By the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Mahale, Tanzania, the chimpanzees are well habituated, having been studied for many years by Jane Goodall and then a succession of international research teams. It's one of the few places in Africa where good sightings of chimps are virtually guaranteed. And you get to stay in the lakeside paradise that is Greystoke camp. (This assumes that paradise has tsetse flies, obviously).
Chimps are brilliant animals. They're really characterful, and super intelligent. And their social structure and behaviour is complex beyond belief. The ones at Greystoke Mahale have had an ongoing dispute for some time now with the unhabituated group in the next valley. So, to put the frighteners on them, they deliberately lead the researchers up to the top of the ridge, where the other gang can see them hanging out with their big, dumb, ugly pink mates. This is a highly effective scare tactic, and frankly it's good to see animals exploiting humans for once.
This particular chimp had got a thorn lodged in his foot and was carefully extricating it. Oh, the joys of opposable thumbs....
More chimp shots soon.....
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