trip to Ngamba Island
 

Returned from trip this past October and loved it!!!! Well worth the extra time and money to travel there from either Kenya or Tanzania. What a wonderful experience and thrill to interact with the chimps. Will answer any questions from future travelers.

Glad you enjoyed it. How long did you stay? I went in July 2004. Agree it was wonderful!

I left home on 10-1-05 and returned on 10-23-05. Had so much fun planning the trip and even more there! I can't say enough about Ngamba Island. I think everyone going to Africa should stop over for a few days!! Now I am planning China for October. So much more complicated finding the right tour company.

i have been told that i can only do the chimp walk if i stay over night. overnite costs $280/pp, plus $150 for the chimp walk...so $430 for 1 hr with chimps and 2 feedings you can view, obvioulsy plus a bed and meals ??

am i getting this right? does that not seem costly to any of you?

Kitskid-
That sounds about right to me. I did it last Feb ('05) and I believe it was either $100 or $150 for the walk. But it is so much fun.
You also get to attend the feedings, take part in cutting up the food for the chimps if you'd like, and also do enrichment exercises with the little ones.
You are served breakfast, lunch and dinner while there as well.
It's not inexpensive, but I thought it was well worth it and very much enjoyed my stay on Ngamba.

kitskid,
Don't forget there's an extensive list of immunizations that are required for the chimp walk as detailed in this thread - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34638870

The prices for Ngamba Island are correct. While it is costly..it is really worth it!!!! The forest walk is about an hour. Just staying overnite there is great. The sights and sounds and the food was really good. All the funds collected go towards work on the island and possibly expanding their space. It was truly the best part of my African adventure.

You actually have more than just the hour with the chimps and the two feedings. You can watch the chimps all day long. The younger ones are usually visible for most of the day. Also good birding and you can take a boat to neighboring villages.

Would love to know anything and everything - organisation, management, non-management staff, service, food, accommodation, activities, guiding, climate, interactions with local peoples, anything you can share really...

Kavey...you can email them at [email protected]

Kavey,
Also go to their website. It has lots of great info on the sanctuary.
www.ngambaisland.org

I can't imagine going back to Uganda and not returning again for at least a night. Having those little chimps hug all over you during the forest walk is so much fun.
And they love to be spinned around, turned upside down, generally played with like a small child.
You will definitely see a mixture of personalities, how some pout, some are bullies, some have temper tantrums, some are just so sweet.
It's a shame most are there because they've lost their families due to poaching and other illegal activities, but it's great they've found such a caring place to live.

Great, thank you!

kavey
i just booked for feb 23/24, email me with any questions. [email protected]

I'm not specifically planning a trip - it's more a case that when I come across a reference to somewhere I know little about I like to find out lots more so that I can file it away mentally for when I am next planning a trip!

So thanks for any info...

:D