Hike for Hope

Your Adventure Package — Jane’s Legacy

Presented by G Adventures

For decades, Dr. Jane walked — through forests, jungles, and savannahs — and into the hearts of people around the world. She encouraged everyone to create a world where animals, people, and the environment could all thrive. Now it’s our turn to walk for her.

Jane’s Peak

Long before people around the world knew her name, Jane laced up her boots and set out on foot through the forests of Gombe, keen to observe the chimpanzees who had made these trees home. She trudged through rain and wind, hiking up to the peak — day after day, month after month — simply driven by her curiosity and her determination.

On these daily treks, she was able to earn the trust of these chimpanzees. And with each step she took, she observed our closest animal relatives — more than anyone else ever had — and made discoveries that changed science forever.

Now, you can walk in her footsteps — not through the forests of Tanzania, but in your very own community — and carry her legacy forward. Every step you take gets us closer to protecting the animals, people, and environments that Dr. Jane devoted herself to. She showed us that the most extraordinary discoveries can begin with a single step, and now we can make our own discoveries.

Hike Like Jane

Take your time. Nature only ever reveals itself to those who slow down. Dr. Jane did not transform our understanding of chimpanzees by rushing through the forest — she sat, she watched, and she waited. Follow her example, and know that the most unique moments and memorable experiences in nature are rarely found when sprinting.

Prepare, but expect the unexpected. Dr. Jane spent lots of time preparing before she ever set out for the forest, and then one wild chimpanzee changed everything she thought she knew. Like her, pack your essentials and plan your route — but leave room for detours, downpours, or discoveries that were not on the map.

Choose your outfit wisely. Dr. Jane had her iconic khaki outfit. You can make your own statement with what you wear — from your boots up to your hat — but make sure you dress for the hours ahead, not for the trailhead photo. The best hikes take place when you are comfortable enough to forget what you are wearing entirely.

Leave No Trace

Dr. Jane famously said: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.” When hiking in nature, your goal should be simple: leave no trace.

Stay on the path to protect surrounding vegetation and ecosystems, leave rocks and plants alone, don’t take “souvenirs” home with you, respect wildlife, and keep your distance from animals. When you are done with your food wrappers, dispose of them properly or put them back into your bag.

Remember, the outdoors isn’t just for you — it’s for animals, it’s for people, and it’s for future generations. The area you hike in today should look the same — or better — for its inhabitants and for the next group who hikes there. When all of us do our bit, the spaces we cherish can flourish for generations.

Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.

Dr. Jane Goodall

Jane’s Legacy

In July 1960, Dr. Jane trekked to what is now Tanzania to observe wild chimpanzees. Her practices were unprecedented, and her discoveries — including that chimpanzees can make and use tools — changed science forever, and are credited with redefining what being “human” means.

Years later, when she saw the threats that chimpanzees were facing, she shifted much of her work from science to advocacy. She launched Tacare, the Jane Goodall Institute’s community-led conservation approach; she championed world-class animal welfare practices, including at Tchimpounga Sanctuary; and she travelled regularly to spread her hopeful message around the world.

When she sat down with students in Tanzania, she saw how young people had the power to change the world for the better — they were just not sure where to start. With those young leaders, she started Roots & Shoots, an international program that helps young people develop and implement projects that benefit animals, people, and the environment.

None of this work has stopped with Dr. Jane’s passing.

The three-month study that Dr. Jane undertook at Gombe continues to this very day — it is the longest-running study of wild chimpanzees in the world. Tacare has proven to be incredibly successful — and the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada uses this approach for its programs in countries across Africa. Young leaders are actively engaged in Roots & Shoots projects in 75 countries and counting — in Canada, more than 14,000 young leaders are involved in projects.

The legacy that Dr. Jane left behind is remarkable. This is what you are supporting — and what you are carrying forward — when you take part in the Hike for Hope. Whether you head out for 15 minutes or 15 kilometres, in the city or in the country, you are declaring that Dr. Jane’s legacy matters, that her message endures, and that her mission must continue.

Together, as we walk, we’re responding to Planet Earth’s needs — and nurturing the hope that is born when we choose to take action.

Dr. Jane Goodall