However the forest is not large enough to provide long-term sustenance for the 34 chimps at the sanctuary, so staff members feed them four times every day. Two of these feeds are delivered from the viewing platform, providing an opportunity for the island's many visitors to observe and photograph the chimps.
The chimps have the choice to stay in the forest overnight or to return to the holding facility. Usually, they choose the holding facility. This shelter was built for the purpose of social integration and veterinary management needs, and includes sleeping platforms and hammocks as well as grass for nest-building.
The sanctuary was established in 1998, after 19 chimps were moved from the Uganda Wildlife Education Center and from the much smaller Isinga Island in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Since then, there has been an influx of orphan chimps, mainly poached from the forests of neighboring Congo and smuggled into Uganda for trade. Ngamba Island is now home to 34 chimpanzees (April 2002). The integration of these recent orphans into the established original community is ongoing. The chimps range in age from two to 19 years old, with an almost equal balance of males and females.
All sexually mature females are given a contraceptive implant. This does not disrupt the chimpanzees’ normal social/sexual behavior, but prevents pregnancy in the same way as the human contraceptive pill or implant. The sanctuary exists to provide the best facilities and care to captive chimpanzees in Uganda, and therefore it must reserve its capacity and resources for other orphans who may need them in the future, rather than breed chimpanzees in captivity. The sanctuary may change this policy if it proves necessary or beneficial to allow breeding in the future.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is part of an integrated approach to chimpanzee conservation in Uganda. Other programs include: a census study of wild chimpanzee populations; two snare removal programs; chimpanzee habituation to small groups of human visitors for the purposes of eco-tourism; and education and outreach initiatives. The carrying capacity of the sanctuary (30 chimpanzees) has already been surpassed, and plans are now underway to build a second sanctuary on a neighboring island.
Ngamba Island is part of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, a unique formation of five international conservation groups: the Jane Goodall Institute, Born Free Foundation, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Uganda Wildlife Education Center Trust and the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales, Australia.
Kibale Forest
Kibale, 766 sq. km, is one of Uganda's most enchanting forested parks. Here, you can hike in the park for hours observing the drama of a dense equatorial rainforest rich in primates, birds, butterflies and plants. The park contains pristine lowland tropical rain forest, montane forest, and mixed tropical deciduous forest. In addition to forest, there are areas of grassland and swamp.
This recently established reserve home to the highest concentration of primates in the world. Eleven different species have been counted there, including red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, blue monkey, white cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, black & white and red colobus. The main attraction, however, are the 500 Chimpanzees, which have been habituated to human visitors since 1992. You can search for some of our closest relatives on a guided 4-hour forest walk. More than likely, the Chimps will be found on one of the huge figtrees where they spend the day, feeding on the sweet ripe fruits. Every once in a while, a young male tries to threaten the visitors, but those mock-attacks are more funny than scary. Chimp viewing is very good, 95% of clients will see chimps in Kibale Forest.
Compared to montane forests, the trees here grow much higher and reach incredible circumferences. Broad roots support the giants, small streams find their way through the dense undergrowth, and once in a while, the forest opens into swampy clearings, where buffalos and antelopes graze. The forest is also home to Uganda's third largest population of elephants. With its varied flora providing a plentiful habitat to many species of butterflies and birds, including Hornbills and Turacos, it is a paradise for botanists and ornithologists alike.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
UNESCO has declared The Queen Elizabeth National Park a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity. The Queen Elizabeth is absolutely outstanding for the incredible diversity of eco-systems which range from savannah to tropical forest and meadowland to crater lakes. The park's 2,000 square kilometres also boast a terrific variety of game.
This is one of the best places in the world for bird-watching. Over 500 bird species are found here. There are no less that eleven species of kingfisher, a magnificent selection of raptors, and pink clouds of flamingo on several of the crater lakes. The animal world is also very varied and includes elephant and hippo, buffalo and Ugandan kob, bushbuck, waterbuck, many antelope and the fast disappearing chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge (chimp viewing success here is 50/50, with trekking being quite difficult). In the Queen Elizabeth National Park the lions climb trees, particularly in the Ishasha region, just as they do in the Lake Manyara region of Tanzania.
