Elite Traveler Summer 2021

etr li at ve eler SUMMER 2021 149

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Intrepid Travel Intrepid Travel has been around for over 30 years; the firm received the B Corp Certification in 2018, meaning the company has achieved the highest possible standards of verified social and environmental performance. Intrepid specialize in small group trips that are a little more rough around the edges than the average Elite Traveler might be used to, but the immersive experiences (and reassurance that your dollars are helping a bigger cause) more than make up for it. intrepidtravel.com Black Tomato You’ve likely read about a Black Tomato trip in a past issue of Elite Traveler , whether it featured diving with humpback whales in Iceland or embarking on a journey of self-discovery. Always pushing the boundaries of what is possible, the company consistently creates new and exciting trips (that can usually be customized, of course). It supports UN Gold Standard certified carbon offset projects and, after calculating the company’s corporate emissions, it selects an offset project to support. Past offset missions have included support for a wind project in India and reforestation in Panama. blacktomato.com Jacada Jacada states that “making a positive impact through travel doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury,” and we couldn’t have put it better ourselves. Founded honeymooners, solo travelers, families or those just wanting a fantastic vacation. It also specializes in LGBTQ travel, ensuring that same-sex couples are safe and relaxed in their destination of choice. Jacada partners with a number of organizations to ensure its trips are responsible and can bring a positive impact. It is a member of The Long Run, a collection of businesses committed to driving sustainability, and has signed The Long Run Charter, a promise to uphold the ‘4Cs’ of conservation, community, culture and commerce. jacadatravel.com in 2008, Jacada creates custom-made trips for

MICATO SAFARI Having won countless awards in its 55 years, Micato sets the finest gold standard for safaris. Founded in Kenya in 1966 by Felix Pinto, the company is still very much a family affair. Felix and his wife Jane (a former table tennis champ) remain active within the company, and their children and other family members hold senior positions. At Micato’s very core is the unwavering commitment to give back to the land that they so dearly cherish, as well as contributing to the local community and beyond. Micato-AmericaShare was set up over two decades ago and was created to help populations in Nairobi, Kenya who have been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Recently, the nonprofit partnered with Huru International to help serve the Mukuru community during the Covid-19 pandemic. And, if you’re booking a Micato safari, you will be directly helping —Micato’s ‘One for One Commitment’ means that for every single guest on safari, the company pays for an African child’s education. The ‘School Sponsorship Programme’ has been helping the poorest and most vulnerable children, some of whom are orphaned, by sending them to quality boarding schools and creating a lifelong bond between sponsor and child (some students who have been sponsored from early primary school are now graduating from university). So, which safari to book? You can design your own custom safari — from private jet itineraries to solo traveler safaris — in East Africa, Southern Africa or India. We’re particularly enamored of the ‘Royal Palaces of India’ tour, where you’ll spend two magical weeks visiting (and in some cases, staying in) the country’s enchanting palaces. Contact Ariel Spodek, safari specialist, +1 800 642 2861, micato.com