PRIOR WINNERS OF THE AFRICA RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS
The prestigious Responsible Tourism Awards were founded in 2004 to discover, recognise, and promote good practice contributing to the development of new solutions and replication. The winners provide inspiring models and clear evidence of impact.
Use horizontal scrollbar at bottom of results for more details and citations
| Award Category | Year | Global | Award Won | Region | Country | Organisation | Citation | Details | Web Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| accommodation for disability access | 2015 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Endeavour Safaris | It is rare to see a conventional tourism business get its head around what disability access really means, but when a safari company does it, you really have to take your khaki hat off. And most importantly, Endeavour Safaris understands inclusivity in tourism. Because they are not just about providing safari camps for people with disabilities. They are just about providing nop notch safari camps. For everyone. | |||
| accommodation for responsible employment | 2016 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Bushmans Kloof | Luxury is often unfairly equated with a 'them and us' attitude but Bushmans Kloof, the only five star luxury hotel in the remote foothills of the Cederberg Mountains, has proven that this does not have to be the way. Part of the family-owned Red Carnation Hotel Collection, they have also created a family of employees on site by not only employing over 55 percent from local communities but also by housing people for free in their own Bushmans Kloof village. | |||
| Accommodation for Social Inclusion | 2017 | Silver | Africa | Namibia | Wilderness Safaris Damaraland Camp, | The innovative partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the community of Torra Conservancy was a pioneer within the Namibian context at the time of it creation. The people of Torra Conservancy community own 40 per cent of Damaraland Camp located in the remote Kunene region of north-west Namibia. Over and above the financial benefits of the joint venture, the people in Torra Conservancy have gained the following: improved planning skills; insights and capacity for collaborative action; improved knowledge of their rights; broader vision for their community; and committee members on the Board are empowered to make decisions and are involved in business management. Community empowerment has led to further expansion of the business with the community raising funding to build the adventure camp. The value of the partnership and the economic impact of the project is on record through independent academic research. | |||
| Accommodation for Social Inclusion | 2017 | Overall | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Coffee Shack Backpackers | Coffee Shack Backpackers is a small establishment with a huge heart and a considerable impact on the Tshezi community living in this remote corner of the Eastern Cape. From the first informal project equipping Pato Junior School in 2002 to bringing on board Tshezi Community Trust shareholders in 2005 to the creation of Sustainable Coffee Bay in 2009, the inclusion of the community in a meaningful manner has been part of the story of Coffee Shack Backpackers from the outset. Today, Sustainable Coffee Bay runs an Early Childhood Development centre, a high school and tertiary education assistance fund, a project supporting ex-mineworkers to access provident funds, and sponsors the local soccer and netball league, to name but a few. Coffee Shack Backpackers pays above the minimum wage, encourages reception staff to travel through a travel bonus scheme, and has invested in two local businesses both of which are run by disabled community members and supply services to the backpackers. As the saying goes “strong medicine comes in small bottles”. Coffee Shack demonstrates the major positive impact which a small business in a remote rural area can have. | ||
| Accommodation for Social Inclusion | 2017 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | The Backpack | Set at the edge of Cape Town’s city centre and the foot of Table Mountain, the Backpack could quite easily do very well without doing any good. However, making a difference and creating opportunities for better lives is how the team at The Backpack live and work. The Backpack is commended for the breadth of their approach to fair employment conditions for their staff. Entry salaries of 2.5 times the minimum wage give all staff a solid starting point on which to build higher levels of education, building a home, starting up a small business, all which are financially supported by the business. Emblematic of fairness in its dealings, products in the community gift shop display both the price charged and the amount paid to the producer. Key deposits, clothing, and time donated by guests are channeled to a bursary scheme and sport (soccer and rope-skipping) project that diverts youth away from gangsterism and drug- and alcohol-use. With bio-degradable cleaning products, solar geysers, photovoltaic panels, colour-coded recycling bins, a worm farm and a ban on plastic bottles, The Backpack also ticks a multitude of responsible tourism boxes. | |||
| Accommodation for the Environment | 2012 | HC | Africa | Lesotho | Maliba Mountain Lodge | ||||
| Accommodation for the Environment | 2011 | HC | Africa | Kenya | Campi Ya Kanzi, | ||||
| Accommodation for the Environment | 2011 | HC | Africa | Morocco | Kasbah du Toubka | ||||
| Accommodaton for Local Communities | 2012 | HC | Africa | South Africa | Bulungula Lodge | ||||
| Accommodaton for Local Communities | 2011 | HC | Africa | Kenya | Semadep Safari Camp | ||||
| Acommodation for Responsible Employment | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Botswana | Chobe Game Lodge, | The judges were impressed by the breadth of the approach being taken to improving employment conditions of the staff at Chobe Game Lodge and in particular by their success in addressing gender issues, with a full team of 14 female guides. | |||
| Acommodation for Responsible Employment | 2016 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Spier | The judges were looking for examples of businesses able to demonstrate an exemplary responsible approach to the employment and treatment of staff. This was a strong longlist reflecting the progress being made in raising employment standards by an increasing number of businesses. The Gold went to Spier in the Western Cape of South Africa for the transparent reporting and the breadth of their approach to improving the employment conditions of their staff ranging from addressing the issue of safety on public transport to their provision of Individual Learning Spend budgets to support the development of skills and knowledge, for personal development and innovation for the employee and their family for example by using it to pay school fees. | |||
