some of my old pictures on B/W films, around 2003.
Mahale nat’l park is located in western Tanzania, facing the Congo. I’ve spent many months there, between clients to fly around to other camps. Wonderful memories! Paid to stay there (as in other great locations) with about the same advantages as the clients, lots of photography, swimming in the lake, jogging in the tropical forest, just enough flying time, and fun flying on top… What else to ask?
those chimpanzees were permanent performers, a great show time. Here comparing fleas. Seriously, grooming is an important social task.
by then the rules were a bit more relaxed than now. 5 m separation was the norm. No physical contact.
but the chimpanzees didn’t care about those rules and came very close to people some time. One chimp, called Darwin, was famous for occasionally touching people, preferably women’s butt and then run away!
grooming while performing the unique Mahale double clasp. No other location has chimps doing that according to specialists.
taking pictures is a bit of a challenge because of the low light but worth trying.
checking fleas or…?
sweet light for a portrait.
piggy back on mom’s back is the norm for a lazy or tired kid to move around.
fishing for termites.
chimpanzees don’t like water too much, usually. I remember one picture in a magazine of a bathing chimp somewhere else. So this one will only come for a drink or cross the water very carefully.
coming close to people again, grabbing somebody’s walking stick. Curious animals too.
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