World Wildlife Fund

Profile:  Charles and Karen Goetz, Northport, N.Y.
WWF members Charles and Karen Goetz will also hit a milestone this year—their 10th WWF Membership Travel tour, this one to Alaska.

"Everyone asks us, 'What's your favorite trip'," says Karen, a retired school teacher from Northport, N.Y., who has been a WWF member since 1972. "How can you pick your favorite? Each new trip is special."

She recalled one of her favorite wildlife-spotting moments on a WWF tour—the day a tiger walked within 15 feet of her group’s jeep along a dirt road in a national park in India. Other favorites: seeing an anaconda in the Peruvian Amazon, watching leaping lemurs in Madagascar and snorkeling with sea turtles in the Seychelles.

But Karen also said that meeting other travelers on WWF tours is as valuable as seeing wildlife and the world. "The people we meet are amazing," she says. "They have always been an important part of our trips."

On traveling with WWF …
“WWF has, for years, given us everything we look for in a trip—exciting destinations, highly knowledgeable naturalist guides, excellent accommodations and food, wonderful learning and photographic opportunities, small groups and WWF representatives on every trip who are both helpful and personable.”
--Pat S., Hillsborough, N.J.

“We go on tours with WWF because we’re looking to go to places where other people generally don’t go. With WWF, I know everything will be done right.”
--Richard K., Marblehead, Mass.

“Fellow passengers are like-minded, congenial and socially as well as environmentally interested and concerned.”
--Edward M., Greenville, N.C.

On wildlife sightings …
“The sightings of rhinos from elephant back were awesome, only to be eclipsed by the tigers. Nothing can top the sight of tigers in the wild.”
--Tia McHugh, Miami, Fla.
India

“The animal viewing for my 11-year-old grand nephew was a lifetime experience for him.”
--Bill S., Weatherford, Okla.
Mongolia

“The whales were a learning experience. Just to see them was great, but to hear them was special.”
--Joann T., Trenton, N.J.
Pacific Northwest

On our voyages …
“The ship became a real community … My wife and I enjoyed everything, from the time we boarded to leaving the ship.”
--Robert P., Nashville, Tenn.
Baja, Mexico

On our destinations …
“I think the most amazing thing about this place is that the animals are not afraid of you. I’ve never been able to observe them this way, outside a zoo.”
--Renee C., Falls Church, Va.
The Galápagos

“This was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.”
--Wilma H., Orinda, Calif.
Micronesia