Africa’s oldest Chimpanzee sanctuary is home to some 120 apes that continue to fascinate local and international tourists every now and so often.

International researchers camp for as long as six months at the wildlife facility to study animal psychology, or call it “chimp” psychology.

If you have been there lately, you would find the chimps in high spirits, making their unique ear-bursting noise.

Hold on a second; it is not the rise of the planet of the apes, it is just that the chimps seem to be in their natural habitat.

It is pretty isolated and slightly close to Kafue River in the tranquil bushes of an area between Chingola and Solwezi.

To get there, you will have to branch off to a gravel stretch.

You are better off using a four wheel drive vehicle because the ride there is rough.

By the way, it is only about 20km away from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and sometimes when the wind blows southward, a sound of a train could be heard from the Congo DR.

The vastness of the area, which boasts natural beauty comprising a vast plain and some 200 plus bird species, is a must-see for anyone obsessed with tourism and adventure.

Chimfunshi is part of the Important Bird Area (IBA).

This ABA is important for the Zambezian endemic bird species dwelling in Miombo vegetation.

These include the Pale-billed hornbill, Whyte’s barbet, Miombo pied barbet, Central bearded scrub-robin and the Black-collared eremomela.

Among the riparian bird species is the beautiful lady Ross’s Turaco.

As you drive along the plains to the sanctuary, you can be sure of fighting temptations along the way.

You might think of sitting around and mounting a tent a little bit closer to the Kafue River.

Jody Kruger, a sales executive at Handymans Paradise who recently took a tour to Chimfunshi, had several temptations to overcome as far as the beauty of the area is concerned on his way there.

He kept on telling the driver to stop, and perhaps have a little fun, in the plain, close to the river that cuts across Zambia’s vastness.

He would be like, “stop! Have you seen that? It’s a river!”

Well, you cannot blame Jody; the place is out of this world.

With anthills all over gazing at you, driving through the plain, and coming across healthy farm animals grazing, the natural grass is a pretty exciting experience.

Amazing birds fly over the area and for once, you might think you are not in Zambia.

But this is Zambia, and several people have no idea what this side of the country has to offer.

If you are passionate about adventure tourism, then that could be the right place for you. You would be far from town pollution.

Getting to the wildlife orphanage itself is yet another experience.

The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage is a non-profit refuge that cares for a wide variety of sick, wounded or unwanted animals.

Founded by late David Siddle, who died in June of 2006 after a lengthy illness, the sanctuary has an international reputation.

Mr Siddle was 78 when he died.

Researchers from all over the world, students and local people go there. Some researchers studying animal psychology stay for as long as six months just to get their work done.
The late Mr Siddle’s commitment to injured and unwanted chimpanzees led to the creation of the wildlife orphanage in Zambia. Mr Siddle and his wife, Sheila, accepted a badly injured chimpanzee from a game ranger in 1983 and nursed it back to health.

Today, 120 chimpanzees reside at Chimfunshi, making it one of the largest primate sanctuaries in the world.
Mr Siddle was a successful contractor and cattle rancher approaching retirement age when he and his wife began caring for chimpanzees on their farm along the Kafue River in central Zambia.

Although neither of them had any formal training, they pioneered many of the modern techniques and methods used in sanctuaries around the world and created a model that has been replicated across Africa.
It was Mr Siddle who designed all of the enclosures and facilities at Chimfunshi, including the original seven-acre enclosure that came to be known as “The Great Wall of Zambia”.
For several years, Mr Siddle and his wife battled poachers, civil wars, economic strife, political instability, and corruption to give their chimpanzees the best care possible.

They pioneered the use of spacious, free-range enclosures, and successfully established ad-hoc family groups composed of chimpanzees that had been through terrible physical and psychological traumas.
The Siddles were awarded with the Member of the British Empire recognition by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001 for their commitment to wildlife, and were named to the Global 500 Roll of Honour by the United Nations Environment Programmae (UNEP) in 2000.

They have received numerous other awards and honours.

Their story is told that Sheila was the driving force behind many of the innovations that are central to Chimfunshi’s success, including the seven-acre walled enclosure, the use of electrical fencing, and the design of the 500-acre enclosures.

Mr Siddle also earned the scars of a life among chimps, having been badly bitten and injured on several occasions.

But he also drew up the plans for the recently completed Chimfunshi Education Centre.

Chimfunshi also has appeared on the world acclaimed National Geographic Channel. However, it has not been easy to run it.

At most, more than US$23,000 is needed for operational costs every month. Once in a while, donations are made from various organisations, local and international.

Recently, Handymans Paradise in partnership with Kärcher, a global leader in cleaning equipment, donated a motorised and technologically advanced high pressure cleaner worth K26.75 million to clean up the walls and cages where the chimps are kept.

Chimfunshi General Manager Innocent Mulenga said a lot of educational tours were always conducted for university and high school students.

“A lot of people come here to do research and learn about the environment. The money we make from gate takings and other programmes are spent on operational costs,” said Mr Mulenga, who is a primatologist by profession.

With 120 chimpanzees at the wildlife facility, there are not dull moments there. Apparently, every chimp has a name and the oldest is Miller who, is 40 years old.

Some chimps have had a lot to go through before they found refuge at the facility. For example, Toto, 38, who came from Chile, South America, was used in a circus to entertain people.

He used to drink and smoke until he was rescued by Chimfunshi. Even when he arrived at the facility, he still struggled with addiction until several years later when he normalised to adapt to other Chimps.

Toto was 26 when he found refuge at Chimfunshi.

Ultimately, there are no regrets going to Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage.

Even British photographer and tourist Tom Maciejowski, who has been travelling the world with his fiancé, could not help it but get fascinated by the apes.

“It is my first time to see the chimpanzees. They are very exciting to see,” he said.

Take a trip there and you will be sure to have fun and the memories would last a lifetime.

Email  – gmwizabi@gmail.com