Ngamba Island - Forest Walk with the Chimpanzees

Ngamba Island – Forest Walk with the Chimpanzees

Our first “wake up” on the island…right about 6:15 am. Thank you, again, Patrick for the coffee and tea delivery at 6:30!
Over at the holding facility, we put on the green coveralls that the keepers wear when they are working with the chimps. All watches, earrings, necklaces and other dangling things had already been removed. The cameras did not come with us on this walk since we didn’t feel like donating them to the chimps as new “enrichment” playthings!

We met 8 of the female adolescents in the feeding area. We were all (chimps and human guests) a little restrained at first, but Stany and Gerald had us interacting within minutes. Nakuu was one of the first to come and meet us followed quickly by Ikuru…who immediately began to “groom” Emma. Bili was the last chimp to emerge from the walkway and immediately started to scream and assert her dominance over the rest of the group. At the first scream, Nakuu wasted no time in making a 2 m leap onto Alie, clutching her for protection. Ikuru ran around us, then between my legs figuring out that Bili was a little too large to follow her through. Fortunately for me, Bili didn't even try. After Bili left to chase one of the other girls, Ikuru clung on to my leg until she calmed down and went back to Emma to finish her grooming.

Stany called Bili over to him and started scratching and "grooming" her. As soon as she calmed down, all the other chimps resumed their inspection of their new visitors.

Then we were off. To my surprise (and delight), Bili ran over to me, and crawled up onto my back. She was a big girl to carry piggyback, but we made a great team! Stany led our hike…very creatively, I might add…some of the walk was definitely not on trail! A couple of jogs across the fire ant pathways were followed by stops to clean off any of the hanger-on ants. Fortunately, Alie and I were right behind Stany…well, fortunately for us…not so fortunately for Emma. She was carrying Pasa (who stuck close to her the whole day). By the time Emma got to the ants, they were seriously grumpy and annoyed. Needless to say Alie and I helped Stany and Gerald (the keeper who was the sweep…a hiking term for being at the back of the group) flick the angry ants from Emma’s pants and socks. Pasa watched (supervised?) while still clinging to Emma.
After a short while we stopped in a clearing for a rest. Bili, using my left calf as a step, climbed off and went for her own little walk.

While we watched the girls climb trees, chill out, play with part of a jacket (apparently they grab some of the stuff that washes up on the shore) the five of the humans had a great conversation about chimp behaviour, Uganada, Canada and life in general. We all laughed along with Bili when Stany started tickling her! She was most ticklish on her neck and just below her belly. While Bili tried to squirm away from Stany, it was SO obvious she loved every minute of the attention!

As soon as we stood up, Bili grabbed my arm so I couldn’t get away. When I stopped moving, she climbed on to my back, ready for the rest of the trip. Pasa and Nakuu were kind enough to walk back on their own, but Bili needs a lot of attention and human contact when she is out on walks. She was really sweet. I was trying to convince her that her (longer) arms would be better to move the tree branches and vines out of our way, but she seemed to think that holding one arm across my upper chest and holding my shoulder with the other arm…and ducking her head into my back…was more preferable for her.

I think I can also speak for Alie and Emma when I say that this was one of the best experiences of my life!

Thanks for the great workout Bili (this was worth 2 hours in the gym).