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Next month sees the running of the annual Serengeti Girls Run in Tanzania. A three-day, 63 km all-women pilgrimage across one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.

Traversing the pristine wilderness of Singita Grumeti’s private concession in the Serengeti – home to an abundance of wildlife and a unique ecosystem – this exclusive event is part of Singita and the Grumeti Fund’s Safaris with a Purpose and will raise funds for empowerment programs for girls in rural Tanzania.

Now in its seventh iteration, this November’s event will see the first Australian participant tackling the course, none other than Rachelle Matheson, Managing Director of Jigsaw Travel & Mogul Ski World in Prahan, Melbourne. One of Melbourne’s leading boutique travel agencies, Jigsaw Travel has been around for over 30 years and was a finalist in the 2024 Virtuoso Awards earlier this year.

“At Jigsaw Travel, we are committed to working with partners and suppliers that are making a difference in their local regions – through initiatives such as supporting local communities and cultures, and leading wildlife and environmental conservation projects. As advisors of travel, we consider it our responsibility to remain actively aware in this space, so we can know the experiences and operators around the world that operate

ethically, and impart this knowledge to our clients, enabling you to make informed decisions. We have especially admired the work of Singita in this space.”

Matheson said she was proud to be the first Australian to participate in the program, and “making a positive impact in creating more opportunities for women around the world.”

Opportunity to support Rachelle’s participation

Jigsaw Travel is inviting trade partners to join the agency in supporting the important work of the Grumeti Fund, by making a donation to the Jigsaw Travel Serengeti Girls Run fundraiser. Your contribution will help fund a range of empowerment initiatives for girls covering education, healthcare, gender equality and a positive impact on communities:

• Scholarships for 80 local girls in secondary school, vocational studies and university
• Empowerment events for 5,000 high school girls
• A year’s supply of sanitary towels for 5,000 high school girls so that they can attend school with dignity and pride
• Mentorship program
• Life skills training

The Victorian agency is aiming to raise $25,000 for the Grumeti Fund, with the Jigsaw Travel team injecting $7,500 of their own. As of today, just shy of one month before the Serengeti Girls Run commences, Jigsaw Travel’s Go Fund Me page has received $12,980.

Lea Seguier, Australian representative for Singita, is calling on the wider travel industry to support Matheson’s upcoming efforts so that she can blitz the $25K target.

Learn more about the Serengeti Girls Run here:

To make a donation to this extraordinary effort, click here.

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