The celebrations will be marked by an open day event for a special celebration of these remarkable primates and their conservation, where visitors to the island were accorded free entry to an immersive and enriching experience with the chimps.
Founded in 1988, the island in Lake Victoria offers 95 acres of natural forest where the chimps roam freely. Caring for the chimps is a 24/7, year-round commitment provided by a dedicated team of more than 22 caregivers, veterinarians, volunteers and island staff under the management of Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust), an NGO responsible for all aspects of the sanctuary.
Dr Joshua Rukundo, the executive director of the sanctuary, says they have planned a diverse range of activities to enlighten and entertain visitors. Visitors will be able to observe the chimpanzees in their natural habitat as they interact and showcase their remarkable intellect, while guides accompany visitors and share fascinating insights into the behavior, biology and conservation efforts surrounding these magnificent creatures.
“During the open day event, visitors will have the unique opportunity to witness the incredible work being done at Ngamba for free. While most will have to cater for their transportation to the island, we shall also be providing free transportation to around 100 people and invited guests,” Dr Rukundo said.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE ISLAND
The island is located in Lake Victoria approximately 23 kilometres south-east of mainland Entebbe; so, the easiest way to get there is by taking boats which mostly park and depart from Waterfront Beach, accessible through the Entebbe Zoo. The boats come in different sizes and capacities, depending on one’s budget.
A speed boat can take about 50 minutes while a local motorized canoe can take about 90 minutes. During a recent visit to the island, we were welcomed by Amos Okello, who has been a caregiver at the island for more than 15 years.
He says most of the chimpanzees they rescue are highly traumatized from the torture in the hands of poachers and being held captive by humans, and the caretakers’ work is cut out for them, to eliminate that trauma.
“Ngamba sanctuary currently has 52 chimpanzees which are completely orphaned. During daytime, they wake up very early in the morning, go to the forest and spend the whole day there. While in the forest, we give them food at three intervals; 8am, 11am and 2:30pm. The fourth feeding is done in the holding facility where they sleep,” Okello says, adding that they provide food to the chimpanzees because the forest is not big enough to sustainably feed them.
The chimpanzees feed on bananas, apples, jackfruits, oranges, passion fruits, watermelons, carrots, pineapples plus egg plants, potatoes and posho with a menu which is followed each day so they are not given the same type of food consistently.
However, while in the wild, chimpanzees are omnivores and they, therefore, hunt other animals for food. The ones at the island are, however, never given meat but they are provided with other protein-rich foods such as boiled eggs.
“We don’t give them meat because these are intelligent animals who can know that we humans also have meat so if by accident they scratch some skin from our bodies and taste it, they may start seeing us as a food source and become a threat to our lives, yet we have to be in contact with them to give them the necessary care they need,” Okello said.
FEEDING TIME
Witnessing the feeding of the chimpanzees is the most exciting part of visiting this sanctuary. At feeding time, the chimps respond to the siren from caregivers, and screech as they come running from the thick forest to the feeding area which is enclosed off by an electric fence, with visitors watching from raised platforms where the caregivers also stand and throw food into the enclosure.
The chimps stand with raised hands, clap and others make noise to attract the caretakers for more food. The strong ones easily grab the food from the weak ones which leads to fights.
During the 2:30pm feeding time we witnessed, Okello said, “What we have witnessed are some of the behaviors displayed by the chimpanzees during feeding. They were interacting, but also there was a lot of aggression and conflict because one chimpanzee stole food from another and as it did this, the other one went and reported to a friend who then came in to help.”
He said when the chimpanzees fight, they try not to interfere, but if the fight looks deadly, they rescue the one which is being overpowered by opening up the cages so that it runs to safety.
SLEEPING FACILITY
The chimpanzees at Ngamba island spend the day in the forest and return for a night in their sleeping area, though some choose to sleep in nests in the forest. The sleeping area comprises nine rooms each with nests and bars. The nests are raised at 10 meters to mimic the tall trees that chimps sleep in while in the wild. Individual chimpanzees make their nests using hay (grass) that is provided.
The sleeping facility is currently being renovated, to replace the floor, steel bar panels that have rusted as well as reinforcement of the entire structure so it can accommodate another 25 years of chimpanzees’ climbing, thumping, swinging and simply being chimps.
SOURCE OF FUNDS
The main source of funds to run the sanctuary is through donations from various well-wishers. The sanctuary also has a guardianship program where an individual adopts a chimp and contributes towards its wellbeing for some time.
Adoption for a month goes for $100 for five days $50, and two days go for $20. Those who adopt a chimp for a month get a chance of their name being displayed at the feeding platform with foreigners dominating the adoption list; Sudhir Ruparelia is the only Ugandan who has adopted a chimpanzee at the sanctuary.
Individuals, companies and institutions can also become friends of the chimpanzees through support categories of bronze, silver and gold with annual contributions of $250, $1,000 and $2,500, respectively.
“As we celebrate World Chimpanzee day, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the conservation efforts through donations, sponsorships and the adoption of a chimpanzee,” Dr Rukundo said.
ATTRACTING TOURISTS
Though it is a sanctuary, Ngamba island is being promoted as a top tourist destination for Uganda and ahead of the World Chimpanzee day celebrations, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) took more than 40 Ugandan diplomats, through the ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the island so they could promote the destination through their high commissions and embassies around the world.
According to Daniel Irunga, UTB senior marketing officer, Uganda is not only promoting Ngamba island as a conservation centre but also positioning it as an alternative tourist product on Lake Victoria that someone can visit while in Entebbe.
“This is the team that coordinates policy, tourism potential, and investment in the country in the countries where Uganda is represented. So, we brought them here to create awareness of the tourism facilities they can visit while they are here with us,” Daniel Irunga said.
Jessica Namuddu, a foreign service officer in the ministry of Foreign Affairs heading out on a mission in Berlin, Germany, said, “My experience at Ngamba island has been wonderful and I think everyone out there should experience this beautiful feeling with the chimpanzees. As we go out there to market our country, this is definitely one of the places we are going to be encouraging people to visit when they come to Uganda.”
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