EPIC PRIVATE JOURNEYS

Making a Difference

Investing in the people and places we love to visit

A fabulous holiday depends upon the integrity and purity of the experience which in turn is reliant upon the quality of its natural and cultural elements. Epic recognises the priceless value of memorable experiences and is committed to supporting both the conservation of the unique ecosystems we visit and investment in the people who call them home.

Epic supports local organisations in the countries we visit who have developed effective small-scale programs to: build local capacity and employment opportunities, empowering local communities to fight against poverty and to achieve sustainable development; provide economic incentives for conserving and enhancing bio-cultural diversity to help protect the natural and cultural heritage; and contribute to well-planned conservation projects.

YALARI

Yalari supports Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities throughout Australia in gaining access to a first-class secondary education via scholarships at some of the country’s leading boarding schools.

Established in 2005, Yalari now supports 180 children around Australia enrolled in 34 partnership schools. Yalari was founded by Indigenous educator Waverley Stanley and his wife Llew Mullins.Waverley’s own experience of attending boarding school at Toowoomba Grammar School over 20 years ago started him on the Yalari journey. Read More

Yalari supports Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities throughout Australia in gaining access to a first-class secondary education via scholarships at some of the country’s leading boarding schools.

Established in 2005, Yalari now supports 180 children around Australia enrolled in 34 partnership schools. Yalari was founded by Indigenous educator Waverley Stanley and his wife Llew Mullins.Waverley’s own experience of attending boarding school at Toowoomba Grammar School over 20 years ago started him on the Yalari journey. With a target to raise over $20 million to support Indigenous students over the next ten years, Yalari draws its support from individual benefactors, companies, philanthropic foundations and government departments.

Yalari provides programmes which break the cycles of poverty, abuse or other misfortune by educating our children, with the belief that by educating a child you ultimately make the world a better place for all.

www.yalari.org

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TUENDE PAMOJA

Kisampa is a private community conservation sanctuary that adjoins the unique coastal Saadani National Park in eastern Tanzania. Conserving this area is the passion of Epic’s own Rob Barbour.

Here Rob and his family have made their own home and developed a small eco friendly lodge, with the lightest, most delicate footprint. This endeavour is hand in hand with the local community – engaging in socially and environmentally responsible tourism that helps to protect the area and brings money and resources directly to the community. Read More

Kisampa is a private community conservation sanctuary that adjoins the unique coastal Saadani National Park in eastern Tanzania. Conserving this area is the passion of Epic’s own Rob Barbour.

Here Rob and his family have made their own home and developed a small eco friendly lodge, with the lightest, most delicate footprint. This endeavour is hand in hand with the local community – engaging in socially and environmentally responsible tourism that helps to protect the area and brings money and resources directly to the community.

One of the projects is the sponsoring of underprivileged children to receive a secondary education at various schools adjacent to Kisampa. Through Kisampa’s Tuende Pamoja Trust Fund (“Let’s move forward together” in Kiswahili), they have facilitated the sponsorship of children who would normallynot have the means to go to secondary school because they are orphaned, from non-working single-parent families, or are deemed ‘poorer than poor’ (as decided by their own communities).

A secondary education in Tanzania costs US$ 250 per child, per year, for five years at a government school. This includes their school fees, any accommodation allowances, food, a uniform, a pair of shoes and a solar light to study by at night as there is no electricity in the village. Through the Tuende Pamoja Trust Fund, over 100 children are currently sponsored at three different secondary schools -all due to the generosity of clients coming to Tanzania. Epic Private Journeys has played a leading role in helping to attract some of this sponsorship.

www.tuendepamoja.org

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CRAFTING AFRICA'S FUTURE

Crafting Africa’s Future is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting African artisans and the communities in which they live. The organisation is committed to sustainable community development by purchasing their crafts, and through the support of community-based health care, education and development initiatives. Proceeds from the sale of artisan crafts are combined with general donations and re-invested in the most disadvantaged communities, thus ensuring that the people of Africa are at the heart of change.

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Crafting Africa’s Future is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting African artisans and the communities in which they live. The organisation is committed to sustainable community development by purchasing their crafts, and through the support of community-based health care, education and development initiatives. Proceeds from the sale of artisan crafts are combined with general donations and re-invested in the most disadvantaged communities, thus ensuring that the people of Africa are at the heart of change.