| Acommodation for Responsible Employment | 2016 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Leriba Hotel, | At Leriba Hotel & Spa there is a broad commitment to upliftment, training and recognition. The Green Diamonds initiative was created when Leriba Hotel Group identified the need to empower its employees above the standard legal requirements. The judges were particularly impressed by their ABET centre which provides continuous staff development training. | |||
| Addressing Climate Change | 2023 | Gold | Africa | Mauritius | Mauritius | Mauritius is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), highly vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly those caused by climate change. Its commitment to the Paris Agreement is to reach 60% renewable energy by 2030. The Tourism Authority is promoting the greening of Mauritius's pleasure craft and boat sector by advocating a shift towards electric propulsion systems and the use of renewable energy, reducing emissions and protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems. In 2019, more than 30 operators, including boat constructors and operators, developed a vision for a Zero Carbon Lagoon by transitioning to electric boats. All hybrid and electric vehicles are now duty-free in Mauritius. There is a 10% excise duty rebate scheme for individuals' purchase of electric vehicles up to a maximum of MUR 200,000. | www.sus-island.com | ||
| Addressing Climate Change | 2023 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Weeva | "Weeva is a B2B data-driven software that measures sustainability based on the 4 C's of sustainability – namely: conservation, community, commerce and culture." Climate Action is about minimising climate impacts caused by human activities and their related emissions. Weeva users can manage their carbon footprint by measuring and reporting their resource use and scope 1 and 2 emissions providing users with an accurate dashboard on which they can track progress and benchmark themselves against other Weeva users. Scope 3 emissions tracking is under development. Weeva recognises that businesses will have different starting points, facing different issues in a world diverse in geography, climate and culture, and they have made it easy to begin. Businesses "can get started by entering relevant data into the Weeva system; whether that's the litres of petrol or diesel you've consumed that month, your kilowatt hours of solar energy produced, or your employee engagement survey scores." Weeva enables businesses to choose their own journey using the tools that enable them to tackle the issues that matter to their business, their neighbours and their environment. Weeva takes the raw data inputted by the business and produces a visual dashboard showing what the business is achieving – a combined management and marketing tool. | https://weeva.earth/ | ||
| All Inclusive | 2025 | Gold | Africa | Tanzania | Foxes Safari Camps | Foxes Safari Camps operates an impressive all-inclusive tourism model that prioritises sustainability and community development across its Tanzanian properties. Embracing circular economy principles, the company uses produce and meat from its own organic farm and creates its own furniture and safari vehicles, reducing reliance on external suppliers and emissions from transport. With 98% of staff being Tanzanian and 90% from nearby communities, the business is deeply embedded in its local context. It provides year-round training in hospitality, guiding, driving, aviation, and culinary skills, ensuring long-term capacity building and employment. The all-inclusive model simplifies guests’ planning while supporting transparency and ethical practices by minimising dependence on outsourced suppliers who may not align with responsible tourism values. Foxes’ approach creates consistent quality and meaningful impact across its operations. Judges recognised how this model aligns business success with sustainability, community upliftment, and local economic resilience, setting a powerful example for safari tourism in Africa. | https://www.foxessafaricamps.com/ | ||
| Animal Welfare | 2014 | OVERALL | GOLD | Africa | South Africa | South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) | The Sanctuary Alliance for demonstrating that animal attractions can liberate previously captive wildlife and, without petting or exploitation, be commercially successful. Animal sanctuaries should do what they say on the tin; be a sanctuary for animals that have been injured or harmed. A place to help and heal. It doesn't occur to most tourists to question that a sanctuary could have any other mission but, sadly, some are more about making money out of tourists than making a better life for animals. Which is why an alliance has been created in South Africa. The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) is like the super model of how sanctuaries should practise conservation and how they should present themselves on the world tourism stage. | ||
| Animal Welfare Initiative | 2015 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Campaign Against Canned Hunting | We have all seen the images - rich tourists posing for photographs after shooting a lion or other more endangered species. Shared worldwide on social media, most of us look on in disbelief that such practices, known as canned hunting, are still allowed to happen. Canned hunting refers specifically to the hunting of animals which have been enclosed in a confined, privately owned area. Albeit often a very large area so that they don't feel enclosed. Legal in South Africa, it attracts hunters from all over the world, who are prepared to pay vast amounts of money to shoot lions, send home their body parts and have them stuffed, for prowess. This South African based charity, however, engages with tour operators, airlines and governments to make sure that this 'can' becomes a 'can't' forever. | |||
