The Feeding Station (Chimp Camp)
The banana feeding station was set up in 1962 on a sloping hillside in Kakombe Valley, about a 15 minute hike from the lake. Various contraptions were used to control when individual chimps received bananas.
In the era of the Figan Follow, chimps received bananas via a “banana trench” that was attached to the main research building (Pan Palace). A door led from inside Pan Palace into the walkable trench, where bananas could be loaded into six small compartments with trap doors that could be released from inside the trench.
By 1974, the practice of provisioning bananas had been scaled back considerably — chimps now received this coveted treat at most once weekly. During the follow, Figan visited the feeding station during 41 of the 50 days (82%), receiving bananas seven times. These visits totalled 40 hours, or 7.2% of his daylight hours. This high daily frequency of visiting camp despite the relatively low chance of receiving bananas is a testament to the power of intermittent reinforcement.
Adult male Sherry begins a drumming display in front of Pan Palace (more photos below). 
Mike grooms his arm while lying near Lawick’s Lodge (aka “LL”), the only building still standing at Gombe that is not along the lakeshore (as of 2024).
Faben and Figan display into Camp. Faben pant-hoots and runs bipedal, while Figan bangs on one of the empty boxes at the banana trench.
Faben takes out his ire on an empty banana box.
Adult male Sherry sits in front of the banana trench.
The tables are turned as Sherry watches the humans behind bars.
Figan takes a break from the constant following by David and Curt.
The 55 Gallon Drum
The chimpanzees sometimes announced their arrival at the feeding station by slapping and pounding on a steel drum that was set into a concrete base in front of Pan Palace. Similarly, they would often drum on the buttresses of tall trees to announce their arrival in a valley. Typically performed by adult males, the sound of the drumming — either on a tree buttress or the steel drum — could carry throughout the entire valley. These drumming “displays” were frequently accompanied with loud calls, or pant-hoots.
Faben prepares to drum on the buttress of a fig tree in Plum Tree Thicket. The chimps drummed here often when passing between Kakombe and Kasakela valleys.
Anne Pusey watches Figan attacking the drum.
Figan, pant-hooting and with his hair erect, begins his charge at the drum.
Sherry drumming sequence — 1. The display begins with an incipient pant-hoot.
Sherry — 2. Notice the change in his apparent size from the previous photo as he now stands bipedal, swaggering from side to side, and his hair goes erect.
Sherry — 3. Sherry pant-hoots and pounds ferociously on the drum with both hands.
Sherry — 4. Sherry was one of the most savage participants in the attacks on Kahama males.
The Mess
The Mess was the focal point of social activity at Gombe. Students gathered there for dinner every evening and told stories of their adventures that day. Dr. Jane often joined in the fun. The Mess is where Curt and David gave their Figan Follow seminar on August 31, 1974.
The Mess, located in front of the lake near the Kakombe stream, was eventually torn down and replaced with the headquarters of Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA).
Figan stands in front of the Mess. Many a great story was told here.
The Cage
The Cage was an open enclosure made of wire mesh and a corrugated metal roof. Located along the lake some fifty yards north of the Mess, this is where Dr. Jane’s young son Grub could play and relax in relative safety from the potentially aggressive chimpanzees. The cinder block building adjacent to the Cage might have been Dr. Jane and Hugo’s first residence.
By the time that Curt arrived, Jane had a new house (that still exists) another fifty yards to the north. Curt spent his first night at Gombe sleeping on a cot in the Cage after Bofu took a machete to a half dozen foot-long centipedes.
Faben and Gigi walk toward the Cage (background, left). Goblin climbs onto the balcony of the residence.
Student Housing
Each student had a private rondavel hut, consisting of a concrete foundation, galvanized sheet metal walls, wire mesh windows, and a corrugated metal roof covered with thatch. About a dozen huts were scattered thoughout the hillside behind the Mess. Curt’s hut — near Plum Tree Thicket — was the farthest away, a 12 to 15 minute hike along steep trails .
These huts eventually were removed. All residences are now located along the lake near park headquarters.
Figan sits near the side of Curt’s hut. Baboons loved to play on the roof; the thatching didn’t last long.
The back side of Curt’s hut, which comfortably fit a bed and a small desk. Huts had no running water or electricity. Kerosene lanterns were used for lighting at night.