This year, G Adventures teamed up with National Geographic to offer a new line of trips for adventure-loving families. These 12 itineraries showcase wildlife, culture and history on five continents through interactive activities designed with children—and their parents—in mind. With Halloween just around the corner, Here are six Family Journeys-inspired costume ideas for tiny adventurers.
Gladiator
On the final day of the Italy Family Journey, kids step inside Rome’s ancient Colosseum and enrol in gladiator school. After learning about the history of gladiators—who battled one another and fended off fierce animals for the entertainment of roaring crowds—they become warriors themselves, donning wooden swords and shields. Back home, most costume stores will have some version of the outfit in stock, but the Roman emperor look is just as easy to create yourself: all you need is a pair of sandals, a leather belt, a long white t-shirt and a red blanket to stand in as a cape.
Safari Animals
For the perfect group get-up, take a page from the Tanzania Family Journey. During the eight-day adventure, families will learn about the origins of our species and spot wildlife in Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Serengeti offers a virtually endless list of potential Halloween costumes: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, jackals, giraffes, zebras, gazelles and ostriches. With a little imagination and a lot of face paint, no animal is too exotic for a spooky stroll around the neighbourhood.
Park Ranger
Both Family Journeys through the U.S. offers pint-sized travellers a chance to become Junior Rangers. Between dogsledding and whale watching in Alaska, kids have an opportunity to earn ranger badges by completing activities in the majestic Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks. Meanwhile, on the journey through Wyoming’s Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, mini-rangers can raft, visit famous geysers and spot elk, moose and grizzly bears. On the trick-or-treat trail, no ranger costume is complete without a wide-brimmed campaign hat and a pair of binoculars.
Jane Goodall
Chimp Eden, a chimpanzee sanctuary four hours east of Johannesburg, is a highlight of the Southern Africa Family Journey. The idyllic destination, home to more than 30 rescued chimps, is run by the Jane Goodall Institute of South Africa, a branch of the organization founded by the famed British ethologist who has dedicated her life to studying and protecting chimpanzees. For Halloween, kids can dress up like the chimps themselves; they are, after all, humans’ closest living relatives in the animal kingdom. Or they can go with a Goodall-inspired uniform: hiking boots, beige safari shirt and hat, and a chimpanzee friend (the stuffed variety).
Cloud Forest
On the Costa Rica Family Journey, travellers spend three days in the otherworldly cloud forest around Monteverde, where they can zip-line, dip into thermal hot springs and spot nocturnal species like porcupines and red-eyed tree frogs. Sure, the wildlife might provide inspiration for a costume or two, but for a real challenge, try dressing up as the rainforest itself — a lush, deep-green canvas cloaked in a dewy blanket of fog. A combination of branches, leaves, a stuffed animal or two, and tape will do the trick.