| Aquatic Species & Habitat Conservation | 2018 | Gold | Africa | Seychelles | North Island, Seychelles | Twenty years ago, North Island was purchased and a set of Conservation Goals – marine, terrestrial and island sustainability – we established. A key goal was to protect the four coastal beaches and safeguard the nesting sites of two species of sea turtles, the Critically-Endangered Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Endangered Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas). The turtles have been monitored since 1998 and there has been systematic data collection since 2004. There are daily beach patrols, nest monitoring and tagging and only turtle-friendly light is allowed. Since 2004 the number of Hawksbills using the island has doubled and the Green Turtles have increased six-fold. North Island now has the highest density of nesting Green Turtles in the inner islands of the Seychelles. The judges were impressed by the success of this luxury resort in increasing the population of turtles and its ambition to become a gazetted marine reserve in pursuit of which biannual scientific marine surveys to quantify the diversity and abundance of reef fish; marine invertebrates; hard and soft corals and predatory species have been conducted since 2011. The resort has a strict Fishing and Menu Policy which precludes the capture of fish known to be either locally or internationally threatened. North Island demonstrates the significant contribution a commercial tourism resort can make to conservation, and we hope that it will inspire others to do more. | |||
| Aquatic Species & Habitat Conservation | 2018 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Marine Dynamics | Marine Dynamics has been awarded many times for its achievements in conserving the African penguins and white sharks and in combatting marine pollution. They have contributed to both the practice and science of marine, conservation partnering with national and international universities to understand the ecology of the species and the habitat. The judges were impressed by the continuing commitment to using tourism to fund conservation science and the success of practical interventions through the penguin sanctuary and the penguin nesting boxes. Marine Dynamics has long been educating the domestic and international tourists it attracts about the importance of conserving marine species and encouraging them to contribute to their conservation. This Award recognises their continuing and growing success in the battle to conserve marine life and in particular their DEEP three-year environmental education programme with young learners, the 3000 children in their outreach programmes and the 30,000 reached through their annual competition. | |||
| Aquatic Species & Habitat Conservation | 2018 | Highly Commended | Africa | Swaziland | All Out Africa | In 2017 All Out Africa won Gold for habitat and species conservation in the African Responsible Tourism Awards. This year the judges wanted to commend them for the publication of a paper on the research undertaken through their volunteer and science programme on “Satellite tagging highlights the importance of productive Mozambican coastal waters to the ecology and conservation of whale sharks” and their advances in local educational outreach work. | |||
| Beach Tourism | 2016 | Gold | Africa | Mozambique | Nkwichi Lodge | To help bring the world’s most biodiverse freshwater lake and a 120 000 ha of lakeshore and escarpment under formal protection – in partnership with 16 villages – are remarkable achievements. Gold Award winner Nkwichi Lodge on Lake Malawi is completely solar powered and plastic-bottle free. It is the engine behind sustainable agriculture and aquaculture farms where skills are built and produce for the lodge and community cultivated, a maternity clinic, schools and boarding house for girls, a range of community enterprises that generate income and reduce travelling distances, and community sport teams and events that also celebrate local culture. | |||
| Beach Tourism | 2015 | Silver | Africa | Kenya | Turtle Bay Beach Club | It is still rare to see the words 'all inclusive' and 'responsible' on the same page, because the two concepts are not usually happy bedfellows. Guests can lie in their beds at night at this North Kenyan resort with a clean conscience however, that they are supporting a business that practises what it preaches. To be responsible. The turtles that thrive on their Watamu coastline are pretty happy in their beds too. | |||
| Beach Tourism | 2015 | Silver | Africa | Mozambique | |||||
| Beach Tourism | 2015 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | &Beyond | To infinity &Beyond would be a good strapline for this safari company which, as well as offering luxury safari holidays in many African countries, is now stretching across the globe to take guests to see the wildlife wonders of South Asia and South America. And with such a pioneering spirit when it comes to safaris and wildlife conservation, and in particular with regards to their work along the coast of Zanzibar, it's no wonder there's a 'buzz' about them. | |||
| Beach Tourism | 2015 | Gold | Africa | Tanzania | Chumbe Island Coral Park | Chumbe was highly commended for water conservation in the World Responsible Tourism Awards in 2013 and they won the marine environment category in 2004. This time the judges wanted to recognise them for their careful review of progress to 2006 and the development of the new Management Plan 2006-2016. The judges saw this as an example of good practice and one which others should emulate. | |||
| Beach Tourism | 2014 | Gold | Africa | Zanzibar | Chole Mjini | Built entirely by local people, these stunning tree houses were born, and launched not only as a place to escape to, but also as an agent of positive change for the island's community. When it was built in 1993, there was only one islander who had proceeded beyond primary school and only one person in salaried employment. The success of Chole Mjini has allowed classrooms, teachers' housing, a hospital, library, market, and a women's centre to be built. Through their Chole Mjini scholarships there are now secondary school and university students and many people in permanent employment. So, as well as being a commercial success, they raise funds for sustainable projects through guest donations, a $10 bed night levy, day visitor tickets and an ongoing trust fund. | |||
