Chimpanzee close Up at Entebbe UWEC Zoo

Chimpanzee close Up at Entebbe UWEC Zoo –  Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

Chimpanzee close up at Entebbe UWEC zoo – Have you ever imagined meeting your closest cousin without a barrier in between? Subject to provision of valid health proof, participate in the chimpanzee integration experience. In company of a keeper, you will take the individuals on a walk at island moat.

Observe them enjoy life on trees, learn, adapt living with other chimps in a forest-like environment. The purpose is to help new rescued chimpanzees slowly build confidence and trust of other chimps who in turn become their long term allies. Integration is a long and continuous which is undertaken on schedule, by our keepers. We are happy to share this experience and take you on for one hour in a controlled environment.

Listen to the chimp caregiver talk about how they came to their history, how they came to the centre, behavior and challenges. Be ready to be groomed by the infants and return a favor through carrying or grooming them.

Chimps enjoy rough trickles and can be rough. Your guide will help interpret the different different sounds, gestures and advise on how to behavior whilst with your cousins.

Imagine a chimp hold their cup of porridge, peeling a banana or asking for more food! Find out all these and much more through participating in this unique once in a life-time experience!

Fees: Make a contribution of $ 290 and be sure you have helped us maintain them as well as saving those in the wild!

Dates and Time: The activity is arranged Monday to Sunday, early morning at 7.30 am. The activity starts with a brief introduction by one of the keepers.

Reservation & Health: Prior reservation and health clearance is a MUST! Chimpanzees have regular health checks and update vaccinations. This is aimed at avoiding cross transmission of diseases.

Also visit Mabamba Swamp in Uganda

Mabamba Swamp in Uganda is a prime wetland birding site famous for the Endangered Shoebill stork which is Uganda’s most sought after bird by birders as well as by nature lovers. Mabamba Swamp is located west of Entebbe on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, covering 2424 hectors with thick marshes of papyrus, water lilies and other wetland grasses.

Mabamba swamp is a Ramseur site and Important Bird Area (IBA). The wetland hosts over 300 bird species that include many globally threatened species, 7 of Uganda’s 12 Lake Victoria biome restricted species (notable is the Papyrus Gonolek) and plenty of wetland specialties. The wetland also hosts huge flocks of Palearctic migrants every year from October to March.

Mabamba Swamp can be reached by a number of routes. From Kampala or Entebbe the easiest route is via the Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe where you take a 10 minutes ferry crossing to Kasanje landing and from there drive for about 20 minutes to Mabamba passing through cultivation and open fields that will provide plenty of garden birds.

Birding in Mabamba swamp is done from a motorized wooden boat by riding through a maze of trails cutting through the thick marshes.

The history of shoebill stork in Mabamba swamp and the local fishermen

Mabamba Swamp is rich with lung fish which is the favorite food for the Shoebill. However the lung fish is also one of the most sought after fish by the local fishermen. The fishermen had long held a superstition that seeing a Shoebill (locally called ‘Bulwe’) resulted in a poor catch that day. For the fishermen it was a bad omen to see a Shoebill when one set out to fish in the wetland. They hunted the Shoebills and killed them, leading to a decline in the numbers and almost rendered them extinct in the wetland. Designating the wetland a Ramseur site in 2006 provided some protection to the Shoebill. However bird watching on the wetland brought about enlightenment to the fishermen and community. The fishermen rent out their boats to birdwatchers and make a lot of money, and even some fishermen have been trained in birding and guiding. The fishermen protect the Shoebill and that even when they set out to fish and see a Shoebill they do not move too close not to disturb it and will gladly inform the tourists of where to see it. There is about 12 Shoebills said to be resident in Mabamba wetland.

The best time to see the Shoebill in Mabamba swamp is early morning, say 7am, before there is more fishing activity.

Other bird species in Mabamba wetland

African Fire finch, African Fish Eagle, African Green Pigeon, African Hoopoe, African Jacana, African Marsh Harrier, African Pigmy Goose, Black Crake, Black Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Blue Swallow, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Brown Parrot, Cattle Egret, Common Bulbul, Common Moorhen, Common Sandpiper, Common Squacco Heron, Crowned Hornbill, Double Toothed Barbet, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Glossy Ibis, Goliath Heron, Great Blue Turaco, Great Cormorant, Great White Egret, Great White Pelican, Green Cuckoo, Grey Heron, Grey Parrot, Grey Woodpecker, Grey-crowned Crane, Gull-billed Tern, Hadada Ibis

Best time to visit Mabamba swamp

This swamp is accessible all year round but dry months are much preferred as the water levels are low and it gives much better feeding places and the grass is short. This is June –September and Dec- Feb.

What to pack for the Mabamba swamp tour?

Being an open canoe boat is used travelers visiting the swamp are required to carry sun screen, rain jacket, hut, drinking water, rain protective camera cover in case of rain, spear batteries. Contact Great Adventure Safaris about your boat trip tour to search for the shoebill stork in Mabamba swamp in Uganda. Contact Great Adventure Safaris to book chimpanzee close Up at Entebbe UWEC Zoo.