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Reef and Rainforest Tours, the operator who specialises in tailor-made wildlife and nature-based holidays to some of the world’s most exotic long haul destinations, has added Brazil and Panama to their 2009 “Family Wildlife Adventures” brochure, bringing their total number of featured family destinations to nine. Existing destinations include Belize, Costa Rica, Borneo, Seychelles, Madagascar, Ecuador Galapagos and Sri Lanka.
Completely revamped, revised and expanded, the new 80-page brochure, which is better illustrated, more accessible and easier to use, includes more destination and accommodation information, as well as a greater number of sample itineraries making it easier for families to then discuss their specific requirements with Reef and Rainforest staff.
Panama makes its debut with two sample itineraries, one for older and one for younger children, featuring the fantastic Canal Zone, Pacific and Caribbean coasts and the uplands volcano region. One itinerary combines the abundant wildlife of the canal rainforests with an idyllic Caribbean marine park island, the beautiful sandy beaches of the Pacific Coast, a trip to an Embera Amerindian village, cloud forest bird spotting and rainforest canopy zip lining.
Brazil, South America’s largest country, is blessed with incredible diversity, variety and charm making it the perfect family destination. A suggested itinerary includes the Pantanal, 230,000 square kilometres that seasonally flood transforming a dry and dusty savannah into a vast lake dotted with woodland islands and rife with wildlife. Also on the itinerary are the famed Iguacu Falls, guaranteed whale watching in the south and ample time in legendary Rio de Janeiro.
Leading by example founders and directors Alan and Caroline Godwin firmly believe that family holidays should be both fun and educational and to ensure that they are, each featured destination was first fully explored by the entire Godwin family – Alan, Caroline and their children Tom and Tilly – or, in the case of Borneo and Panama, by another member of staff.
And to prove the point that travel is good for personal development, in 2007, when Tom was nine, he was awarded a runner up prize in the prestigious Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Tom Godwin entered the "Ten Years and Under" category with his picture of a young puma taken whilst on one of the wildlife holidays in which Reef and Rainforest Tours specialises.
Commenting on his son’s prize Alan said: “Tom’s achievement has really proved our whole philosophy of undertaking and providing educational long haul family travel. Tom has been travelling with us to such destinations since he was a one year old in which time he has developed a strong love for wildlife, natural history and photography.
“Children can benefit greatly from travelling and can learn so much about different cultures and the wonders of the world that it literally brings the world ‘alive’ for them – something that can’t be achieved by books and TV, but only by first hand experience. Children can put up with a lot more than parents often realise, especially if they get used to long haul travel early in life, and they gain so many benefits – primarily an enduring love for the world in which we live.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
