Shamwari Takes Top Honors

As modern civilization takes away more natural habitats to build homes, malls and factories, there is still an escape from all the city madness in a magical world of ecological wonder that lies in the remote stretch between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is a game reserve that is internationally known and has received numerous awards for its ability to combine luxury accommodation with effective and innovative conservation projects, offering guests a truly unforgettable wildlife experience. It is Shamwari Game Reserve. And recently it has again given South Africa reason to be proud.

Over and above being awarded the World’s Leading Safari and Game Reserve Award for the eleventh consecutive year, Shamwari Game Reserve has been honored by receiving the World Travel Green Award. The World Travel Awards took place in the Turks and Caicos Islands this year, and is considered to be the most prestigious awards ceremony in the travel industry. Inaugurated in 1993, the World Travel Awards are assigned by votes from all over the world, and for Shamwari Game Reserve to be chosen again is testament to its devotion towards conservation and to being able to present their guests an adventure of a lifetime.

Ninety nominations were put forward for the World Travel Green Award, but on the evening of the awards ceremony, in Slovakia, Shamwari Game Reserve once again walked away with the top honors. Chairman and founder of the World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke, highlighted the difficulties faced by those in both the tourism and travel industry to overcome and improve on the challenges that they encounter while trying to maintain green tourism. But when establishments like Shamwari Game Reserve achieve these goals, they do deserve recognition.

Founder of the Mantis group, the owner of Shamwari Game Reserve, and CEO, expressed his excitement on receiving the awards and pride in their efforts to remain the leaders of green tourism in South Africa, and commented: “We are proud of the achievements and commitment made by all and will continue to promote ecologically sensitive tourism and support the local environments through community development projects and conservation of natural and human resources.”