Tacugama Chimpanzee sanctuary

Our first trip out was to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. It was founded with the help of Jane Goodall, the world's preeminent chimpanzee expert. We had booked a reliable taxi driver who did an excellent job in negotiating the (to us) chaotic traffic with cars, vans, Kekehs (motorized tricycles) everywhere, overtaking on both sides with horns blasting.
After we arrived we had to wait for an hour for the tour to start and we promptly joined the wrong tour! A 3 hour hike! After a quick U turn we rejoined the tour. The have four areas for the chimpanzees that join usually as orphans kept by humans as pets in cages and sometimes even made to smoke and drink!
In the first pens they get introduced to each other and slowly become a new family. They also have to learn to climb and use robes. After some time they can be moved to the second area, bigger and with more trees. The become more independent but still sleep in a covered area at night and get fed by their keepers. This continues till they are in area 4, much bigger and higher trees and more freedom. After this final stage they will be released in the wild, often on an island with very few people so they are safe. Mind you, you don't want to get in the way of one of these big boys, an alpha male is as strong as five grown men.
Great tour and we might well try the hike as well! Dip in the on-board pool to cool off!Read more