In 2005, Daniel Seder was just 13 when he travelled to Africa with Epic Private Journeys on what turned out to be a truly inspirational trip. Upon his return home, he set up this initiative and has been supporting communities through his efforts since.

www.craftingafricasfuture.org

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KOPE LION PROJECT KORONGORO PEOPLE'S LION INITIATIVE

Why are lions the only cats that live in cooperative communities? How does their social structure contribute to their survival?
These are the questions that Craig Packer sought to answer more than 30 years ago, when he first went to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania.

Packer and his graduate students have been pioneers on a scientific adventure that has revealed fascinating insights into the lions’ cooperative and competitive behaviour, the evolutionary significance of the males’ manes, and the lions’ role within the community of species that share their habitat. Read More

Why are lions the only cats that live in cooperative communities? How does their social structure contribute to their survival?
These are the questions that Craig Packer sought to answer more than 30 years ago, when he first went to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania.

Packer and his graduate students have been pioneers on a scientific adventure that has revealed fascinating insights into the lions’ cooperative and competitive behaviour, the evolutionary significance of the males’ manes, and the lions’ role within the community of species that share their habitat.

At any given time, the research team monitors about 380 lions in 30 prides, each pride typically containing three to six females, their dependent offspring, and a coalition of two to four males.

Basic scientific research into the lions’ behaviour, survival and reproduction has paved the way for finding effective ways to conserve the species. Outside the national parks, some lions become man-eaters while others habitually kill livestock, leading to intensive conflicts with Tanzanian villagers. Lion populations in many protected areas have also suffered from excessive trophy hunting. As the conflict between lions and humans has escalated, Packer and his students have sought creative resolutions throughout Africa.

The Lion Research Center is headquartered at the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences. This website was designed to provide information about lion research for the general public as well as students and scientists interested in animal behaviour.

KopeLion

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THE SOUTH LUANGWA CONSERVATION

The South Luangwa Conservation Society is a non-profit community based organisation committed to the conservation and preservation of the local wildlife and natural resources in Luangwa and at the same time ensuring and encouraging community development amongst local populations.

ln 2009, the idea of a Luangwa Conservation Community Fund was conceived by Andy Hogg from Mfuwe Lodge and the Bushcamp Company and spearheaded by an insightful group of photographic tour operators in South Luangwa. These dedicated and passionate Read More

The South Luangwa Conservation Society is a non-profit community based organisation committed to the conservation and preservation of the local wildlife and natural resources in Luangwa and at the same time ensuring and encouraging community development amongst local populations.

ln 2009, the idea of a Luangwa Conservation Community Fund was conceived by Andy Hogg from Mfuwe Lodge and the Bushcamp Company and spearheaded by an insightful group of photographic tour operators in South Luangwa. These dedicated and passionate

people had a long term vision of sustainable funding the activities of the South Luangwa Conservation Society and local community projects. They realized that without the wildlife and habitat in Luangwa, they would have no business and a special place would be lost. They also understood that without involving local communities and focusing on education, there would be no hope of protecting Luangwa’s amazing wildlife in future years.

The funds are split evenly between conservation and community projects. We believe that our guests are satisfied to know they have contributed directly to ensuring the ongoing survival of the wildlife and environment, as well as the development of the local community.

http://www.slcszambia.org/

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THE SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

At the heart of the DSWT’s conservation activities is the Orphans’ Project, which has achieved world-wide acclaim through its hugely successful elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation program. The Orphans’ Project exists to offer hope for the future of Kenya’s threatened elephant and rhino populations as they struggle against the threat of poaching for their ivory and horn, and the loss of habitat due to human population pressures and conflict, deforestation and drought.

To date the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully Read More

At the heart of the DSWT’s conservation activities is the Orphans’ Project, which has achieved world-wide acclaim through its hugely successful elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation program. The Orphans’ Project exists to offer hope for the future of Kenya’s threatened elephant and rhino populations as they struggle against the threat of poaching for their ivory and horn, and the loss of habitat due to human population pressures and conflict, deforestation and drought.

To date the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully

hand-raised over 150 infant elephants and has accomplished its long-term conservation priority by effectively reintegrating orphans back into the wild herds of Tsavo, claiming many healthy wild-born calves from former-orphaned elephants raised in their care.

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

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RHINOS WITHOUT BORDERS

Faced with a devastating exponential rise in illegal rhino poaching in South Africa, Rhinos Without Borders was formed in order to start moving these endangered animals away from the poaching hotspots to a safer environment.
The number of rhino being brutally slaughtered continues to escalate at an alarming rate with 1 215 killed in 2014 alone. andBeyond therefore joined forces with like-minded conservation company, Great Plains Conservation, and together have committed to moving 100 rhino to safety. The budget to translocate just one rhino is USD 45 000. The whole project, including ongoing and monitoring and security, requires a total budget of USD 4.5 million.

