Day 6 - Gombe and Jane - A dream come true!

The forest was alive with the chirping of bushpigs, insects and a multitude of other sounds all night. We could hear animals walking by the tent sometimes stopping to crunch a nut or two. In the early morning we were greeted by eight baboons just outside our tent. Baboons are such a common site around the camp. There's a mother who has a newborn only a day old who has been hanging around camp. I'm not big into baboons, but that is one adorable little guy!

After breakfast we were ready for our hike up the mountain to find where the chimps were that day. Since there are only 100 chimps left in all of Gombe we would have to really do some trekking to find them. Dr. Anthony Collins met us at the trailhead. What an honor! Dr. Collins has spent more time at Gombe than any other researcher. His knowledge of the chimps and life with Jane is indescribable! I was so excited to meet him and thrilled to find out he would be hiking with us!

As we walked Dr. Collins pointed out very historic areas and told stories of his time in Gombe with Jane. He showed is where here original tents were, where her banana storage area was (it was like a prison so the chimps couldn't break in!), and where all the research was and still is collected and organized. It was so fascinating to me. Gombe was a jungle of trees and vines that would grab your ankles and trip you up. We were always on alert. Not only for animals but for insects, and watching our step at every turn. We were told there are at least 6 species of deadly snake in Gombe but not to worry. And once we got into the jungle I wasn't worried at all. I was elated and felt more at peace there than anywhere I've ever been.

Kim and I were in the front of the group. We had just crossed a stream. All of the sudden as we came to the bottom of a valley there they were! Two mother chimps with their babies. They were Golden and Glitter with their infants Glamour and Gossamer. The mothers, are 14 year old twins and are some of the most photographed chimps in Gombe. They are the only twins in Gombe to survive to adulthood and they are very close.

My heart is racing as they walk toward us and then pass directly by us brushing my pant leg as they walk by. Glamour gets a good peek at us from under her mothers chest as she rides by. Dr. Collins directs us to follow them up the trail and we try to keep up, but they move very fast. When we catch up to them they have stopped to groom each other. This grooming session lasts for over an hour, a the while we are sitting just a few feet from them thoroughly enjoying just being in their presence. The infants groom each other and roll around playing with anything they can find. It's incredibly adorable! After awhile they move up into a tree and we get to see their climbing skills in action... impressive indeed! The infants are allowed to climb on their own sometimes hanging by only fingertips in this 60+ ft tall tree! 

We head down the mountain for the day as we have an important date... Jane Goodall is having dinner with us! 

We all clean up and prepare for Jane's visit. She had been staying here at Gombe for about a week but she's been very secretive, trying to have as much time to herself as possible. Our group of 7 welcomes her on the beach as she arrives with Dr. Collins. At dinner I have the honor of sitting right next to her. She spends 4 hours with us sharing stories throughout the evening. She makes a point to ask each of us about our lives and asks us to share stories as well. At the end of the evening she asks for all of our email addresses and ask us each to make a promise to her (conservation based) and write it down for her. As she left she gave is a "pant hoot" which is a chimpanzee call!

This day was truly a dream come true! Gombe, chimps and Jane... I am over the moon! Feeling blessed. Tomorrow more chimps...