Meet Tara Hetz

Tara Hetz grew up where most people only daydream—inside Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Her childhood was steeped in wildlife, conservation, and community tourism through her parents’ work in conservation and environmental education. Later, during her middle-school years in Bulgaria, Tara watched her father contribute to national parks and conservation planning efforts there. Seeing how thoughtful planning and local voices can safeguard extraordinary places left a lasting imprint.

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Tara went on to earn a B.S. in Conservation Biology (St. Lawrence University) and an M.S. in Sustainable Tourism (University of Utah). Today, she works in Tahoe City, California, where she manages a grant program that reinvests local tourism tax dollars into projects that strengthen community well-being, environmental stewardship, and a healthy visitor economy. 

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Mazingira Adventures (Mazingira means environment in Swahili) exists to prove something simple and powerful: unforgettable travel can also power conservation. Tara designs small-group journeys that connect travelers with local partners and tangible, place-based outcomes. In East Africa, that means cycling and trekking through wild landscapes with the conservationists who live the work. In Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains, it means cycling ancient trails, meeting local producers, and supporting grounded, community-first initiatives—like field research and open-data efforts that lay the foundation for long-term protection.

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To keep the mission honest and transparent, Tara also founded the sister nonprofit Mazingira Conservation Works, which channels a portion of every trip to on-the-ground projects with clear goals and accountable partners. Travelers see where their dollars go—and why it matters.

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The Pillars of Tara's Trips

• Local first. Plan with community partners; hire local guides and producers; celebrate living culture.

• Science + story. Pair field knowledge with human stories that deepen understanding.

• Small and thoughtful. Keep groups intimate, minimize footprint, maximize connection.

• Give back, clearly. Direct donations to defined projects and share progress openly.
   

A lifelong, extensive traveler, Tara is passionate about sustainable travel and how people and nature thrive together. She believes the best trips change how we see—and how we show up when we return home. Also true: her favorite animal is the long-necked gerenuk, and she’s happiest when West African music fills the air.

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