| Benefiting Local People | 2020 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Uthando, | Uthando South Africa “offers authentic, uplifting, fun, inspirational, interactive and meaningful tours” for individual travellers and groups visiting the community projects with which Uthando works and supports. Uthando won Gold in the Africa Awards in 2017 in the Impact in Urban Areas category. The judges commented: “Urban community farms and two recipe books, educare centres, music and dance academies, domestic animal care, senior centres and a book that tell the stories of elders, arts and crafts hubs – the list of initiatives in Cape Town’s townships touched by Uthando SA is almost endless.” In the year to March 2019 Uthando Social Development Projects (DA) sponsored projects and social entrepreneurs to the tune of just over 5 million ZAR (270,000 USD, 217,000 GBP). This has been achieved by linking Responsible Tourism and travel philanthropy. Uthando has generated and fostered relationships between the local and international tourism industry with a broad range of inspiring and well-managed community development projects and charitable organizations. Uthando, meaning love in Xhosa, combines Responsible Tourism and Travelling Philanthropy by running a very successful Philanthropic Cultural Tour along Fair Trade guidelines. They create experiences which motivate the tourism industry and travellers to contribute to “inspiring, innovative and deserving community and environmental development projects.” The income from tours is around 22% of their total income, but it more than covers their core operating expenses. As Uthando points out, in their annual report, the tours are the mechanism they use to create awareness of the good work being done by the community projects, which in turn translates into funding and other forms of assistance. Since 2007 Uthando has raised and invested approximately ZAR 26 million (1.128 million GBP; 1.381 million USD) into more than 150 inspiring, innovative and deserving community and environmental development projects. Uthando is a shining example of how a day tour operator can recruit travellers looking for memorable experiences and raise very significant sums of money for worthy community and environmental projects. Visiting the projects generates income and employment. Many travellers feel inspired to assist further with financial support to the projects they have visited. Uthando identifies three guidelines for replication: (1) ensure that the community initiatives adhere to the highest standards of transparency, governance and accountability; (2) report to donors frequently and thoroughly on their investments; communication is key to ongoing support; (3) ensure that the philanthropic, cultural tours visiting the projects are sincere, beneficial to all concerned and run according to a rigorous code of conduct.Uthando has not been replicated, but it is replicable. Uthando works with many tour operators who have been inspired by their model and what they offer, seeing the experiential, and therefore commercial, value of their tours and the social good delivered to communities. | www.uthandosa.org | ||
| Benefiting Local People | 2020 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Coffeebeans Routes. | At the heart of Coffeebeans Routes is the idea that: “People is precisely what has been excluded from tourism in Africa.” Based in Cape Town, Coffeebeans Routes has put people – and their stories – at the heart of African tourism. In their view “the future of tourism in Africa is people, is urban, is narrative-based and is humanising.” They previously won Gold in the Engaging People and Cultures category in the Africa Awards in 2015. The judges recognised then that Coffeebeans Routes creates travel experiences around urban stories, contemporary, African experiences that provide deep insights, and plenty of fun. The judges pointed out that this business “employs tourism as a tool to unlock economic potential and address societal inequalities through exploring cultural diversity and legacy.” In 2015 the judges expressed the opinion that the model could be replicated in other destinations. Coffeebeans Routes recognised several years ago that there were travellers with a thirst for “slow food, slow wine and deep connection to the earth.” In 2019 they launched The Colour of Wine Safari which tells stories of South Africa’s transition to democracy through the experiences of black winemakers and wine brand owners. A tour created in collaboration with the producers of the documentary film The Colour of Wine, directed by Akin Omotoso, and the publishers of The Colour of Wine book of the same name, by Harriet Perlman. They provide on their website a list of black-owned wineries. As Iain Harris of Coffeebeans Routes points out “While the tourism industry and wine travellers have not been campaigning for black focused wine experience, as with much of what we do, there is a latent demand. Once there is a product, and the trade and the end traveller discover it, there is much excitement. The trade is looking for new wine narratives and new ways to explore and sell the winelands. The travellers are looking for narratives that offer more meaning and insight into the destination, and more engagement with the people in the sector. They want more than a tasting – they want a learning journey.”The trend for more and more travellers to seek out opportunities for meaningful contact with local people creates fertile ground for tours which offer travellers and holidaymakers opportunities to make those connections and to hear their stories. There is a commercial opportunity if it is done well. Spilling the Beans – Coffeebeans hosts share | www.coffeebeansroutes.com | ||
| their experiences" | |||||||||
| Business Support | 2020 | HC | Africa | South Africa | !Xaus Lodge Community Development Trust | The lodge mothballed so that post-pandemic it could return to hosting guests in the desert and provide community income for the two communities and employment for community members. | https://xauslodge.co.za/ | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2026 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Traditional African Homestays Southern Africa (TAHS-SA) | Traditional African Homestays goes beyond sightseeing and offers heritage homestays in South Africa, enabling the tourist “to become part of village life, staying in real homes and experiencing traditions that are usually passed down only within families.” The sales proposition is strong. “By choosing to stay with local families in South Africa, you’re not just a guest; you’re a partner in preserving heritage, empowering communities, and shaping a more responsible way to travel.” Rarely is a business recognised in successive years, last year TAHS-SA won a Silver Responsible Tourism Award but the growth this year has been remarkable. Just over R 6 million has been generated with 70-80% of fee income staying within the community, the rest goes to marketing, refresher training and new homestay development. The network is being extended across Eswatini and Botswana. | http://www.homestaysa.com/ | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2026 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Unexplored Cape Town | The immersive cultural experiences offered by Unexplored Cape Town are