Volunteering at Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda
Volunteering at Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary means spending 1 to 4 weeks on Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria, Uganda, helping caregivers look after more than 50 rescued chimpanzees.
Volunteers prepare food, help at feeding times, clean the night-time holding area, build enrichment for the chimps, record behaviour, and help maintain the island. The Chimpanzee Trust runs two programmes, a 1-week and a 4-week placement, and you apply directly through the Trust.
Ngamba Island is about 23 km southeast of Entebbe, a 45 to 50 minute speedboat ride across the Equator. The sanctuary has cared for orphaned and confiscated chimpanzees since 1998, most of them rescued from the illegal pet and bushmeat trade.
This guide covers what volunteers do, the difference between the two programmes, who can apply, how to get there, where you stay, what it costs, and how to book.
Ngamba Volunteer Programme at a Glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Run by | Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust) |
| Location | Ngamba Island, Lake Victoria, about 23 km southeast of Entebbe, Uganda |
| Programmes | 1-week or 4-week placement |
| Chimpanzees in care | More than 50 rescued chimpanzees |
| Working day | Long days, roughly 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with breaks |
| Accommodation | Volunteer resource centre on the island |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner included |
| Getting there | Speedboat from Entebbe, 45 to 50 minutes |
| Cost | Programme fee set by the Trust; ask for current rates when you apply |
| How to apply | Online through the Chimpanzee Trust booking site, or email re**********@*************st.org |
About Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Ngamba Island is part of the Koome group of islands in Lake Victoria. About 100 acres in size, it is almost entirely covered in tropical forest, which the chimpanzees roam during the day. A smaller area near the shore holds the staff camp, visitor platform and night-time holding facility.
The sanctuary was established in 1998 by the Chimpanzee Trust, a Ugandan non-governmental organisation. It cares for chimpanzees that were orphaned by hunting or confiscated from the illegal pet and bushmeat trade, often as infants. Because they grew up without their mothers and lack wild survival skills, most cannot be returned to the wild, so Ngamba gives them a safe forest home for life.
The sanctuary is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and is a member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance. Beyond the island, the Trust runs environmental education in schools and community conservation projects in the forests of western Uganda, where wild chimpanzees still live alongside farms. Learn why these programmes matter in why chimpanzees are endangered and where chimpanzees live.
Besides chimpanzees, the island is home to monitor lizards, otters, fruit bats and many birds, including African fish eagles.
The Two Ngamba Volunteer Programmes
| 1-Week Programme | 4-Week Programme | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Travellers with limited time | Students and those wanting deeper experience |
| Where | Ngamba Island | Ngamba Island, plus the Trust’s field project in Hoima, western Uganda |
| Chimpanzee care | Food preparation, feeding, cleaning, enrichment | All 1-week tasks |
| Research | Behavioural data collection and chimp diaries | Research project assistant work |
| Veterinary work | Assisting with medical procedures only if one is needed during your stay | Observing veterinary checks |
| Community work | Supporting community projects | School outreach trips and an environmental education and livelihoods programme |
| Certificate | Certificate of participation | Certificate of participation |
The 4-week programme includes accommodation at the island’s resource centre and budget twin rooms at the Hoima field site, three meals a day, group airport transfers on arrival and departure, transport between sites, an English-speaking guide, bottled water, entrance fees and the listed activities.
What Volunteers Do at Ngamba
As a volunteer you work alongside the sanctuary’s caregivers, always under their supervision. Typical tasks include:
- Food preparation: washing, chopping and portioning fruit, vegetables and porridge for the chimpanzees.
- Feeding: helping caregivers at the scheduled feeds, when the chimps gather at the forest edge.
- Cleaning: cleaning the night-time holding facility where the chimps sleep.
- Enrichment: making and setting puzzles, food hides and other activities that keep the chimps mentally active.
- Behavioural data: recording observations and typing up the individual “chimp diaries”.
- Island maintenance: supporting upkeep of paths, buildings and facilities.
- Evening routine: helping prepare hay for the chimps’ night-time nests and watching them settle in their hammocks.
You learn each chimpanzee’s name, history and personality, and how caregivers read their gestures and calls. Most volunteers say this is the most rewarding part of the stay.
A Typical Day as a Volunteer
Days are long and active, running from about 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with breaks.
- Early morning: prepare breakfast for the chimps and release them into the forest for the day.
- Morning: food preparation, cleaning the holding facility and the first feeds. Visitor feeding sessions take place at about 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- Afternoon: enrichment, behavioural observation and maintenance, with another feed at about 2:30 p.m.
- Evening: the last feed at about 6:30 p.m., then bringing the chimps in, preparing nests and writing up the day’s records.
The pace is demanding, but the rhythm of the island, with sunset over Lake Victoria and the chimps calling from the forest at dusk, makes it unforgettable.
Who Can Volunteer at Ngamba?
The programme suits anyone with a genuine interest in chimpanzees and conservation. Veterinary and biology students, conservation enthusiasts and animal lovers all take part, and the Trust hosts around 20 or more volunteers a year. No previous experience with animals is needed.
You should be:
- Physically fit enough for long days of practical work in heat and humidity
- Comfortable with basic shared living on a small island
- Willing to follow strict safety and hygiene rules
- In good health, because chimpanzees can catch human illnesses
The Trust sets the minimum age and the health documents it needs, such as vaccination records and a medical certificate. Confirm the current requirements when you apply, and read our list of things to avoid while in Uganda before you travel.
