OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR OVERNIGHT VISITORS

Have a Close-Up Chimpanzee Encounter – And Make A Difference in the Lives of Chimpanzees!
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers chimpanzee encounters including:
Life on the island, Forest walks, the chimpanzees, Caregiver for a day experience, Infant chimpanzees Integration and so much more!

Life on the Island

View any or both of the two day-time chimpanzee feedings (11.00am & 2.30pm) from the visitors platform, and enjoy unlimited use of the other island facilities. Optional activities include opportunities to observe the islands 154 recorded bird species; viewing of a local fishing village; a sunset cruise (to be arranged in advance); or simply relax on your tent’s private deck enjoying a memorable African sunset as thousands of bats make their daily flight around the island.
During your stay on Ngamba, as well as our camp staff, a CSWCT staff member will be resident on the island and available to provide information and answer any questions on chimpanzees and the project. Click here to explore Ngamba Chimpanzee trips

Forest walks with the chimpanzees:

The Forest Walk experience offers you an opportunity to join a group of infant chimpanzees on a one hour walk through their forest habitat, either in the late afternoon or very early morning. A maximum of four visitors are allowed in the forest for each walk, always accompanied by trained CSWCT staff for your safety and enjoyment. You will be in the company of several chimpanzees ranging in age from 1 year to 8 years of age and you will have direct contact. There are very specific instructions regarding clothing, cameras, glasses, and behaviour when signing up for this unique opportunity as these chimpanzees are used to human contact and they will play-bite, climb on you, grab your glasses, and pull your hair or even just walk along holding your hand. And that’s where the fun just begins!

Chimpanzee Caregiving for a day experience:

This is a unique program where our visitors get the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a Chimpanzee Caregiver by being Caregivers themselves! As a chimp caregiver, you will get the exciting opportunity to not only view the chimps feeding, but to participate in preparing their food and feeding them. You can assist the staff with any activities happening at the sanctuary that day – medical check ups, research and monitoring, preparing the holding areas for the chimps and other activities.  This is a new program aimed at helping our visitors understand and appreciate what it takes to look after our orphaned cousins on Ngamba Island as well as raising funds for their well being. The staff will work with you to show you just what is involved in taking care of these animals, how individual they are, and what makes them so special.

The forest walk and caregiver activities may only be done as an addition to the Ngamba Island overnight experience described above and has age restrictions and special medical requirements that need to be adhered to – please contact us directly by email for further details on how to book these options.

Infant chimpanzees Integration Program

This is a unique program that provides opportunity for visitors to participate in the integration of the infant chimps to the bigger individuals and group at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Chimpanzees as social animals live in social groups called communities. At Ngamba Island, thay have integrated the orphaned chimpanzees into one community. But this is a continuous program, as they get new individuals they go through the program of integrating them to the group. The Island currently has two infants that arrived end of August 2008. Until now they are integrated in the holding facility and they are now starting to integrate them from the outside enclosures as they slowly and one by one introduce the other bigger chimps to them. By being part of the team going out in the enclosure with the infants, you will have the opportunity to give support to them by holding them, as there may be need, as they are introduced to the juvenile individuals. After this stage of the integration, they are taken to the walk in the main forest. A maximum of two visitors will be allowed per session of the integration program that would last up to one hour, with two sessions a day, morning and evening. This is a very short term program. Take the chance while you still can!
Price per person USD400-