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Home/Countries/Zambia/Attractions & fun/Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage

Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage

One of the world's larger chimpanzee sanctuaries, on a farm in the Copperbelt.

Updated 2 September 2026

WhereCopperbelt Province
Nearest cityChingola
Best seasonMay to October
Time to allowHalf a day or overnight
Getting thereAround seventy kilometres from Chingola; dirt road for the last stretch
EntryEntry and tours charged

Chimfunshi began in 1983 when a farming couple took in a wounded chimpanzee brought by a game ranger, and it grew into a sanctuary holding well over a hundred chimpanzees across large forested enclosures, most of them confiscated from the bushmeat and pet trades in countries to the north. Zambia has no wild chimpanzees, which means none can be released here. Visitors watch feeding from raised walkways and an education centre explains the trade the animals came out of.

The main sights

  • The forested enclosures - large fenced blocks of miombo woodland the groups live in.
  • The feeding platforms - the raised walkways visitors watch from.
  • The rescue stories - animals confiscated from the bushmeat and pet trades.
  • The education centre - the display explaining the trade and the sanctuary's work.

When to go

May to October is dry and the roads are easy. The rains from November make the last stretch difficult. Feeding times set the visiting schedule.

Before you go

Contact with the chimpanzees is not permitted and viewing is from a distance. The last stretch of road is rough. Zambia has no wild chimpanzee population, so these animals cannot be released.

Nearby

Chingola is southeast, and Lake Kashiba is further southeast.

What to pack for Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

  • Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
  • A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
  • A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
  • A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon

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Plan your trip

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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