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Faced with a devastating exponential rise in illegal rhino poaching in South Africa, Rhinos Without Borders was formed in order to start moving these endangered animals away from the poaching hotspots to a safer environment.
The number of rhino being brutally slaughtered continues to escalate at an alarming rate with 1 215 killed in 2014 alone. andBeyond therefore joined forces with like-minded conservation company, Great Plains Conservation, and together have committed to moving 100 rhino to safety. The budget to translocate just one rhino is USD 45 000. The whole project, including ongoing and monitoring and security, requires a total budget of USD 4.5 million.

Botswana has been carefully selected for its extremely low poaching rates, thanks in part to its “no tolerance” policy when encountering potential threats. Each rhino, when translocated, is fitted with specially design telemetry devices for ongoing research and monitoring purposes.

Recently, the dream became a reality when the first batch of rhino were successfully translocated from South Africa, by air, and safely released in their new habitat. By taking action, Rhinos Without Borders has succeeded in moving rhinos from a high-risk poaching zone and significantly decreased the likelihood of these endangered animals being killed.

http://www.rhinoswithoutborders.com/

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CHILDREN IN THE WILDERNESS

Children in the Wilderness is a non-profit organisation supported by ecotourism company Wilderness Safaris to facilitate sustainable conservation through leadership development and education of rural children in Africa.

Insight, care and commitment are required to conserve Africa’s pristine wilderness and wildlife areas. If we are to ensure that these places continue to exist – in this generation and those to come – we need the rural children of Africa to understand the importance of conservation and its relevance in their lives. Read More

Children in the Wilderness is a non-profit organisation supported by ecotourism company Wilderness Safaris to facilitate sustainable conservation through leadership development and education of rural children in Africa.

Insight, care and commitment are required to conserve Africa’s pristine wilderness and wildlife areas. If we are to ensure that these places continue to exist – in this generation and those to come – we need the rural children of Africa to understand the importance of conservation and its relevance in their lives.

Hence, the Children in the Wilderness programme: an environmental and life skills educational programme for children, focussing on the next generation of decision-makers; inspiring them to care for their natural heritage and to become the custodians of these areas in the future.

children of the wilderness

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SOLID’ AFRICA

The main objective of Solid’Africa is to help the most vulnerable patients in Rwandan public hospitals.

Founded in September 2010, the organisation originated in the coming together of a group of young people who felt affected and concerned by the problems faced by certain patients.

Relying at its beginnings on a small circle of people, this project quickly evolved. More young people joined this movement, each bringing valuable resources essential to the development of the organisation’s activities. Read More

The main objective of Solid’Africa is to help the most vulnerable patients in Rwandan public hospitals.

Founded in September 2010, the organisation originated in the coming together of a group of young people who felt affected and concerned by the problems faced by certain patients.

Relying at its beginnings on a small circle of people, this project quickly evolved. More young people joined this movement, each bringing valuable resources essential to the development of the organisation’s activities. With Solidarity as its cardinal principal, Solid’Africa strives to bring together and mobilize all members of society – from the individual to the company- in order to create a dynamic of effective mutual help.

http://www.solidafrica.net/en/

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MOUNTAIN GORILLA VETERINARY PROJECT

RUMANGABO, EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MARCH 2012: Andre, 39, a self described “gorilla mother” looks after 4 orphaned gorillas who were rescued from various horrific circumstances and brought into care by the staff of Virunga National Park, DRC, 2 March 2012. Andre thinks of these gorillas as his own children and even describes bringing his children to see them as showing them their brothers and sisters. Read More

RUMANGABO, EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MARCH 2012: Andre, 39, a self described “gorilla mother” looks after 4 orphaned gorillas who were rescued from various horrific circumstances and brought into care by the staff of Virunga National Park, DRC, 2 March 2012. Andre thinks of these gorillas as his own children and even describes bringing his children to see them as showing them their brothers and sisters.

Andre lives with the Gorillas 24/7 with the exception of a few days off to visit his own family. Andre is an ICCN Congolese Conservation ranger and has cared for orphaned and rescued gorillas since 2003. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage for GEO magazine.)

The Mountain Veterinary Project is dedicated to conserving wild mountain and eastern lowland (or Grauer’s) gorillas through life-saving veterinary medicine and a One Health approach. Their international team of veterinarians is the only group providing these critically endangered animals with direct, hands-on care in the wild.