Safety Around the Chimpanzees
The Ngamba chimpanzees are adults, and an adult chimpanzee is several times stronger than a person. Volunteers follow caregivers’ instructions at all times and work from behind barriers and in designated areas. Read more in are chimpanzees dangerous and how strong chimpanzees are.
How to Get to Ngamba Island
All boats leave from Pelican Lodge and Marina in Entebbe.
| Boat | Journey time | Departures |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | 45 to 50 minutes | 9:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. |
| Motorised wooden canoe | About 90 minutes | 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. |
Entebbe International Airport is Uganda’s main international gateway, so most volunteers fly straight in and spend a night in Entebbe before the boat.
If you are arriving in Kampala, allow about an hour for the drive to Entebbe. See our guide to accommodation in Kampala. The boat trip itself is part of the experience; read about a Lake Victoria boat cruise.
Volunteer Accommodation and Meals
Volunteers stay at the volunteer resource centre on Ngamba Island. Facilities are simple but comfortable, and three meals a day are provided. On the 4-week programme, the field placement in Hoima uses budget twin rooms. Tourists on overnight visits stay separately, in the island’s tented eco-lodge.
How Much Does It Cost to Volunteer at Ngamba?
The Chimpanzee Trust sets the volunteer fee for each programme, and it covers accommodation, meals, transport and a contribution to the sanctuary’s work. Fees change from year to year, so ask the Trust for the current rate when you apply.
Budget separately for international flights, your Uganda visa, travel insurance, and any travel before or after your placement. For wider trip budgets, see Uganda safari cost.
How to Apply
- Choose your programme: 1 week or 4 weeks.
- Apply online through the Chimpanzee Trust’s booking site, or email re**********@*************st.org.
- Confirm your dates, health requirements and fee with the Trust.
- Book your flights to Entebbe and arrange any travel before or after your placement.
Spaces are limited, so apply several months ahead, especially for June to August and December to January.
Other Ways to Visit or Support Ngamba
Not ready to commit a week or more? You can still see the chimpanzees and support the sanctuary.
- Half-day and full-day trips: take the boat from Entebbe and watch a feeding from the raised viewing platform. Our Lake Victoria boat cruise guide covers the crossing.
- Overnight stay: sleep at the island’s tented eco-lodge, see the morning and evening feeds, and enjoy a sunset over the lake.
- Adopt a chimpanzee: sponsor an individual chimp through the Trust’s adoption programme.
- Donate: gifts pay for food, veterinary care and enrichment.
Best Time to Volunteer
The sanctuary welcomes volunteers all year. The drier months, June to August and December to February, bring calmer boat crossings and easier outdoor work. The rainy seasons, March to May and October to November, are greener and quieter, with heavy showers usually in the afternoon.
What to Pack
- Work clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and sturdy closed shoes
- A light rain jacket and a warm layer for evenings on the lake
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, as the Equator sun is strong
- Insect repellent and malaria tablets, on medical advice
- A reusable water bottle and a head torch
- A notebook for behavioural observations
- Your vaccination records and any medical documents the Trust requests
Use our East Africa safari packing list for the rest of your trip.
Combine Volunteering With a Uganda Safari
Many volunteers add a Uganda safari before or after their placement. Seeing chimpanzees in the wild completes the story you learn at Ngamba.
- Wild chimpanzees: track them in Kibale Forest on our 3 Days Kibale Primate Safari, or browse chimpanzee safari packages in Uganda.
- Gorillas and chimps together: try the 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Kibale Chimps or the 8 Day Uganda Primate Safari.
- Near Entebbe: look for the shoebill on a 1 Day Mabamba Birding Tour, or try rafting on our 2 Days Jinja Tour.
- Rhinos: see white rhinos on foot with 1 Day Rhino Tracking in Uganda.
Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering at Ngamba
How long can I volunteer at Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary?
You can volunteer for 1 week or 4 weeks. The 4-week programme adds research work, school outreach and time at the Trust’s field project in Hoima.
How much does it cost to volunteer at Ngamba?
The Chimpanzee Trust sets the programme fee, which covers accommodation, meals, transport and a contribution to the sanctuary. Ask the Trust for the current rate when you apply. Flights, visas and insurance are extra.
Do volunteers touch the chimpanzees?
Volunteers work closely with the caregivers but follow strict safety rules around the chimpanzees, who are adults and very strong. Contact is controlled by the caregivers and limited to what the sanctuary allows.
Do I need experience with animals?
No. Caregivers train you on arrival. A love of animals, patience and good fitness matter more than experience.
Where do volunteers stay?
Volunteers stay at the resource centre on Ngamba Island, with three meals a day included. The 4-week programme also uses budget twin rooms in Hoima.
How do I get to Ngamba Island?
By boat from Pelican Lodge and Marina in Entebbe. A speedboat takes 45 to 50 minutes and a motorised canoe about 90 minutes.
Can I visit Ngamba without volunteering?
Yes. You can take a half-day or full-day trip to watch the feeding, or stay overnight at the island’s tented eco-lodge.
How many chimpanzees live at Ngamba?
More than 50 rescued chimpanzees live on the island. Most were orphaned or confiscated from the illegal pet and bushmeat trade.
More Chimpanzee Guides
- Chimpanzee diet
- Chimpanzee mating and chimpanzee mating swelling
- What do chimpanzees smell like?
- Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda
- All Uganda safaris
Plan Your Ngamba Volunteer Trip
Apply for your placement directly with the Chimpanzee Trust. Then let us take care of the rest of your Uganda safari: airport transfers, a night in Entebbe, and a chimpanzee or gorilla safari before or after your stay. Send us your dates through our contact page.
