adventurECO is neither a for-profit company, nor a non-profit organization. Instead, adventurECO is the “concept” of people – colleagues, friends, family, and even strangers – working together or “cooperatively” to facilitate unsurpassed adventure, cultural, and ecological treks throughout East Africa; encourage cross-cultural exchange and understanding; and fund small-scale education, sustainable development, and conservation projects in East Africa. Our travel "cooperative" concept, which utilizes personal and professional experience, networks, and partnerships, facilitates independent, low-impact, adventure travel and voluntourism. To learn more about traveling with adventurECO click on the About Our Treks link.

When We Go, You Go!
When their professional and personal lives allow, Ejeiza and Shane travel to East Africa to visit family, friends, and colleagues, work on development projects, recreate, and relax. Once the travel dates and itinerary are set, they invite a few "friends and colleagues" to come along and experience the East Africa few tourist get to see.

Giving Back
adventurECO  supports a variety of small-scale development and education projects throughout East Africa. When traveling with adventurECO, trekkers have the opportunity to give back to the communities  through trek-specific projects and activities, as well as adventurECO's ongoing projects. For more information click on the Development Projects link.

Mission Statement
adventurECO is dedicated to facilitating high quality, customized, independent adventure travel that is culturally and ecologically responsible, while providing maximum exposure to and understanding of the natural and cultural landscapes of East Africa; and fund small scale education, sustainable development, and conservation projects that are in accord with local environs.

Objectives  
*Facilitate high quality, customized adventure travel in a culturally and ecologically responsible manner;
*Encourage cross-cultural understanding via interaction and experiential learning techniques
*Increase environmental/ecological understanding through exposure to, and explanation of, the natural and cultural  environment; and
*Support small-scale sustainable development, education, conservation, and cultural/social projects

adventurECO Travel and Development Coordinators

Shane Sawyer has lived, worked, and traveled extensively throughout East Africa as  a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania and as an independent traveler. Currently, Shane lives in Roanoke, Virginia with his wife, Ejeiza, and son, Omwami. Shane is employed as a  regional planner and is also an adjunct faculty member at several area colleges where he teaches courses in geography and globalization. Shane is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys a range of recreational activities including mountain biking, paddling, Ultimate (frisbee), and rugby.

Ejeiza Ngesa, a native of Kenya (and Shane's wife), has traveled, studied and lived in Kenya, Europe, and the United States. Ejeiza's professional and volunteer experience includes work with the British High Commission for International Development in Nairobi, Kenya and Refugee and Immigration Services in Roanoke, Virginia. Ejeiza is fluent in Swahili, French, and several tribal dialects.