One of the best, and most relaxing, ways to see game is to take a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel, between Lakes George and Edward. This park is one of Uganda's great treasures.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the western Rift Valley lies on the Zaire border adjacent to the Parc National des Virungas. It is one of the largest (331 sq. km) natural forests in East Africa and contains both montane and lowland forest. It supports a large number of plants and animals endemic to the region, but most notably half of the world's population of Mountain Gorillas. The more than 300 Mountain Gorillas, divided into a dozen groups, make up the largest surviving population. The other half is split between Zaire and Rwanda, where they used to roam freely until they were separated by encroachment and farming.
The rugged terrain makes hiking in search of the gorillas streneous work. There are three habituated groups, 'Mubare' and 'Katendegyere' and one that has been introduced only recently. A maximum of 6 visitors are allowed per day for 2 families and 4 visitors for the recently introduced family. Tracking begins with a fairly strenuous walk through the forest up steep and slippery slopes, to where the Gorillas were found on the previous day. Then the trackers look for any signs - pressed-down grass, broken twigs, dung - that might tell them the direction the group has taken. Visitors follow through the dense undergrowth until they reach where the Gorillas spent the night. Then the search continues, at times crawling through the thickets, until the gorillas are found.
Mountain Gorillas cover long distances each day and tours can last anywhere between three to eight hours. There are very strict rules to follow when around the gorillas, to prevent behavioral disturbances and transmission of disease from human beings to gorillas. Even the common cold could be fatal to a gorilla and sick participants are not allowed to join.
Even if you don't go see the gorillas, there is plenty to do in the Impenetrable Forest. You can join guided walks and choose between a two-hour stroll to some beautiful waterfalls and various hikes, lasting up to seven-hour and leading to a number of peaks. The area around Buhoma is an excellent place for watching primates and birds and you may catch a glimpse of the noisy but evasive Chimpanzees or the beautiful Hornbills and Turacos. The forest is home to 120 species of mammals, 346 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies, and 163 species of trees, making it one of the richest ecosystems in Africa.
General clothing
Cotton clothing is the most comfortable during the day. Uganda is warm in the plains but often cold in the hilly and mountainous areas; a rain jacket and heavy sweater is therefore essential.
What to take for the Gorilla and Chimp tracks
It is best to have layers of clothing as temperatures tend to change - warm clothes, fleece or light wool sweater, moisture wicking undergarments, lightweight wool socks, long-sleeved shirt, strong waterproof walking boots, sturdy trousers, sunglasses, a torch, fast film, binoculars, sun screen, a sun hat, a breathable lightweight rain poncho or parka with a rain hat, gloves to grip vegetation and a small backpack to carry water and a packed lunch. The guides will make you a walking stick if needed or you can bring a ski stick.
General info on the Gorilla trek
Gorilla permits need to be arranged and paid for in advance. Each gorilla park (Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda; Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda and Djomba in Congo) have different numbers of permits, separate procedures and tariffs. Permits are non-refundable except for medical reasons and a medical certificate has to be provided. Gorilla viewing can be denied at short notice because of national park or border closures, security changes or gorillas going out of range. In such circumstances refunds are at the discretion of the authority and are not within the company's control. Obtaining a gorilla permit therefore is not a guarantee of seeing a gorilla. Seeing a gorilla in the wild should be seen as a privilege, not as a guaranteed sighting at a zoo. To protect gorillas from disease, no children under 15 or people with illnesses may go tracking. One hour is allowed with the gorillas, at a distance of at least 5 metres. Flash photography is not allowed, so fast film is useful (400-1600 ASA). Personal video recorders are allowed. Professional film makers require permission and purchase filming permits. Trackers must be fit, in good health and properly equipped (see Equipment). Tracking in thick forest at heights up to 3,000m traversing steep-sided mountains and ravines can be tough, arduous and wet. Porters can be hired to carry equipment. Part of the gorilla permit fee goes to communities living around the gorilla parks.
Visas
A valid passport with at least 6 months validity is mandatory. Ugandan visas are required by citizens of the European Union, the USA and Japan; other nationals should check. Visas can be obtained at Ugandan missions or at Entebbe Airport. Rwandan visas are not required by nationals of Canada, Germany, South Africa, Sweden, UK and USA. Other nationals can obtain them at Rwandese missions or at Kigali Airport.
Estimated Cost—Priced from US$4334 per person (cost based on 2 people travelling)
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