Located primarily in southern Africa, the chacma baboon has a wide variety of social behaviours, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings.

[7][8][9][10] It is similar in size to the olive baboon, averaging slightly higher in mean body mass, and of similar weight to the more compact mandrill, the males of which weigh on average about 1 kg (2.2 lb) more than a chacma baboon, the females weigh 3 kg (6.6 lb) less than the female chacma.

[9][11] The chacma baboon is generally dark brown to gray in color, with a patch of rough hair on the nape of its neck.

[12][13] The canine teeth of male chacma baboons have a mean length of 3.86 ± 0.30 cm (1.52 ± 0.12 in) at the time they emigrate from their natal troop.

[2] During the night, the chacma baboon sleeps atop steep hills, high cliffs or rocks or in large trees, away from nocturnal predators.

[2] The chacma baboon is an omnivorous highly opportunistic feeder, and will eat practically anything; typical foods include fruits, seeds, grass, blossoms, bulbs, bark, insects, spiders, worms, grubs, rodents, birds, small antelope and fungi (the desert truffle Kalaharituber pfeilii).

Chacma baboon diet is thought to contain about 2 percent animal-sourced food, most of which consists of invertebrates; proportions vary between populations.

[15] Baboons are considered vermin by most African farmers due to their foraging of cultivated crops and livestock.

[16] At the Cape of Good Hope in particular, chacma baboons are also known for taking shellfish and other small marine invertebrates.

One incident of a chacma baboon killing a human infant has been reported, but the event is so rare, the locals believed it was due to witchcraft.

[24] Less routine predation on chacma baboons has been reportedly committed by lions, spotted hyena, Nile crocodiles and African rock pythons (in rough descending likelihood of threat).

As in other monkeys, the larger, more formidable male baboons may successfully defend more vulnerable members of the troop via attacking predators if they come into sight.

Chacmas are unusual among baboons in that neither males nor females form strong relationships with members of the same sex.

[33] Baboon troops possess a complex group behavior and communicate by means of body attitudes, facial expressions, vocalizations and touch.

The chacma baboon often sleeps in large groups on high rocks, cliffs or in tall trees at night to avoid nocturnal predators.

Chacma baboons that play a more central role in the group (as measured by grooming behavior and time spent with other members) are more likely to be followed during the morning dispersal.

As in morning dispersal, the inclination of group members to follow the leader is positively associated with social interactions with that dominant individual.

[40] This protection hypothesis is supported by studies of stress hormones in female baboons during changes in the male hierarchy.

However, in some confined locations, such as South Africa's Southern Cape Peninsula, local populations are dwindling due to habitat loss and predation from other protected species, such as leopards and lions.

[45] Many troops have become a suburban menace in their search for food, overturning garbage cans, and breaking into cars and houses where they cause much damage.

Observations by those working hands-on in South Africa's rehabilitation centers have found this species is damaged by human intervention; troop structures are influenced, and over the years a significant loss in numbers has occurred.

Because they live near and invade human habitats, urban baboons are regularly shot, poisoned, electrocuted, beaten to death, run over, and captured for the pet industry, research laboratories and muti (medicine).

[46] Despite this, assessors working for the IUCN believe there are no major threats that could result in a range-wide decline of the species.