Tarzan’s Monkey Friend: The Truth Behind Cheeta

When discussing the adventures of Tarzan, many visitors to the Jungle or curious readers often ask, "What is the name of Tarzan's monkey friend?" This guide will explore various details about Tarzan's animal companions, from the original books to the Disney films, shedding light on the confusion around the character Cheeta.

The Orignal Earthly Series

Initially, in the original Tarzan novels written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan's closest animal companion was a chimp. This chimp was known as Cheeta. It's a common misconception that Cheeta was a monkey, but in the original stories, it was an illiterate chimp named Cheeta who later grew into a massive silverback and changed his name to Banjo.

Divergence in the Disney Films

When it comes to the Disney adaptations, the portrayal of Tarzan's animal friends deviates significantly from the original stories. In these films, Tarzan is accompanied by a variety of creatures, including gorillas like Kerchak, Kala, Mungo, and Terkeena, and a monkey called Terk. None of these characters were actual gorillas or chimp in the original narratives. Instead, these were a mix of fictional species called 'Mangani.'

The Role of Nkima in the Books

In reality, the actual monkey in the series was named Nkima, who first appeared in "Tarzan and the Lost Empire," the twelfth book in the series. Nkima, a mischievous monkey, was a key character in the series but was not the primary monkey companion in the films. It's crucial to note that in both the books and the Disney films, Nkima's counterpart is not the same as the cheetah-like chimp perceived in the awareness of the general public.

Conclusion

While many people have grown up with the misconception that Tarzan’s monkey friend was named Cheeta, the original stories and even the dedicated readers of the Tarzan series should clarify that Cheeta was a chimp, not a monkey. It's Nkima, a monkey who appears in the books, that plays a more prominent role as Tarzan's companion. As such, it's important to acknowledge these differences if we want to stay true to the lore of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the films by Disney.

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