Ngamba Island Tented Camp
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#1 of 2 Specialty lodging in Ngamba Island
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.8
Value
4.4
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Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Uganda
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About 10 years ago, we lived in Nairobi, Kenya so could travel to other East African sites easily. When our family came to visit 1 time, we trekked with the Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and stay overnight at Ngamba. Both were amazing. But if it's still available to hang out with the young chimps by staying in the tents overnight, that is a must! We were with the handlers shepherding the young chimps (under 2 yrs old) out to the forest for the day. The chimps held our hands, climbed on our backs, but the highlight for me was when 1 jumped onto my lap when he was scared, then "asked" me to groom him! I fell in love!
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Date of stay: May 2016Trip type: Traveled with family
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Room Tip: You have to like sleeping on cots in tents but with ensuite bathrooms, it is fine.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A friend and I did a 1-night stay on Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in their permanent tented camp. Our boat ride to the Island over Lake Victoria was very rough even though it was blue skies, so we arrived drenched and a bit battered. But the staff were very welcoming and hospitable. It was straight into the briefing with Phillip with the day-trippers, then it was up to see the chimpanzees feeding. Lunch was included so that was a lovely meal after we had checked in and got organised in our tent. Great view from the bed and deck over Lake Victoria. Private/ensuite shower/toilet/sink wiht two beds in the zip up tent-on-stilts. (I'm not sure that I would have made the boat trip out and back for just the afternoon feeding - definitely stay overnight.) As part of our stay we had the Caregivers program, where we got to help prepare/chop the various foods for the multiple chimp feedings. We also got to create an "enrichment activity" for the few chimps held in the pens for various reasons. The forest-walk-with-the-chimps activity is no longer offered as none of the chimps are of the appropriate age or requiring that habituation/interaction. We were offered an Integration Experience (US$400 where you can have contact time with an appropriately behaved chimp, no photos) but it was outside our budget. On our evening we had a sunset cruise (slow boat!) with a drink and popcorn and peanuts, on Lake Victoria by nearby islands. On our departure morning we got to go on a forest walk (no chimps) (we were provided with overalls and gum boots) where we learned about a number of birds, bats, spiders!, plants. We had a few occasions to run because of safari (fire) ants - fun! - no issues :) The restaurant meals were lovely, and the staff were truly wonderful to the guests, and it is clear they care deeply for the chimps. The Sanctuary provides a wonderful lifeline for these primates. Worth the visit!…
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Date of stay: April 2017Trip type: Traveled with friends
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Ngamba Island was one of the highlights of our Uganda trip. We stayed one night at the island, including the caregiver for a day program. The interaction with the chimps is really amazing. The staff is very friendly and makes you feel really welcome. Unfortunately we could not do the nightwalk as one (somewhat aggressive) chimp did not come back to camp at the end of the day. As an alternative, we were offered to hang out with a couple of juvenile chimps but had to pay USD 400 per person extra which we were not willing to do. The tents are great. Good bed, toilet, hot shower and an amazing view over Lake Victoria. The food is very good too. We would really recommend this place when visiting Uganda!
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Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Charlotte Beauvoisin Diary of a Muzungu wrote a review Jan 2016
Kampala, Uganda493 contributions134 helpful votes
I’ve visited Ngamba a number of times and every time it gets better. The forest is fabulous - surely the densest and most protected outside the National Parks. I loved the boat trip from Entebbe - that crosses the Equator! We got a lovely welcome on the island, 45 minutes later. We had decided to stay overnight at the camp and booked the caregiver package, which gives you behind-the-scenes access. Everyone who visits the island has a talk about chimpanzees, their habitats, and the many threats to their survival. You are then taken up to the viewing platform when chimpanzees are given a variety of fruits. The animals come out of the forest at a given time to meet you. You will love this experience! There’s a lot more to a stay at Ngamba Island than seeing the chimpanzees. The birdlife is fantastic and staff are very knowledgeable, about all the island’s inhabitants: the chimpanzees, the birds, bats, the monitor lizards, the trees - and much more besides. We stayed in the tented camp. 2 single beds per tent, ensuite bathroom with hot water shower and flushing chemical toilets, beautiful wooden floor. Very nicely decorated, perfectly clean. The tented camp is well lit and you have your own verandah overlooking the lake. There are only a small number of fixed tents, but it is possible to bring your own tent as well. You really can’t beat sleeping on the edge of Lake Victoria the sound of the water lulling you to sleep. It’s incredibly relaxing. The food is excellent. Compliments to the chef Samuel. For best value for money, stay more than one night and/or arrange your travel so you are sharing a boat with other people. We only stayed one night, I would definitely recommend staying longer.…
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Traveled with family
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Room Tip: For best value for money, stay more than one night and/or arrange your travel so you are sharing...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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I visited Ngamba Island just for a day trip and I cannot wait to return for the overnight experience. It is well-run and an amazing opportunity to see chimpanzees. The staff are committed, engaging, attentive and knowledgeable. The food was great and the entire experience was phenomenal. Highly recommend. I traveled solo but our group included two children -- I would say it's great for families, probably kids over 4. The boat trip can be a bit choppy which was fine for me but people who are bothered by it might do well to check the weather first. It is also important to note that some of the experiences require medical clearances so some advance planning may be required.
