Review of Monkey Island in Uganda

I have fulfilled a dream. I traveled to Africa for six weeks. First I flew to South Africa and did a two-week trip there. That was very eventful. Then I flew from Cape Town to Entebbe in Uganda and did a 4-week volunteer work in the chimpanzee project. I received excellent support from the RGV team during the travel preparations and thanks to the very good cooperation with the sanctuary, everything went like clockwork.

The arrival in the project

When I arrived at Entebbe airport, a taxi was already waiting for me and took me to the sanctuary office. After a short interview, I was able to take a boat to the island to see the chimpanzees, where I was warmly welcomed by the staff. This was followed by a tour of the island and the next morning an introduction to work and life there. My accommodation was comfortable and clean. With a lot of empathy, I was immediately integrated by everyone.

The work in the project

My main tasks, such as preparing the food, feeding the chimpanzees and cleaning the enclosures, were great fun. Of particular interest were the observations of the chimpanzees, how they strengthened their social bonds with each other, or how the little ones played. After a short time I was able to differentiate individual chimpanzees.

Day by day I learned more about their behavior and the trust between the chimpanzees and me grew steadily. Visitors came to the island almost every day to be given a tour and told stories about individual chimpanzees. There was always new information. I was very impressed by the calm, well-organized cooperation of everyone who worked there and the loving interaction with the chimpanzees.

Life on the chimpanzee island

The atmosphere on the island was very harmonious. Lizards and many different bird species also live there. In the evening, when the sun goes down, they gather by the water and chatter. At night we were surrounded by a sea of ​​lights from fishing boats from the neighboring islands. At farewell parties, a delicious buffet was prepared and people danced and chatted around the campfire in good company. In their cheerfulness and in open conversations, I was able to get an impression of their lives. The tropical fruits and vegetables were irresistible, bringing some variety to the otherwise simple cuisine. A visit to a community on a neighboring island and the city of Entebbe was also very interesting. Everywhere I met friendly, helpful people. They made me feel like a welcome guest. Mutual care and an uncomplicated nature characterize the people who surround you there.

Conclusion

Africa is a very lively, diverse continent that is not just worth a trip. This diversity of nature, animals and people is incredibly impressive. Africans are right to be proud of this treasure and their joie de vivre is contagious. It was six eventful and experience-rich weeks of inestimable value for me.

Review of Monkey Island in Uganda, by Margarete H., February 2018