After more than an hour's ride on Lake Victoria's choppy water, we finally reached the Ngamba Island Chimpanzees Sanctuary, Uganda.
We had a short introduction from Joseph, one of the guides from the Chimpanzees Sanctuary.
The Chimpanzees Sanctuary is about 100 acres in area.
However, 95 acres have been allocated to the chimps for them to roam free while five acres are for administration, other and visitor uses.
This five acre human use area has been fenced off by electrical fences powered by solar power.
All of the chimpanzees have been rescued and brought to this sanctuary. Many have experienced some kinds of traumas while some baby chimps became orphans due to conflicts of wars in Africa. One of the baby chimps was brought here by soldiers who found him beside the body of his dead mother.
Each rescued chimpanzee has a story of its own.
We climbed the stairs to the viewing platform.
However, I was not sure if the chimpanzees were observing us from the other side or the other way around.
The chimpanzees are very smart and have complicated social interactions among themselves.
They recognized family structure such as the grandmother chimp, Connie, adopting baby chimps who are on the lower hierarchy of the chimpanzee society.
Connie helps to look after the baby chimps protecting them from other aggressive adult chimpanzees.
Each chimpanzee has been rescued and carefully documented by the sanctuary staff.
Visitors can read all about them from their pictures displayed at the viewing platform.
We learned about two chimps named Surprise, and Easy. These were two interesting stories told by the keeper.
Chimps at the Sanctuary are fed four times a day at: 8:30a.m., 11 a.m., 2p.m. and at 6 p.m.
We were there in time to see the 11 a.m. feeding by a staff member and a volunteer.
The meal for the chimps were consisted of fresh fruits cut into big pieces.
Chimps knew it was meal time and a few waved at the keepers to get their attention.
The keepers threw the fruits over the fence to where the chimps were. He was also watching carefully to make sure that all the chimps, not just the aggressive ones could catch the fruit.
He deliberately threw the food to some chimps who were far away as the closest spots were usually occupied by the more dominant and aggressive ones.
During this feeding, an eggplant landed outside the chimps' fenced area beyond their reach.
The chimps were smart enough not to reach over to grab this piece of fruit as they have learned that they would be shocked by the electrical fence.
Instead, they gestured to the keeper to get this piece of food for them.
The keeper picked up the fruit and placed it one the ledge just below the wired fence.
The chimps were smart enough not to touch this fruit with their bare hands. They thought for a while.
One of the chimps got a branch long enough to move the fruit away from the ledge pushing it onto the ground.
He picked up this fruit from a safe distance and got to enjoy it. How smart was that!
After watching and learning about the chimps, we walked around the island and admiring the beauty and tranquility of Ngamba Island.
We saw some trees full of birds' nests hanging all over the branches.
These birds nest were built by these yellow birds where they live.
We discovered some cottages which visitors can rent and stay for a few days on the island.
We enjoyed a fantastic grilled tilapia and chips plus beer served outdoors.
We shopped for some souvenirs and I bought a bag from the gift shop to support the sanctuary.
I must admit that visiting the Chimpanzees Sanctuary was not high on my priority at first.
But I went with my team as most members wanted to go. I was glad that I did accommodate my team members' wish and went along.
I enjoyed visiting the Chimp Sanctuary tremendously!
It was a highly valuable excursion!
R.T.
Ngamba Island
Chimpanzees Sanctuary
Uganda
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