Mahale Mountains Seasons and Chimps
The Mimikere (M) Group chimpanzee population in the Mahale Mountains covers a home range of around 15 square miles. Chimpanzees are naturally gregarious, so when food sources are abundant, they’ll gather in large groups frequently calling to each other and making a lot of noise.
When food resources are lower, they tend to split up into small groups, and as such can be less easy to find since they tend to vocalise less. Adult males particularly will often travel singularly when fruit is very scarce in their area. So, their proximity to camp and ease of location is to some degree dictated by the seasons, and the knock-on effect on the forest larder. Fluctuations of available food are not entirely dependable year by year, so of course the following general guide is by no means definite.
June – the start of the dry season. A main source of fruit are the bunches of tiny Haranguna fruit, and the more succulent Mohororo fig. Both of these species are found in the higher reaches of the mountains in the east of their home range, which can be a moderately strenuous two-hour or longer trek from camp. The fruits of the cordia (Mkibu) species are also found lower down at this time of the year but generally the majority of the food source in the months of June and July is found in the mid and upper slopes.
August - various fruits become more abundant in the lower ranges and the chimps tend to start sporadic forays, often with small groups of males leading the way. Fig species and lemons are the main attractions, and if found in abundance can result in large numbers of the group congregating in areas an easy hour and a half walk from camp. It is this time of the year that they also tend to supplement their diet with a bit of hard protein in the form of Red Colobus monkeys.
September - the chimps rarely head high to the eastern hills but often spend days in the hills of the northern reaches of their home range seeking out the wild nutmeg and Kasolyo and Buhono fruits. During this time they can also head for odd days into the almost impenetrable steep southern hills. They will rarely spend more than a day or two before returning to the lowlands, often making a beeline back complete with very loud vocal displays and tree drumming. One of their favourite fruits is the large and succulent Ilombo (Saba Florida) which hangs temptingly from dizzy heights off strapping vines in the lowlands from September through the short November rains and into February.
November - The onset of the rains coincides with less abundant fruit and the diet becomes proportionally much higher in leaves and pith of plants such as the wild ginger. Though this will often result in the group spreading more thinly in search of food, they are still often found in larger groups.
December to March - The green season offers varied viewing, although the forest is at its resplendent best, full of butterflies and wild flowers. It’s a photographer’s dream, as the haze which is often prevalent during other times of the year, is gone, leaving the air clear and bright. The chimps continue to feed mainly on grasses, leaves and whatever fruit they can find, though the lowland Ilombo vine fruit comes into its own in December attracting big chimp parties. Their daytime siestas tend to take place in tree nests rather than on the ground and the meetings between group members are theatrical and impressive. The lake is clearest in these months often with breathtaking views of the mountains of the Congo in the distance. February can be especially hard to locate the chimps unless the Ilombo fruiting has been
April tends to be wet and the camp closes during this time as it does rain quite a bit each day, making trekking difficult. However, the staff who remain in camp during this time, are often treated to groups of chimps attending loud and cheerful ‘banquets’ in nearby trees, as the fruit of the Mkibu tree comes into its own attracting large groups who hang about in them.