enticing: “Venture along unexplored routes through Cape Town’s backstreets and into community kitchens and restaurants to experience the city’s diverse food cultures authentically.” The company welcomes guests with disabilities and special needs, supports small food businesses in marginalised communities, and demonstrates its commitment to showcasing traditions, flavours, and stories of local African and diaspora communities in South Africa. Shop in Salt River for spices and fresh ingredients and prepare a three-course Cape Malay/African-Creole meal while exploring the history of spices and the Camisa people in South Africa. It has built a network of 15 vendors across Cape Town’s neighbourhood food economy. | http://www.unexplored.co.za/ | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2026 | Silver | Africa | Egypt | Green Planet & TUI Care Foundation | Green Planet has a bold vision to “protect nature, celebrate culture, and uplift local communities.” Culture is presented not as performance “but experienced through direct interaction with the people who live it” combining “investment, community participation, and practical implementation.” Capacity building is delivered through its Colourful Cultures project, with training programmes in hospitality, storytelling, and entrepreneurship and it connects these experiences to the market through partnerships with hotels, tour operators, and online platforms. The TUI Colourful Cultures Programme supports Green Planet by providing funding and support empowering marginalised artists and artisans to gain access to new income opportunities and promote their cultural heritage through tourism offers. https://baduexperiences.com/ | https://tuicarefoundation.com/, http://www.green-planet.life/ | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | Botswana | Desert & Delta Safaris | The judges were intrigued by Desert & Delta Safaris’ bold objectives to empower Botswana through tourism. The Okavango Marathon Project, a cultural tourism journey, uses running and trekking as the means of travel. The route passes through remote communities along the Okavango Panhandle that sit entirely outside the traditional safari circuit. Participants move through villages, meet local fishermen, witness traditional practices and cross waterways by mokoro with community guides. At Tsodilo, guests are hosted by the San community, guided through the rock art sites and welcomed to a cultural evening connecting them to one of Africa’s oldest living traditions. This is an exciting new initiative, a real ground breaker. Once proven we hope to see this initiative again. | https://desertdelta.com/ | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | Ghana | Cultural Oneness Festival Ghana | The purpose of the Cultural Oneness Festival is to unite the continental Africans and diasporans as one people by celebrating Africa’s diverse heritage while emphasizing its shared cultural identity beyond linguistic and tribal differences, to foster unity and to celebrate the richness of the world's most culturally diverse continent. cultural heritage. The festival seeks to identify and promote investment opportunities for diasporans to empower the communities of Northern Ghana and beyond economically. The judges were impressed by the idea and look forward to seeing it again with evidence of impact. | www.africantourismboard.africa | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2024 | Gold | Africa | Kenya & Tanzania | Trip to Help | Trip to Help - Kenya & Tanzania through an online agency registered in SpainTrip to Help is a boutique travel agency operating in Kenya and Tanzania, and Morrocco from this year. Their strap line states their mission: to enable people to Travel Consciously, Sustainably and Fairly. They offer “unique experiences… with positive social, and cultural impact. They work “side by side with locals, community projects, cooperatives or NGOs. … They are at the center of this journey. They are not just guides.” The people they work with make a living wage, and 80% of what the traveller pays goes to the local community. Activities led by salaried Maasai guides who receive salaries and cultural immersion experiences are organized and conducted by Maasai families who host visitors, retaining 100% of the proceeds from each activity. Through tourism activity, supplemented by private donations and funds, they support over 3000 children aged 4 to 16 in accessing free education, including English language instruction, in Maasai areas | www.triptohelp.org | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | Nigeria | Come Make We Go | "Come Make We Go" is a Nigerian Pidgin phrase that translates to "Come let's go". Their mission is to leverage tourism and partnerships to promote the social and economic well-being of African communities, particularly by empowering and involving young people. They have lobbied the government to provide electricity, worked to improve accommodation and manage waste and launched the "Iyake International Festival". The judges look forward to seeing this initiative again when it has been able to quantify its impacts. | www.comemakewego.africa | ||
| Championing Cultural Diversity | 2024 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Traditional African Homestays | Traditional African Homestays offer much more than accommodation. They use tourism to uplift communities, offering authentic experiences in rural communities since 2026 and now operate in four villages. A percentage of the accommodation charge goes to a community fund and a skills development fund to benefit the local community. Experiences include traditional floor making, cooking, mat making, beading, dancing and beer tasting, walks, and an operating to immerse oneself in village life. Local guides enable travellers to learn the traditions and culture of the community of which the visitor is temporarily a part. The judges expect that this approach will be taken up in other communities and give value to local cultures, encouraging young people to see opportunities in the villages and choose to stay rather than migrate to the cities | www.tgchomestays.com | ||