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Date of stay: May 2015Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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I just returned from an extended trip to Uganda and Rwanda and the highlight of my trip was a two-night visit to Ngamba Island. Please visit this sanctuary, if you are able to do so. Everyone who works on Ngamba Island is dedicated to the welfare of these lovely animals. I participated in the "caregiver for a day" and the "integration program" while on the island. I was very happy with my experience. Bruce was the caregiver that I shadowed for my stay. He was very knowledgable, supportative and forgiving, when it came to my mistakes while taking care of the chimps. Titus, the vet and sanctuary supervisor, was a wealth of information and personally made me feel welcomed and a part of the team. Yunus, the chef, created the best meals for me, catering to my every whim! The most enjoyable experience ever. I would return for a longer stay in a heartbeat. They are doing great work for orphaned and abused chimpanzees at the island. P.S. If you go during the rainy season (for me, May) you will be treated to spectacular thunder, lightning and rainstorms during the night! Since I live in California, I am not used to this type of display. Spent most of one night watching the electrical display over Entebbe from my tent. Absolutely fabulous.…
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Date of stay: May 2014Trip type: Traveled solo
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Room Tip: I was in the Mika tent, one that is the highest on the hill and separated from the other three. A...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We started our 2 weeks in Uganda with a 3 day/2 night stay on Ngamba Island to do a combined caretaker & integration programme with the chimps that live here, now numbering 48. All the caregivers that work here have hearts as big as their smiles. We were made to feel very welcome and got involved with all aspects of looking after these amazing and very individual animals. From our initial briefing on the mainland with head vet, Dr. Joseph,and having all the required vaccinations double-checked, ( yes, they are a nuisance but very necessary and soon forgotten) to our boat driver, George, our guide, Innocent , chef Abbey and Bruce, Amos & Byron we felt part of a team doing great work here, if only briefly. Many of the chimps have come from terrible environments and have been confiscated from market stalls,circuses or private collections unable to cope with their needs. Some of the young ones had witnessed their parents being slaughtered for bush meat and require long rehabilitation programmes. The work being done here by the caregivers was far harder and more constant than we had thought and we can only thank and admire them for such a commitment. The Forest walk was truly the highlight of our stay here and we would urge anyone considering a visit here to include this special experience with the chimps and stay overnight to do it. We had a long and exhilarating walk with 8 females, and, as per other reviews, they will hitch a ride on your back if you are willing. My partner carried fussy young Afrika and I had Billie on my back ( all 37 kgs of her! ) . Both of these chimps featured in the wonderful BBC series called "Last chance to See" with Stephen Fry. Unfortunately, photography of the walk is not allowed, as it could encourage the pet trade. This is completely understandable and all those wonderful images we have will stay in our memories forever. At the time we stayed here, late May 2012, the Sanctuary was taking over the running of the accommodation from Wild Frontiers and had dismantled three of the tents and the dining room in order to refurbish and expand them. This left only one serviceable tent for overnight guests , so as such, we were the only two visitors on the Island at that time. There were, however, many builders and tradespeople working during the day, so the disruption to the number of guests able to stay should be brief. The tent we stayed in was called 'Mikka" after the alpha male, and had comfortable twin beds, ensuited bathroom complete with pole-bucket shower and a lovely deck that we had several nice meals on due to the dining room refurbishments. Great to retire to after a full day of food preparation and cleaning. All in all, we just loved it here and have discussed doing a 2 week volunteer programme here since returning home. It was a fantastic start to our trip through the beautiful country of Uganda, which, incidentally, was organised brilliantly by local travel firm NATURETRACK EXPEDITIONS who provided us with the nicest guide/driver/teacher/friend on the planet...Robert, as we then headed south for several Gorilla Treks. ( reviewed separately ).…
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Date of stay: May 2013Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Please visit this sanctuary. Even if you can't stay over night--visit the chimps. While there is nothing that can compare to the wild, this sanctuary comes close. The staff really care about the animals and do everything they can to make the animals lives better. We did the immersion and the caregiver for a day programs. SO glad we did both. Feeding those creatures and holding the babies was something i will never forget. Thank you, Ngamba. Even if I am not able to visit again, I will be a donor for life.
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Date of stay: December 2013Trip type: Traveled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We really enjoyed our time on this well set out and beautiful island. The location is superb. The tents themselves are nice, great vista on the water, relatively clean - it is a tent afterall. One annoyance was big wasps that just wouldn't leave the tent alone, kept on trying to come in. Not the fault of the camp but was a pain. The food was nice and service was top notch, people remembered your name. The singing and music around the camp fire was enthusiastic and didn't seem contrived, staff seemed to enjoy it and almost went on too long! The chimps were great, we enjoyed Sara and Medina and Eddie was also a favourite. Recommend the forest walk as a once in a life time experience. All the vaccines required is a pain/ hassle but, on balance, is worth it.
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
I had an incredible time here. The tents are rustic, which is as they should be. The sanctuary is a lovely place. The staff is incredibly friendly and informative. The chimpanzees are amazing to watch. I was able to do a forest walk with the chimpanzees and it was just a magical experience. I walked with 6 chimpanzees. Pasarode on my back until her weight got to me and i had to put her down. My favorite was Ikuru because she was soooo sweet and gentle. You can see more on my blog: www.singleblackfemaletravelstheworld.com The food at the camp was delicious too.
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Date of stay: December 2012Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
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Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
$1,299 - $1,324 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
UgandaCentral RegionNgamba Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ngamba Island Tented Camp
Which popular attractions are close to Ngamba Island Tented Camp?
Nearby attractions include Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary (0.01 miles).
What food & drink options are available at Ngamba Island Tented Camp?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is Ngamba Island Tented Camp located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.3 miles away from the center of Ngamba Island.