Chimfunshi Chimpanzee Orphanage

Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage is primarily a chimpanzee sanctuary located on the Copperbelt Province, 65km from Chingola, off the Solwezi road. Chimfunshi was founded in 1983 by David and Sheila Siddle in Northern Zambia when a game ranger brought a badly wounded infant chimpanzee to Siddle’s cattle farm. After bringing the chimp named Pal back to health, word of his recovery spread and soon they were overwhelmed with orphan chimpanzees. The majority of the chimpanzees were confiscated from poachers who attempted to smuggle the infants to be sold as pets for bush meat and pet trade, while others were rescued from zoos and circuses from all over the world. Today, 144 chimpanzees live in 8 separate forested enclosures, and it is now one of the largest and oldest chimpanzee sanctuaries in the world.

Recommended time visit
The orphanage is open all year round, every day of the week, and any season is a great time to visit. The best viewing times for chimpanzees are between 10:00 to 11:00 and 13:00 to 15:00. The 8 forested chimpanzee enclosures are far apart so visitors can take as much time as they want to see all the enclosures within the daily operating hours of 8:00 to 16:00.

Accommodation
A day trip is enough time to experience the orphanage and sanctuary. However, if one wishes to stay overnight, there is a camp site as well as chalet accommodation. Short term and long term volunteer and research programs available.

Activities
Apart from viewing the chimps near the feeding space as well as across expansive land, there are other activities such as canoeing, bird watching, braai and nature trail walking. They have a nice shelter with tables for bringing your own food or meal options available only if arranged in advance.

Conservation
Not only does Chimfunshi rescue chimpanzees but it also rescues local wildlife such as baboons, vervet monkeys and parrots among others. Local wildlife is released back into the wild after rehabilitation whereas the chimpanzees stay in the forested areas because they are not local to the Zambian environment and would face many risks.