Chimfunzi

I had the best time going on a field trip to a chimpanzee refuge on the northern border of Zambia, almost to the DRC.  Here is a LINK to their website and below are some pics about the adventure.

I was trying to get a photo of a copper mine on the way, I don't know if this one was one or not?  At some point the driver said, that's a mine, but I don't know if this is the corresponding photo. 

Fire Pit at the camp.

The ants go marching one by one hurraaah, hurraaah

Seriously, there were some crabby chimps and we got pummeled by them! They were defending their territory apparently! At least it wasn't poop. They throw that when they really don't like you! 

Day 1 of chimp observations. This was an awesome field trip for me because I just got to hang out and watch the animals.

"Chimfunzi" acutally means "Place that holds water."  It was given this name because of this gorge, which is dry now, but at the wet season, it is full of water. Way past those trees. It is a jungle ecosystem or something? 

This buttress tree trunk has something to do with the water and roots. 

Why is this picture so far left! Anyway, it's the same sign again, but this time, I'm in it! Off to Day 2 of the chimp viewing!

 

This is the female's special area. She is in estrus aka heat and that means that's ready for a man. It just seems like it would be so uncomfortable to sit on that?! 

These 2 were partners. Awwww. 

Whoa, what strange animals are these! (The one of the right is a Boerbull (sp) a very common bread in South Africa. 

The lady who runs the refuge, the chimps know here and will let her touch them. She was showing us how similar their hands are to ours!