Good-Natured Trips for Good-Natured People

16 Jan Good-Natured Trips for Good-Natured People

If you’re like me, you tend to leave the word “philanthropy” to those with more heavily lined pocket books. The prospect of helping the world, whether that means efforts toward protecting natural habitats, the animals that live in those environments, or the local cultures in developing countries, feels daunting, if not downright impossible. Where would you even start?

But at the same time, if you’re like me, it is your nature to share and to learn about the people and places you care about. So how do you consolidate your good-natured spirit with a realistic approach, something that will satisfy your desire to travel and your desire to give back? Lately I’ve been exploring adventure companies’ efforts to do this very thing, reading their guest traveler testimonials, and making sense of their different endeavors. I’ve found that making an impact is possible without contributing monetarily to a specific cause. Choosing to travel with a company you trust can give back in a meaningful way to the places they travel to, and in a way that’s both comfortable and cultivating for you. And to my surprise, I’ve discovered that there are as many ways to give back as there are places I have yet to see. (One more thing I’ve learned: Don’t be afraid to ask questions — the best companies are eager to tell you all about their efforts.)

Here are four ideas that have already piqued my interest:

Face to Face with the Great Uganda Gorilla

© Suzanna Spencer

With Natural Habitat Adventures, travelers sit down with a family of endangered mountain gorillas and watch their habits in the wild as they move through the vines and foliage, so* me of them overhead in the trees. I was mesmerized by this description of the encounter: “He’s close enough to hold your gaze with his liquid brown eyes. Something primal, inexplicable, connects the two of you in that moment, when the world exists only within this rarest of encounters.” Click here to learn more.

Preserving Bhutanese Culture

© wkok

Author and scholar Dr. Robert Thurman is the hero of this GeoEx adventure into Bhutan, the last remaining Tibetan Buddhist kingdom. This journey to the Land of the Thunder Dragon, as the country is often called, promises hiking rhododendron-covered mountains and meandering through idyllic villages tucked in remote valleys, with regular m* editations and insight into the local customs, culture, and religion. And the trip directly supports Tibet House, dedicated to preserving Tibet’s unique culture. Along with meditations and meanderings, travelers also learn about Bhutan’s environmental positions and the country’s efforts in preservation. Click here to learn more.

Volunteer on Safaris in East Africa

courtesy of Micato

Micato’s safaris incorporate an inspiringly ambitious commitment to communities in Africa: For every safari sold, Micato sends a child to school. Through the non-profit arm of the company, AmericaShare, guests are also provided the opportunity to volunteer a few hours of their time to participate in a community project. These first-hand exchanges with the locals, who demonstrate their livelihoods, are as enriching for the visitors as they are for the visited. Click here to learn more.

Believing in Baja

Lindblad Expeditions’ efforts in conservation inspired this short clip in which a team member talks about the change he’s witnessed over the years thanks to projects supporting the marine habitat at Los Islotes in Baja California. Lindblad Expeditions guests and conservation partners have provided contributions of more than $2 million in the Gulf of California; this money has been used to support a variety of efforts, including sea lion disentanglement, radar surveillance of illegal fishing in the Bahia Loreto Marine Reserve, and a program to train local fishermen to be environmentally responsible guides. Click here to learn more.

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Marguerite Richards

Marguerite Richards is a freelance travel writer who can’t seem to control her curiosity. She sometimes misses out on the physical details of a place because she’s so captivated by the people. She travels to understand cultural differences and the nuances that separate us, with the resolve to render it all palpable through her writing. She has lived for a combined six years in Holland, Chile and France, where total cultural immersion instilled a permanent desire to travel. New York was her longest cultural adventure, where she ran the magazines for the French Government Tourist Office for five years. Now, back in her native California, she’s free to write again full time. But, because she can’t shake her love for business, she also collaborates with travel companies on marketing and social media projects as often as possible. Marguerite holds an MA in French Translation, a BA in English Literature, a Certificate for English teaching, and an honorary business degree from the School of Hard Knocks. margueriterichards.com

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