The legacy of legendary primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall continues to inspire global audiences through an immersive traveling exhibition and a highly anticipated new museum center in East Africa. For several years, the award-winning traveling exhibit “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall,” produced by the National Geographic Society and the Jane Goodall Institute, has toured major science centers worldwide. This high-tech multimedia experience allows visitors to step into Dr. Goodall’s historic research in Gombe, featuring a life-size replica of her research tent and interactive elements that illustrate her groundbreaking insights into chimpanzee behavior.
Adding a monumental new chapter to this legacy, Dr. Jane’s Dream: The Goodall Centre of Hope is scheduled to open in late October 2026 in Arusha, Tanzania. Recognized as one of the top ten most anticipated museum openings in the world, the center is located next to the Arusha Cultural Heritage Center, roughly 50 miles from the Kilimanjaro gateway town of Moshi. Following her passing in October 2025, this permanent space serves as a living monument to her message of active hope, combining the talents of Disney alumni and local African artists to create a deeply engaging environment for community-led conservation.
Visitors to the Tanzania center will experience a rich blend of interactive technology and traditional African artistry. The museum features a dedicated on-site theater for screenings, alongside elaborately carved and painted tree trunks crafted by local Makonde artists. To truly step into her shoes, guests can listen to English translations of chimpanzee cries at a stand-alone kiosk or use small probes to “fish” for food inside a recreated termite mound, mimicking the exact tool-using behavior Dr. Goodall famously discovered in 1960.
Sources:
- The Jane Goodall Institute
- National Geographic Society, “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall” Traveling Exhibitions
- Teo Exhibitions, “Creative ways to experience exhibitions: ‘Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall’” (2020)
- Dr. Jane’s Dream: The Goodall Centre of Hope Official Portal
- Smithsonian Magazine, “These Are the Top Ten Most Anticipated Museums Opening Around the World in 2026”
- AOA Immersive Experience Design, “Dr. Jane’s Dream Project Highlight”
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), “Remembering Dr Jane Goodall: A Beacon of Conservation and the Enduring Legacy in Tanzanian Tourism” (2025)
Images:
Jane Goodall 2010 Nicolas Richoffer via WikiCommons under CC BY-SA 4.0
