Harvard primatologist and professional photographer to lead historic adventure

Arusha, Tanzania– Two renowned Gombe Stream alumni will lead a historic adventure in 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of when Jane Goodall first began studying chimpanzees in western Tanzania.

Famed primatologist and Harvard professor, Richard Wrangham, and celebrated photographer, Stewart Halperin, have teamed up with Thomson Safaris and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) to mark the milestone with the 50th Anniversary Safari and Chimp Trek. The 15-day adventure will take a fortunate group of travelers to the heart of Tanzania’s extraordinary wild places, from tracking chimps in the rainforests of Gombe Stream National Park to following the wildebeest migration across the plains of the Serengeti.

Halperin and Wrangham (see bios below) will enrich the experience beyond measure, as travelers will sharpen their photography skills with a pro and will discover more about animal behavior and evolutionary biology with a famed anthropologist. In fact, the two longtime friends first met as graduate students nearly 40 years ago when they studied chimps at Gombe under the guidance of Jane Goodall. Gombe Stream changed the course of their lives.

“It was mind-boggling and mystical and magical,” recalls Halperin. “And the best part is now we get to go back and share those places and new experiences with travelers.”

Beyond Gombe, travelers will explore a nature reserve exclusive for Thomson guests in the heart of a remote Maasai region, where they will have in-depth cultural interactions and adventurous opportunities not possible in reserves and parks. With Halperin and Wrangham sharing their expertise and fascinating insights, the 50th Anniversary Safari and Chimp Trek offers the very best of Tanzania’s wildlife, cultures, and adventure. Furthermore, significant trip proceeds will help support JGI’s outstanding conservation work.

Promoting and expanding upon Jane Goodall’s 50-year legacy, JGI has long stood at the international forefront of innovative community-based conservation. Each traveler on the 50th Anniversary Safari and Chimp Trek will make a critical contribution to JGI so that the great apes of Africa will thrive for generations to come and communities surrounding conservation areas will be supported.

With only one departure scheduled for September of 2010, this is the kind of adventure that only comes along once in a lifetime.

“Jane has inspired so many amazing people who came to Gombe,” says Halperin. “We were just two characters back then. What better combination to lead a trip like this today? What better way to mark the 50th anniversary of when Jane Goodall first started her work with chimpanzees?”

Contact Thomson Safaris (1-800-235-0289) for more information about the 50th Anniversary Safari and Chimp Trek. Photos available upon request.

Richard Wrangham
Currently the Ruth Moore Professor of Anthropology at Harvard, Richard Wrangham has produced pioneering studies about primates, including discovering that chimpanzees self-medicate. Most recently he published, Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, which proposes a radical new theory on human evolution and has been listed by the New York Times and the Economist as one of the best books of 2009.

Stewart Halperin
Over the past 40 years, Stewart Halperin has journeyed to more than 80 countries while capturing an eclectic array of extraordinary color images. His collection includes some 120,000 color transparencies of fine art photographic prints and an expanding digital library, which ranges from stunning landscapes in New Zealand to dreamy abstracts in Italy, from wildlife in Key West to dramatic cultural displays in Brazil.

Thomson Safaris
Thomson Safaris offers safari adventures, Kilimanjaro treks, and cultural experiences for both the solo intrepid traveler and the whole family alike. Winning the 2009 Tanzania Conservation Award and the Tour Operator of the Year Award from the Tanzania Tourist Board, Thomson Safaris strives to be a leader in community-based travel and sustainable tourism. In 2008 and 2009, National Geographic Adventure gave Thomson Safaris one of its top ratings for the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth. In 2008, Condé Nast recognized the company as a finalist for its World Savers Awards.

Jeremy O’Kasick
jeremy@thomsonsafaris.com
1-617-923-0940

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