Jungle Japes

Jungle Japes is the first level in Donkey Kong 64. Since this is the first adventure stage of the game, it is where the player learns to do many things, including collecting bananas and transforming into Rambi the Rhino. It is located in Donkey Kong Island and requires one Golden Banana (found near the entrance itself) to enter. Diddy Kong is held captive here in a mountain prison.

Jungle Japes, as the name suggests, has many jungle areas, filled with climbable trees and collectibles. There are many cliffs that the Kongs climb, one of which has a mine area. The jungle also has many gloomy tunnels full of swinging light bulbs and Gnawties. The Kasplats are found in the tunnels, except the one carrying Chunky Kong's Blueprint is located in the underground cave. The boss of this stage is Army Dillo, which requires 60 regular Bananas both from Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong to enter, and Army Dillo is fought by Donkey Kong.

Starting Area
The starting point of the level. This area features a thin palm tree, a few thick palm trees, floating vines that will take Donkey Kong to his Kong Switch to open the gate to the tunnel, and a Gnawty. Bananaport Pad 1 is the only Bananaport Pad located in that area, which will take the Kongs to the Central Area, but inside the tunnel a few feet from the tunnel exit.

Starting Cave
This cave connects the Starting Area to the Central Area. It has a few Gnawties. A notable area is a room in which Diddy Kong has to open with his Peanut Popguns leading to a Golden Banana and two Bonus Barrels that Tiny Kong and Lanky Kong have to do for Golden Bananas behind cages. The 1 pad is near the end of the tunnel.

Central Area
The main area of the level, also the largest. It has thin palm trees, cliffs, a large pond, Diddy Kong's mine cave, Lanky Kong's secret cave (although Tiny Kong can also access it from climbing up a tree nearby and using her Ponytail Whirl to reach it), an underground cave blocked by an "X" and a boulder that Chunky Kong must throw and then Simian Slam three times to break it open, and is filled with Gnawties and Zingers. Snide's H.Q. is located on the highest cliff slightly down the hill from the mine cave, and Funky's Store is located on the cliff below Snide's H.Q. Donkey Kong's Kong Pad is located on a platform above the hole to the underground cave and behind the floating vines after climbing up the thin palm tree. There is also a cannon on the mid-point on the opposite cliff of Funky's Store, which will shoot the Kongs up to the highest point. Bananaport Pad 1 sends the Kongs back to the Starting Area, Bananaport Pad 2 sends the Kongs from the bottom area to the highest cliff of the same area and vice-versa, Bananaport Pad 3 sends the Kongs to the opposite side of the same area, Bananporter 4 sends the Kongs to the Storm Area, and Bananaport Pad 5 (only reachable by Diddy Kong) sends the Kongs to the Secret Area.

Storm Cave
The largest cave in the level, with two entrances from the main area. One entrance, near the 3 pad and Lanky Kong's cave leads to Diddy Kong's Kasplat and vines leading to the other area of the cave. The other entrance is behind the river with a 4 pad and going straight will lead to the storm area. Near the storm area, there are two side paths. The left one leads to Lanky Kong's Bonus Barrel and his Kasplat while the right leads to a Banana Fairy, and a Chunky boulder on top of a Chunky Switch. The right side must be open by Donkey Kong (as Rambi from the storm area).

Storm Area
The stormy area of the level with heavy rain, lightning, and thunderclaps. It has three thin palm trees, a small ??? where the Rambi Crate is located in where only Donkey Kong can transform into Rambi, four Kong switches (excluding Chunky Kong) hidden under small circular buildings that Rambi must break to reveal them, and three Gnawties. Cranky's Lab is located in the middle of this area of the level. Bananaport Pad 4 in this area sends the Kongs back to the Central Area, but in a tunnel entrance behind the pond.

Side Cave
The entrance is near the X and a 3 pad. Near the beginning is Donkey Kong's Kasplat. Further down is Tiny Kong's Kasplat. At the end is the Secret Area that Tiny Kong has to open.

Secret Area
The smallest area of the level. It has four thick palm trees, one Hunky Chunky Barrel, two Mini Monkey Barrels, two hollow logs used as tunnels while Tiny Kong is in her Mini Monkey form, a tree stump which holds a Golden Banana for Tiny Kong to collect while she falls into the hole of it in her Mini Monkey form, a small Mushroom Trampoline for Tiny Kong in her Mini Monkey form, and a small crystalline cave for Tiny Kong to enter while in Mini Monkey form. Enemies in this area contain two Kritters (only one revives itself after being defeated), and three Grenade-throwing Zingers. This is also the only area of the level where Kritters can be found. Bananaport Pad 5 in this area sends the Kongs to the roof of the mine cave in the Central Area. Tiny Kong must shoot both switches using her Feather Bow to open the gate to this area. This area also plays the same background music as the Starting Area.

Trivia

 * Jungle Hijinxs, from Donkey Kong Country, was originally known as Jungle Japes in development.
 * The music played is an arrangement of "DK Island Swing" from Donkey Kong Country.
 * Inside the underground cave were Chunky Kong's Kasplat is located, the Pineapple Switches can be hit using any weapon, not just the Pineapple Launcher.
 * The storm variation of the music for Jungle Japes was arranged as Rabbid Kong's battle theme in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.
 * The normal theme was also rearranged as "Jungle Joust", one of the battle themes for the Donkey Kong Adventure expansion.