The law was subsequently overturned, but Wild Rainbow continues to exclude Uganda from its tours. The company has, however, planned a mid-2015 tour that includes excursions to gorilla and other primate habitats in Rwanda. Cole continues to monitor anti-homosexual laws in all African countries, and works with various LGBT and human-rights groups in southern Africa and beyondโincluding Atlantic Philathropies (www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/region/south-africa) and International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ilga.org)โto monitor changing political climates.
As far as other safety concerns, there have been no other threats or potentially dire situations, by people or animals, on her trips. It helps that in addition to being trained in advanced first-aid and personally leading her trips, Cole and her team partner with vetted safari camps, lodges and other hospitality-related vendors, many of which work with her regularly, enjoying a safe, harmonious, ongoing relationship.
At 53, Cole radiates the kind of joie de vivre reserved for those who have found their calling. So itโs no surprise that her zeal has introduced still more amazing opportunities for Cole to share her expertise as an instructor of safari guides. She began simply as an intern and backup trail guide. โNow Iโve had the honor to do some freelance instructing work with the company that trained me, and I absolutely love it,โ she says.
Working with both EcoTraining (www.ecotraining.co.za) and Bhejane Nature Training (www.bhejanenaturetraining.com), Cole began to impart her vast and specialized knowledge of the African landscape to new guides, and those wanting to further develop their own expertise. She says the benefit is ultimately getting to educate travelers on a deeper level.
โMany guests think they just want to see the elephants and the giraffes,โ she says.
โOnce they get here, they realize there is far more to the environment and the experience to absorb. Iโm there to point out everything from why this soil type is important, all the way to details about the trees, the weather, the whole ecosystem. [As an instructor] I get to put everything I know into a new or up-and-coming guide.โ
Coleโs skills are invaluable in the realm of African safaris, and LGBT travelers are especially lucky to have her in the community. Between her experience, qualifications and personality, sheโs built Wild Rainbow into one of the most esteemed safari companies, and in a rare feat, the outfit predominantly appeals to the elusive lesbian travel market.
โIโm one of the very few out lesbians who owns a safari company, and probably the only American one,โ she says. โAbout 60 percent of my guests are lesbians, but I donโt want to be pigeonholed, I want to bring over everybody!โ
Her congenial approach to business comes from roots in philanthropy and fundraising, which helped earn her posts on many boards and advisory committees that focus primarily on human rights and animal welfare.
โMy favorite thing to do is raise money; itโs my way of giving back to the community,โ she says.
Coleโs many leadership roles include serving as president of the Equality California Foundation (www.eqca.org); and helping to raise $15 million as capital campaign co-chair to build San Franciscoโs first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community center (www.sfcenter.org).
In 2015, she joined the board of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (www.iglta.org). โIโm honored to be on the board. IGLTA is really about to take off and do great things,โ says Cole. โWhat Iโm so excited about is helping IGLTAโwhich is comprised not only of my colleagues in the travel industry, but my own LGBT peers and other business ownersโreach more destinations outside of the United States, and helping them learn how to accommodate LGBT travelers. The world should know that we are travelers, like any other travelers. When same-sex travelers show up at a hotel, no one should feel awkward about putting us in the same bed.โ
Cole met her wife Katharine Cole 13 years ago at a music festival Jody was organizing. Recently, they relocated from the Bay Area to Atlanta to be closer to their southern-based families. And while they occasionally get the chance to share time in Africa together, Katharine is the stateside touchstone who helps keep the Wild Rainbow shining, alongside a few staffers who make sure the safaris are running smoothly.
This year Jody Cole is looking forward to one of her busiest seasons ever, with a half-dozen pre-planned itineraries planned, along with a few private, customized tours. Wild Rainbowโs featured safaris are built with set dates, and in 2015 include a ten-day climb to the top of Kilimanjaro, a 12-day โSimba Familyโ excursion focused on big cats and other Lion King stars, and an 11-day journey through Rwanda and Tanzania gorilla and wildlife preserves. Apart from the magnificent flora and fauna, Cole herself is a star attraction on every tour.
Of course for Cole, the privilege of showing off the mother continent is all hers. โAfrica is a very primal destination, and coming here can be a truly transformative experience,โ she says. โIn the bush, people begin to realize their place in life. Iโve had guests go home and change their entire lives. Maybe itโs something minor, like they might go from not recycling at all to being a recycling champion. Another person quit her job, and now she has the best job sheโs ever had. One guest went home and got a divorce. Iโm not saying that divorce is always a bad thingโฆwhat this guest got was clarity in Africa.
โI think thereโs something about Africa that has a deep affect. It takes everything down to the bare bones. This is where we all come from, and this is an experience that may inspire people to be more thoughtful, or even to start over. And you know, that is the single-most gratifying thing that can happen.
โIโm constantly blown away by this place,โ says Cole. โIโm here to help [my guests]. The rest is up to Africa.โ
