After Jane went Gombe Stream National Park, her reputation spread quickly and National Geographic sent a wildlife photographer to accompany her during her observations. Eventually, they fell in love with the nobleman, Hugo van Lawick and got married in 1964. She took the name Baroness Jane van Lawick-Goodall. They established the Gombe Stream Research Center in the National Park together, with the aim to train more researcher, extend observations and improve conservation.

Their son was born in 1967 in Africa with the name Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick and got the nickname Grub. After a few years, Grub was sent back to study in London.

In 1974 (when Grub was 7) Jane and Hugo divorced. At the end, it became difficult to manage their work and traveling but they stayed in a good relation.

The next year, Jane fell in love and married, the director of the national parks and member of the parliament of Tanzania, Derek Bryceson. Derek due to his position, could take measures to protect Jane’s research project and he installed an embargo at Gombe. Lamentably, Derek died in cancer after 5 years of their marriage, in 1980. Jane found solace with her family, friends and time in Gomb but never married again. Eventually, he overthrew the grief and still stays optimistic, determined and hopeful. In her book Reason for Hope, Jane writes about although she had sorrow she kept her positive and optimistic worldview.