With only 880 mountain gorillas left in the world today, it is critical to ensure the health and well-being of every individual. Research has proven hat by intervening to save sick and injured gorillas, the Gorilla Doctors have helped make mountain gorillas the only great ape whose numbers in the wild are increasing.

At the request of Dian Fossey, the Mrris Animal Foundation established the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project in 1986 as a tiny one-veterinarian clinic providing emergency veterinary care to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. Over the years, MGVP grew to employ vets not only in Rwanda, but in Uganda and the D.R. Congo too. The MGVP partnered with the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California, Davis in 2009. Together, the two tax-exempt institutions formed Gorilla Doctors, which employs more than a dozen veterinarians and technicians in all three countries where eastern gorillas live.

gorilla doctors 

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R.E.N.E.W.

Epic supports the work of RENEW, a grass roots, not for profit organisation established by Queen Ashi Choden Sangay Wangchuk and dedicated to the development of women and children in Bhutan. The organisation is committed to preserving the valuable traditional skills of Bhutanese women such as weaving and textile production and a number of these projects are developing opportunities for women to showcase Read More

Epic supports the work of RENEW, a grass roots, not for profit organisation established by Queen Ashi Choden Sangay Wangchuk and dedicated to the development of women and children in Bhutan. The organisation is committed to preserving the valuable traditional skills of Bhutanese women such as weaving and textile production and a number of these projects are developing opportunities for women to showcase

their work and creating markets for it. Let Epic arrange for a representative from RENEW to meet you and escort you to the Queen’s weaving centre and textile museum. Meet the women who have been supported by the programme, hear their stories and learn more about what RENEW is doing in some of the most remote corners of the kingdom.

Carolyn Hamer-Smith (Epic’s Bhutan Specialist) has also had the rare privilege of living and working in Bhutan for two years as a consultant for the United Nations World Food Programme. During this time Carolyn trekked into some of Bhutan’s most remote corners as part of her work with the School Feeding Programme, visiting schools three or four days walk from the road.

Carolyn’s work with the United Nations also exposed her to the work of RENEW. In 2008, whilst escorting a group to Bhutan (to witness the Coronation of the 5th King which co-insided with celebrations marking 100 years of the monarchy), she was officially invited by Her Majesty to become an International Ambassador for RENEW. Carolyn has worked in both Japan and Australia since, advocating the work of Her Majesty and RENEW and develops touring programmes that offer guests a unique,hands-on opportunity to connect with the people of Bhutan through visiting RENEW projects and meeting the women that the projects support.

If you would like to learn more of these projects and support the women of Bhutan, please contact us.

www.renew.org.bt

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THE JUNIPER FUND

The Juniper Fund was started by David Morton and Melissa Arnot in order to address an unmet obligation they witnessed through their work as guides in the world’s great mountains.

The mountain climbing and expedition industry employs countless local staff and labourers in order to help support the adventures many travellers seek. The reality is that some of these workers are injured or killed in the course of this work. Read More

The Juniper Fund was started by David Morton and Melissa Arnot in order to address an unmet obligation they witnessed through their work as guides in the world’s great mountains.

The mountain climbing and expedition industry employs countless local staff and labourers in order to help support the adventures many travellers seek. The reality is that some of these workers are injured or killed in the course of this work.

The local governments have inadequate systems for insuring against this in the event of tragedy. The Juniper Fund’s work is presently focused on Nepali workers involved with climbing and expedition support in the high mountains of Nepal.

http://www.thejuniperfund.org/

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NATURAL SELECTION’S CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

Natural Selection’s goal is to be significant contributors towards the protection of Africa’s wildlife areas through the development of conservation projects with key communities and conservation scientists. To support their goal, they have developed a network of iconic and award winning lodges in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, known for the unique experiences that they offer and their commitment to conservation. Read More

Natural Selection’s goal is to be significant contributors towards the protection of Africa’s wildlife areas through the development of conservation projects with key communities and conservation scientists. To support their goal, they have developed a network of iconic and award winning lodges in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, known for the unique experiences that they offer and their commitment to conservation.

Natural Selection and its lodges donate 1.5% of their overall turnover to the Natural Selection Conservation Trust for the support of important conservation projects. In year one, this amounted to over 40% of their profit. They believe in donations before profit – no the African sun has not fried their brains, they are just crazy committed!

https://naturalselection.travel/conservation/

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