Chimpanzee Tracking – Learn about Chimpanzees in Africa

The English word Chimpanzee was introduced in 1738 and was got from the word  Vili meaning ape. the word “chimp” was sometimes used in 1870 and the genus name pan was got from the Greek god with the specific name troglodytes.

Chimpanzee Species & Locations

The common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), is also known as the robust chimpanzee or easily known as the chimps is a species of great apes native to the forests and savannahs of tropical Africa.

Four confirmed subspecies and a fifth proposed subspecies are for the chimpanzee, it is closely related bonobo which is sometimes called the pygmy chimpanzee –which is classified in the genus pan.

According to fossils and DNA sequencing show that Pan is a sister taxon to the human lineage and is a close relative to the human that lives. It has a bare face, toes, fingers, palms of the hands and soles feet and it is also covered in coarse black hair and soles of the feet.

Four subspecies of the common chimpanzee have been recognized, with the possibility of a fifth

  • Central chimpanzee or tschego, Pan troglodytes, in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Western chimpanzee, P. troglodytes verus, in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana
  • Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, in Nigeria and Cameroon
  • Eastern chimpanzee, in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia
  • Southeastern chimpanzee, P. troglodytes marungensis, in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda: Colin Groves argues that this is a subspecies, created by enough variation between the northern and southern populations

Primate Safaris offers the best safari experience to explore the chimpanzees in Africa. Book one of the primate safaris to go on chimpanzee Watching tours.

Chimpanzee Weight

the chimpanzee is more robust and larger than bonobo, makes weigh more than the females and thus weight ranging kilograms of 40 – 60 kg for the males and the females weigh kilograms 27- 50kg and standing 100 to 140 cm (3.3 to 4.6 ft). The chimpanzee is listed on the IUCN red list as an endangered list.

Gestation Period

The chimpanzee has a gestation period of eight months at three years old the infant is weaned (start eating other foods other than the mother s milk) despite being weaned it maintains a close relationship with its mother is maintained for many more other years. Comfortably these chimpanzees live in groups of 15 to 150 members, during the day individuals travel in much smaller groups. Nearly all chimpanzee populations have been recorded with the help of using tools, modifying sticks, nearly all chimpanzee population is recorded. They mostly appear in the western part as stereotyped clown figures.

Threats to Chimpanzees

Poaching, diseases, and habitat loss are the biggest threats to the chimpanzee-like any other animal. One can opt to keep them as pets, however, they have the strength and are so aggressive and for that, they become dangerous in being kept as pets. In some countries like America, they are kept in the laboratories for research. Many trials of teaching the chimpanzees languages such as the American Sign Language but all were unsuccessful.

Where to See the chimpanzees in Africa.

  • Uganda: There are over 4 destinations that will offer you a chance to see chimpanzees in the wilderness of Uganda parks & Forests. When planning an Uganda Primate Safari, including the visit to Kibale Forest national park, Queen Elizabeth, Budongo, Kalinzu Forest, Semuliki National park for true chimpanzee Watching Holiday with Primate Safari Experiences.
  • Rwanda: The Land of thousand hills offers a great opportunity to enjoy chimpanzee tracking in the famous Nyungwe forest that is located close to Kibira National Park of Burundi. Go for primate Safari in Rwanda to see the chimps and the gorillas on Rwanda Safari Holiday tailored by Primate Safaris.
  • Burundi: The rare primate destination in east Africa but host the chimps in Kibira national park which is close to Nyungwe forest and Kahuzi Biega National Park. Burundi Safari tour can’t be complete without joining culture & Chimpanzee Tracking
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo: There are 3 places where to see the chimpanzee that include Virunga National Park, Maiko National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park & all forests in Ituri forest.
  • Kenya: Kenya is a popular Safari destination when it comes to wildlife adventures but it also hosts the primates in Kakamega forest, these chimpanzee trips are not popular like the Wildlife safaris to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli national park.
  • Tanzania, Chimpanzee Tracking in Tanzania is done in Gombe National park
  • Ethiopia