TORONTO — G Adventures is marking the life and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall with $85 donations for every Jane Goodall Collection tour booked across the globe April 1 – 5.
Dr. Goodall turns 85 on April 3. The birthday donations, made by G Adventures at no cost to travellers, will support the work of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, founded in 1977 to encourage protection of chimpanzees and to recognize the central role people play in the well-being of animals and habitat.
The institute has since established community-centred conservation and development programs across Africa, including Jane Goodall’s renowned Roots & Shoots program for youth.
G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip says he considers the 85-year-old U.N. Messenger of Peace a personal hero and friend. “It is an absolute honour to have our company affiliated with the work of Dr. Goodall and her team of champions, but even more, to support her vision of raising awareness and respect among travellers,” says Poon Tip. “Ever since I first saw her picture on the cover of National Geographic as a child and read about her passion and purpose, she has inspired me as a leader, an explorer and an entrepreneur.”
G Adventures’ Vice President of Marketing and Customer Service, Lauren Michell says G Adventures is “proud to be going ‘G for Goodall’ this week”, adding that Goodall’s milestone birthday is a happy occasion “for us to lend extra support to her organization’s mission and celebrate her inspiring life.”
G Adventures and the Jane Goodall Institute have teamed up since 2016 to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife-friendly and responsible tourism, curating a program of 20 trips that have a special emphasis on responsible wildlife sightings to form the Jane Goodall Collection by G Adventures.
All trips in the collection, which include itineraries across G Adventures’ numerous different tour styles, are endorsed by Dr. Goodall, whose Institute protects endangered species through conservation strategies that incorporate the needs of local communities, with the understanding that helping people saves wildlife.
In 2015 Dr. Goodall gave her formal support to the G Adventures Animal Welfare Policy, which governs the small-group tour operator’s more than 700 trips around the globe, ensuring the protection and freedom of all animals when traveling.
That operational commitment, along with Goodall’s endorsement, paved the way for the first-of-its-kind partnership in the tourism industry: the Jane Goodall Collection.
“This amazing lady and her dedication to helping us see our better selves is like a guiding North Star,” says Michell. “If we can offer people the chance to observe some of the planet’s most amazing wildlife, while helping them gain greater respect for diverse communities, cultures and nature, we’re fulfilling our brand’s purpose of changing lives through travel.”
Sample, eligible itineraries in the Jane Goodall Collection by G Adventures include:
. Experience Borneo – 14 days round trip from Kota Kinabalu, from $2,524 per person, air separate. “Go for a dip in the awe-inspiring Wind and Clearwater caves of Gunung Mulu National Park. Opt to go snorkeling on the island haven of Pulau Tiga. Observe native orangutans at a rehabilitation centre In Sungai. Take a river safari in search of wildlife and visit the nearby oxbow lake with a professional guide to seek out proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, macaques, and gibbons.”
. Highlights of Madagascar – 14 days round trip from Antananarivo, from $2,062 per person, air separate. “Isolated from mainland Africa for millions of years, most of Madagascar’s plants, reptiles and primates are found nowhere else. Join expert guides to observe its famed and diverse lemurs, walk through ancient baobab forests in search of wild geckos, chameleons, birds and insects, swim in hidden blue canyon pools, and spot migrating whales. You’ll learn about local life and still have time to relax at the beach.”
. Galapagos Island Hopping with Quito – 9 days round trip from Quito, from $2,415 per person, air separate. “Highlights include a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, staying in the G Adventures-supported community guesthouse on Floreana and taking guided walks to observe native birds and other wildlife,viewing breeding white-tip reef sharks, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, rays, and penguins, plus a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center.”
. Kenya Safari Experience – 8 days roundtrip from Nairobi, from $4,299 per person, air separate. “This upgraded adventure in Kenya is the ideal introduction to safari life. Ride on daily wildlife safari drives in the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro, be introduced to the Maasai way of life, and learn about elephant conservation from the Kenya Wildlife Service. With endless plains teeming with wildlife and dotted with acacia trees, you won’t want to blink.”
. Amazon Riverboat Adventure – 9 days round trip from Lima, from $2,279 per person, air separate. “Hop aboard a riverboat and experience the Amazon in style. Led by an Amazon Reserve naturalist guide, your cruise will include daily excursions by motorized skiff designed to reveal the exotic wildlife that calls the rainforest home — with any luck you’ll spot sloths, toucans, or pink dolphins. And, with plenty of time for exploration in Pacaya–Samiria National Reserve, you’ll have the chance to experience the jungle up close.”
For more information on any of the 20 Jane Goodall Collection tour see https://www.gadventures.com/jane-goodall/.
