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This is one of my favorite spots in Gombe. It is quite well hidden and you have to know where it is. Fortunately the chimps traveled through here years ago when I was with them and have I returned many time since. It is at the top of a 100'cliff overlooking a natural bowl. I have spent hundereds of hours in this valley following the Gombe chimps. |
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I was lucky to get this shot. Chimpanzees are often in thick vegetation and in the dark areas of the forest. Tarzan built this little day nest and took a siesta right off one of the main paths in Gombe. Tarzan is an independent young chimp, and a bit of a trouble-maker. Though orphaned a few years ago, he seems to be doing extremely well for himself. |
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This shot was taken from the very point Jane Goodall spend months and months observing chimpanzee behavior in the early 1960's before the chimps were habituated to humans. From this point she observed chimps fishing with a tool for termites and chimps hunting colobus monkeys. Occasionally, Jane spent the night here so that she could listen to the chimps at night, and to be sure she did not miss anything in the early morning hours. |
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This image was taken south of Jane Goodall Institute's Misitu-Ugalla conservation project in Tanzania. Tobacco plantations and other slash and burn farming methods are threatening chimp populations in Western Tanzania. This images shows the remnants of the forest within the tobacco field as well as beautiful standing forest on the edge of the field. I used this image to great effect recently at a presentation. I started with a series of shots of wonderful chimp habitat, then used this one, zoomed in to the standing forest (far right of image). I then slowly zoomed out to reveal the tobacco field. There is enough detail to show that even on the edge of the forest, people have 'ringed' the larger trees to kill them. |
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This shot was taken from the Eastern border of Gombe National Park looking south down the Rift Escarpment. If you look to the right, you will see the beautiful intact riverine forests of Gombe, on the left, the forests and woodlands are being cleared for firewood and for farming. The Jane Goodall Institute is working extensively with local villages to introduce alternatives to slash and burn agriculture. |
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Before my arrival to Gombe in 1992, chimpanzees used to use the area in the bottom half of this image. Due to habitat destruction immediately around the park there are no longer chimpanzees using this area. |
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This shot was taken atop a cliff looking west across Misitu Ugalla. The Jane Goodall Institute has initiated a program to help conserve this vast yet unprotected area which is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including chimpanzees, elephants, buffalo, and leopard. |
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This is a great example of high woodland and grassland near the top of the rift escarpment in Gombe National Park. In the distance you see the thickly vegetated valleys, Jane's Peak, where Dr. Goodall began observing the chimpanzees in 1960, Far to the top of the frame you see deforestation on the outside of the park. |
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This is a shot of a Pax who had been resting in a 'day nest' (basically a chimp hammock) after a long fruit eating session. I had been following the chimps all morning but without the Gigapan. When I figured they were heading for this ridge, I ran back to my hut and grabbed the Gigapan and camera, hoping to get some shots of chimps in a panorama. Thanks Pax |
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This shot was taken from the top of the rift escarpment looking west into the park. The elevation changes from 2500' to 4500' from the lake to the point the shot was taken.
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