| City Hotel | 2014 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Hotel Verde | Built by owners Mario and Annemarie Delicio, their responsible tourism policies emanate from a family vision and philosophy to create a more sustainable world, guiding them to infuse responsible practices into all areas of the hotel. Such as their grey water recycling plant, subsoil drainage water collection tank, wind turbines and photovoltaic panels. Most impressive is their 13km network of underground pipes to provide ground source heat. Specifically designed for Hotel Verde, they use the earth as a heat source in winter and "heat sink" in summer, boosting efficiency and dramatically reducing operational costs and the need for one of the greatest carbon criminals of all - air conditioning. Hotel Verde is also ahead of the game in terms of communicating its greening techniques, running engaging campaigns on social media, and offering original ideas to their guests, such as inviting companies to host their 'Carbon neutral year end' event at the hotel. So, sustainable? - tick. Sexy? - check out the living plant filtered swimming pool for starters. Soulful ?- this family run hotel lives and breathes sustainability, and shares this with every employee by integrating sustainability into every contract. Oh, and the walls and roof are alive, literally, which is music for the soul of any responsible traveller. | |||
| Climate Change | 2025 | Silver | Africa | Zambia | Green Safaris | Green Safaris is innovating the safari model through solar-powered, silent vehicles and lodges that are over 80% powered by solar energy. Its commitment to low-emissions tourism is matched by community-facing climate resilience work. The company distributes fuel-efficient stoves, each saving over 2 tonnes of CO₂ per year, and promotes the use of bamboo as a long-term carbon sink. Educational initiatives in conservation reach local schools, helping the next generation understand and respond to environmental challenges. Judges were particularly impressed by how the company integrates technical innovation with social inclusion. Its “Silent Safari” experience gives guests a unique and immersive wildlife encounter while reducing environmental impact. Green Safaris’ efforts are collaborative and long-term, supporting local capacity to maintain and repair the technologies introduced. This blend of renewable energy, education, and community ownership ensures that their climate adaptation strategies are meaningful and sustainable beyond the guest experience. | https://greensafaris.com/ | ||
| Climate Change | 2024 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Century City Conference Centre | The Century City Conference Centre invested in solar in 2016, reducing annual carbon emissions by 17%. They are presently installing inverters and batteries to counter the impact of load shedding and managing air-conditioning and lighting; LED, throughout, is controlled by occupancy sensors to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions; 55% of their supply spend goes to local suppliers, creating employment and reducing transport carbon emissions. Using Weeva’s system, they now have a baseline of CO2e per delegate, enabling them to measure reduction year-on-year through active management. Very unusually, they have dual plumbing systems in all their properties, resulting in a 50% reduction in potable water usage. Century City demonstrates what can be achieved when management makes A sustained effort to reduce emissions and waste. | www.ccconferencecentre.co.za/ | ||
| Climate Change | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | South Africa | Sunsail and The Moorings | The judges were pleased with this application's broad triple-bottom-line approach to addressing sustainability challenges in our rapidly warming world. This is a yacht charter business offering experiences on the sea around the world with eight head-office locations. They have increased their use of solar power and, by replacing traditional engines, reduced their customers’ fuel consumption by around 1.3 gallons per week, saving cumulatively over 1,600 gal/7,273L of fossil fuel in 2023. The judges suggest that they enter as a global group in the Rest of the World regional awards and quantify the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions achieved. | www.sunsail.com/za/ | ||
| Climate Change | 2024 | Gold | Africa | Zimbabwe | Ecodrop | Ecodrop’s mission is to eliminate single-use plastic bottles from the tourism sector across Southern Africa. Their eco-friendly alternative provides purified water through Reverse Osmosis dispensers and top-tier, reusable drinking bottles designed for durability and convenience. Refill stations are located in hotels, airports, and popular tourist attractions. Visitors and locals purchase a sturdy, refillable bottle equipped with a unique QR code that can be scanned at any of the refill stations to fill their bottles with purified cold water for the duration of their stay. Ecodrop has removed the use of 72 860 plastic bottles in Victoria Falls between April 2023 and January 2024. Ecodrop has seen a 30% increase on a month-to-month basis since early 2023. 500ml water bottles cost 20c and were sold to the end user for $2 - $3. The judges were impressed by the innovative Ecodrop system, which can be implemented at the destination level, reducing waste and demand for oil to make plastic bottles. The concept has been proven at Victoria Falls; the judges will be interested to see how far and fast it spreads. | www.ecodrop.co.zw | ||
| Community Benefit | 2019 | One to Watch | Africa | Mozambique | Anvil Bay | The judges felt that Anvil Bay in Mozambique was one to watch because these three local communities have 40 percent ownership in this small coastal lodge in the Maputo Special Reserve – Mabuluco, Vakuza and Tsolombane. The judges were impressed by the income from sourcing of local products and services, local employment and a bed levy earned by these communities in the two years the lodge has been in operating. There is clear evidence of a true partnership focussed on economic inclusion and empowerment. The judges believe that a win in future years is possible should Anvil Bay continue on this trajectory. | |||
| Community Benefit | 2019 | Siver | Africa | Namibia | Ultimate Safaris //HUAB Under Canvas, | In 2009 the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism translocated six desert adapted black rhino to the Huab Conservancy with the intention of catalysing tourism in the area and generating much needed revenue for the local people. Ultimate Safaris signed a joint venture agreement with the Conservancy in 2016, catalysing extensive community benefits. Conservation and tourism-based jobs have become available with two full time rhino tracking teams now employed, dramatically increasing the number of community game guards, as well as jobs for camp staff and various contract workers for ancillary jobs. A sustainable fire wood harvesting project and small-scale vegetable gardens and craft sales generates income for households. Further, the conservancy receives revenue from a land lease, bed night fees, rhino tracking fee, salaries, wood supply, part time labour. Tourism activities have already generated ZAR 650,000 in conservation investment into the area and generate ZAR 500,000 annually for the Conservancy. All benefits are channelled through the Conservancy office, and the Conservancy Committee acts as the governing body for the area and the members that inhabit it. | |||
