettable experience as you sail through the lush surrounding vegetation into the open space surrounded by papyrus reeds and other vegetation. Look out for other water birds that love spending their time in this swamp.

When you finally spot the shoebill, it is an exciting moment because this is one of the main reasons for visiting this area. The shoebill stork is one of the ancient birds in the world but under extinction as their habitants are being destroyed. The shoebills lay their eggs in the swamp and these may be eaten by other swamp dwellers like snakes or flooded away or misplaced by humans who collect material from the swamp.

What to pack for a safari to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Mabamba Swamp?

• Raincoat or poncho in case it rains while on the Island or on the boat to Mabamba swamp.
• Camera to take photos and keep memories of this holiday experience.
• Toiletries in case just in case your skin is sensitive.
• Safari hat with a large foldable brim to protect your head from buzzing insects.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the string sunrays.
• Sunscreen to cover your body from Ultra Violet rays
• Backpack or rack sack to keep in your belongings
• Some hard cash for on ground purchases
• A torch for lighting while at night
• Flip flops to change into after a long day
•  Extra clothes to change into after a long day of activities
• Warm wear because it gets so sold very early morning and afternoon
• Beach wear to use for swimming in the water at the beach of Ngamba Island
• Pair of stockings to wear in your safari boots or canvas
• Safari shoes like canvas in case you have to walk at Ngamba island
• A pair of binoculars to capture closer visibility of far ranging features.
• Some snacks to munch as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire day
• Extra batteries fully charged in case one runs low on power.
• Charger and travel adapter in case you need to recharge 
• Raincoat in case it falls
• First aid kit for any emergency while on this Uganda safari
• A travel adapter and charger in case you need it.

Contact us for more information about combining a Boat Excursion To Ngamba Island With A Canoe Ride To Mabamba For a Shoebill Stork Experience.