CHIMFUNSHI WILDLIFE ORPHANAGE

About 70 km northwest of Chingola, this chimpanzee sanctuary is the real highlight of the Copperbelt for the traveler who loves African beauty. An excellent reason to get lost in the farthest reaches of Zambia: to meet these apes that are so close to humans and have become so rare because of poaching.

History. Originally from Great Britain, David and Sheila Siddle settled in the late 1970s in Chimfunshi, a farm located at the source of the Kafue River, near the former Zaire. In 1983, the couple took in Pal, a chimpanzee that had escaped from the ravages of Zairean poachers. The animal was in a deplorable state, but through care and affection, David and Sheila were able to save him. This story marks the beginning of their commitment to primates. Five years later, they were caring for 19 chimpanzees, all of whom had escaped from the smuggling racket in the forests of Zaire. At that time, due to a lack of resources, the animals were kept in cages and regularly walked in the nearby forests. Soon, however, the Siddle's began to build their first enclosure, followed by two more in 1991 and 2003. Growing over the years, with the help of international donations, the orphanage is now in charge of a hundred chimpanzees, some of whom come from zoos around the world (note that these great apes are not among the animals naturally present in Zambia). The great success of the project consists in the reconstitution of the isolated residents in organized groups of 20 to 30 individuals, and the center boasts the birth of about fifteen babies. In addition to chimpanzees, the center takes care of all kinds of animals, furry or feathered, in need of assistance. In 1992, they rescued Billy, a female hippopotamus, who became the center's imposing mascot before losing her life in 2013. David Siddle, the founder of the sanctuary, died in 2006.

Today. Although Sheila remains very involved in the project, Chimfunshi is now run by their daughter, Sylvia Forbes, and her husband. The Forbes are more welcoming of tourists than the Siddles were, and visitors are now welcome. They can watch the chimpanzees' main meal. The project is home to nearly 130 chimpanzees in four enclosures, each measuring between 19 and 77 hectares. Rescued from amusement parks, trafficked wild animal keepers or rescued from poaching, they are heavily traumatized and injured. On site, in addition to the center, there is a village for the team and their families who work there (300 people, including about 150 children), a school, a dispensary and a nature conservation awareness center.

Visit. The best time to observe them is from 10:00 to 11:30 and from 13:30 to 15:00. The project also has a campground and three rustic self-catering cottages with one double room, one twin room and one dormitory each. A communal kitchen with a fridge and a barbecue area are available to travelers.

Important. To protect the chimpanzees, visitors must bring proof of vaccinations for the following diseases that are more than 15 days old: Hepatitis A and B, Meningitis A, C, Y and W135 (one vaccine), measles, polio, tetanus, yellow fever and flu.