| Community Benefit | 2019 | Gold | Africa | Tanzania | Dorobo Tours & Safaris | Dorobo operates small light-weight mobile camps and safari vehicles in northern Tanzania. Its greatest achievement has been promoting cultural dignity and supporting land security for vulnerable communities. Dorobo has assisted community partners to secure 23,500 hectares of their land for traditional hunting and gathering in the Yaeda Valley. Along the Maasai Steppe, over 27,000 hectares of grassland is being sustainably managed by the local communities for livestock and wildlife grazing. With legal certificates to the land and transparent tourism agreements, communities earn revenue for protecting this vital area against agricultural encroachment, permanent settlement, and charcoal production. Fourteen tourism agreements with local villages benefit in the order of 55,000 local people. The business works directly with local village governments who represent the greater community. Contracts span five years and follow local laws and customs. A payment structure and a guaranteed annual income are agreed upon, enabling communities to budget efficiently each year. Communities members have access to periodic reports of revenue from tourism that has been disbursed and can hold local leadership accountable for the management and use thereof. Further, in 2018, Dorobo Safaris employed community members for 1430 days of work hosting clients in community areas – this was in addition to locals employed in full-time positions. | |||
| Conservation of an Endangered Species | 2007 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Grootbos Private Nature Reserve | For conserving 1750 acres of the Cape's threatened fynbos by using 5 hectares for tourism development and for working to engage local communities through football, employment and micro-enterprise opportunities. | |||
| Conservation of an Endangered Species | 2006 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Tswalu Kalahari Reserve | One of the Reserve’s key achievements was to reintroduce cheetah and wild dogs to the reserve in 2006. Both species were virtually extinct in this area. Tswalu also stood out for their commitment to Fair Trade Tourism, providing a combination of conservation work and community involvement all too rarely encountered. | |||
| Conservation of Endangered Species | 2004 | HC | Africa | South Africa | Grootbos Private Nature Reserve | ||||
| Conservation of Wildlife & Habitats | 2011 | Gold | Africa | Malawi | Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Lilongwe Wildlife Centre is a wildlife rescue, conservation and education centre in the heart of Malawi's capital city. Fending off developers, the centre has reclaimed and revived 90 hectares of urban wilderness to provide sanctuary for rescued, orphaned and injured wild animals, and promotes conservation to locals and tourists alike. It now takes over 20,000 visitors per year, showing its value as a centre for both the people and wildlife of Malawi. | |||
| Conservation of Wildlife & Habitats | 2011 | HC | Africa | Namibia | Africat Okonjima | ||||
| Conservation of Wildlife & Habitats | 2009 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Great Plains Conservation | For incorporating a range of innovative projects across five African countries. Their work in the Maasai Mara is particularly impressive, facilitating the creation of an 80,000 acre conservancy, and guaranteeing regular payment to the local communities for the use of their land for tourism purposes – regardless of the number of guests. On an unequivocal basis, they provide protected revenue for the indigenous peoples of the Mara, reducing the negative social and economic impacts of tourism. | |||
| Conservation of Wildlife & Habitats | 2009 | HC | Africa | Uganda | Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust | ||||
| contribution to wildlife conservation | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Tanzania | East African Safari and Touring Company | At first glance it seems as if every private safari company in Africa is wholly committed to wildlife conservation. Some are, but of course many aren't. However, with the simple fact that the East African Safari and Touring Company, located on lands that buffer Tanzania's Tarangire National Park, has the fastest growing population of elephants in Africa, you have to take your hat off to them. And the Tanzanian government has done just that, formally designating their land as the Randilen Wildlife Management Area. Read more. | |||
| cultural heritage attraction | 2015 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Bushmans Kloof | When an Australian archaeologist is flown all the way from Wollongong in New South Wales to a remote reserve in the Cederberg region of South Africa's Western Cape, you know something exciting is happening. In fact it feels like a veritable Indiana Jones movie. The real star of this set, however, is a magnificent collection of 130 documented rock art sites created by the San Bushmen, one of mankind's earliest societies, with paintings that are up to 10, 000 years old being revealed to visitors coming to this wilderness luxury resort of Bushmans Kloof. | |||
| Cultural Heritage Conservation | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Africa | Wilderness Safaris | For their efforts, since 2011, to ensure that their safari camps express and present the cultural heritage of the local communities. | |||
| Cultural Heritage Conservation | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Kenya | Segera Retreat, | For the range of traditional cultures with which travellers can authentically engage to the benefit of local livelihoods and the conservation of diverse cultures | |||
| Cultural Heritage Conservation | 2016 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Bushman’s Kloof Wilderness Reserve | Custodian of over 130 unique San rock art sites. At its heart Bushman’s Kloof is about the conservation of this remarkable heritage and culture. Over the past few months Bushman’s Kloof has been one of the main sponsors of a unique troupe of dancers from Wupperthal – a small, impoverished village in the area. Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers has not only been reviving the art of the Rieldans – a traditional dance form – but has also placed Wupperthal on the world map – taking the 2015 World Champions of the Performing Arts by storm. | |||
