I am living in the Africa I have always longed for, always felt stirring in my blood.

Even when it comes to things like wars over oil, which may seem like a whole different ball game, there are still comparisons one can draw: chimps fight for their territory; they fight for the resources within that territory, so it does relate in a way.

When I go back to Gombe it's to be in that timeless world where it's soft and where life is entwined and you actually see the pattern of nature. I always feel this great spiritual power which I believe is around.

I don't think that faith, whatever you're being faithful about, really can be scientifically explained. And I don't want to explain this whole life business through truth, science. There's so much mystery. There's so much awe.

Some people actually do not like animals - hard for me to understand, but true.

Chimps are very quick to have a sudden fight or aggressive episode, but they're equally as good at reconciliation.

Other people have talked about chimpanzees being a window into the past, which I suppose is true, in a way.