Subject to provision and approved health certificates (see required inoculations further below), you will participate in the chimpanzee integration experience, also known as Chimpanzee closeup experience.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure aimed at providing the wildlife lovers with the exceptional experience of getting up-close to the chimpanzees without a barrier in between. Quite unique!
Adventure Consults will ensure you are at the Wildlife Education center by 0700 hours, go through documentation checks and verifications then later meet your wildlife specialist/caretaker.
The activity starts at 0730 hours with the interpretative talk by the chimpanzee caregiver. You will learn about the history of various individual chimps at the center, how they came around, their behavior and general challenges they are facing.
You will be required to wash with detergent, then wear the right protective gear (overall pants with long sleeves and gum boots) provided by the center. The caregiver will later guide you to the backyard of the holding facility in time for serving breakfast to the chimpanzees. You will directly participate in serving fruits and porridge to the infants. Watch them as they hold their cups to drink porridge, peel bananas and even ask for more food.
After breakfast, you will be guided to take the individual young chimpanzees on a walk at the island moat. You will hold the chimps by the arms, hold the babies, swing them around and play with them like any human child. It all gets exciting when they start grooming you, and in return, they expect you to groom them as well.
Snacks (ground nuts) are provided to keep in your pockets such that if the chimps do the usual search, they find something to eat. They are known to be very inquisitive!
During this activity, the caregivers and visitors are in direct contact of chimpanzees which is a perfect opportunity to learn about their behaviors, threats and what can be done to protect them.
After a one-hour direct interaction, the infants will be released to the forest-like environment to mix with the other chimpanzees. You will be guided around to the viewing point and observe them as they swing on tree branches, learn, adapt living with other chimps.
The purpose of releasing the infants is to help new rescued chimpanzees slowly build confidence and trust of other chimps who in turn become their lifetime allies. Integration is a long and continuous which is undertaken on schedule, by the keepers.
Chimpanzee enjoy rough trickles and can be rough. Your guide will help interpret the different sounds, gestures and general behaviors.
You are free to keep watching the playful cousins as they play along and later meet your guide for the next activity.
Reservation & Health: Prior reservation of up to at least 1 – 2 months in advance is recommended. This is to enable us advise the necessary health requirements/inoculations, have them checked and approved.
Chimpanzees have regular health checks and update vaccinations. This is aimed at avoiding cross transmission of diseases.
Please get in touch with our team for details – sales@adventureconsults.com
See required inoculations/vaccinations/boosters in order to participate in the Chimpanzee closeup experience.
- Hepatitis A (20 years)
- Hepatitis B (5 years)
- Measles (MMR) (10 – 15 years)
- Meningococcal meningitis (ACWY strains) ( 3 years)
- Polio (10 years)
- Tetanus (10 years) vaccine
- Rabies (2 years after completion of initial dose)
- A negative TB test/ chest X ray or other test are required.