| Culture and Heritage Experience | 2019 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | !Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre | The judges recognised the contribution which !Khwa ttu has made to empowering and supporting the San across southern Africa through heritage and education initiatives. The “museum” is in Darling just outside Cape Town in the Western Cape. Established in 2018, this indigenous heritage centre has already attracted around 20 000 visitors. The museum represents a real milestone for the San. It is the only extensive heritage centre for the San and it was entirely co-curated. The judges recognise that for the San across southern Africa, as well as local people who are of San ancestry, having ‘their own museum’ brings them extraordinary pride. At the same time, many San have a very limited idea of the other San and they take delight in discovering their similarities and differences. Resident San elders and guides introduce performances and experiences. !Khwa ttu plays an important role in ensuring the maintenance and development of San knowledge, culture and traditions into the modern world. Today’s San are among the few remaining descendants of hunter-gatherers who once lived throughout the world and they have knowledge valuable to us today in understanding our past and our future. | |||
| Culture and Heritage Experience | 2019 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | WOWZULU Isandlwana | Isandlwana is famous for the battle of 22 January 1879 when a Zulu impi army defeated a British regiment. The site attracts large numbers of domestic and international visitors. The judges recognise the success of Africa !Ignite in making tourism more inclusive and benefiting adjacent, previously largely excluded communities by successfully developed a range of activities, cultural experiences, and traditional handicrafts.In 2018 they attracted 12 000 visitors to the Wirenest Craft Cooperative in Nondweni Village, the site where a French Prince Imperial was killed during the Anglo-Zulu War. There visitors can either watch women at work hand-embroidering on recycled mealie bags or learn a new skill and create a small embroidery piece which they can take away. With support from the Dutch government-funded CBI ‘promotion of exports from developing countries’ programme, Africa !Ignite has developed a range of décor and accessory products that complement the initial cushion covers which featured the hand-embroidery on recycled polypropylene of the Wirenest Cooperative. | |||
| Decarbonising Travel & Tourism | 2022 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Grootbos Private Nature Reserve | Grootbos has won several World Responsible Tourism Awards but it has not previously been recognised for its decarbonisation work. Since 2014 Grootbos has been measuring its direct emissions (electricity, fuel, water, waste, gas etc.) to determine its carbon footprint. Recently externally audited against their on-going community, conservation and sustainability initiatives: renewable energy, solid waste recycling and green waste composting. Through this Credible Carbon audit process conducted by C4 solutions they have been certified as a carbon negative destination, their conservation and land management practises on their fynbos reserve sequester more carbon than their lodge operations emit on an annual basis. The net greenhouse gas removed by reforestation activities are equivalent to ~0.03 tCO2e/ha/year. Grootbos effectively manages its own carbon sequestration providing a high degree of confidence that greenhouse gases are being removed. | www.grootbos.com | ||
| Decarbonising Travel & Tourism | 2022 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | V&A Waterfront | The V&A has been on its carbon emissions reduction journey since 2009 and has managed to reduce its carbon emissions by 47% while increasing the footprint of the V&A by 110,000m² over the last 13 years. Over the same period water consumption was reduced by 61% and waste was diverted from landfill. These are remarkable achievements demonstrating what can be achieved when a large tourism business, a destination, determines to achieve sustainability. The V&A have engaged their whole community - tenants, residents, employees, suppliers, management and millions of guests – encouraging them to choose to recycle their waste, be water-wise and energy efficient and integrate 'green' thinking into their daily lives. The V&A shares it experience and knowledge through the Green Building Council of South African and the annual Green Building Convention. The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre has a 5-star rating, securing reductions in carbon emissions by energy-saving through solar panels and skylights, charging stations for electric cars, energy metered efficient lighting and more efficient management of water achieving a 40% saving in electricity consumption. They are pioneering sea water district cooling in the Silo district with a view to site-wide roll out, where possible and sea water desalination by 2023. | www.waterfront.co.za | ||
| Decarbonising Travel & Tourism | 2022 | Gold | Africa | Zambia & Malawi | Green Safaris | We are beginning to see much stronger entries in this category, not only in Africa, but globally. The aspiration, of the Responsible Tourism Awards is to inspire change, the judges were impressed by the range of ways in which a relatively small operator like Green Safaris has sought to decarbonise and its positive impact in neighbouring communities. Green Safaris operates properties in Zambia and Malawi using tourism to contribute to conservation and community development and promote engaged tourism. Their lodges are built with earthbags, reducing cement use by 95%, and local materials to reduce embedded carbon footprint and most are fully solar-powered, the earthbag construction better regulates the interior temperature naturally. They use solar-charged game-drive e-vehicles, e-boats and e-mountain bikes and they have introduced smart stoves to reduce charcoal burning in neighbouring communities. Through their Conservation Foundation they have established twelve nurseries and planted 2,000 indigenous hardwood and fruit trees, 24,000 per year, providing sustainable firewood and fresh fruit for the villages through a continuous planting cycle. Green Safaris report that they are receiving more and more requests to share their approach with others and expressed hope that their winning this award would inspire many others. | www.greensafaris.com/sustainability | ||
| Decent Work and Inclusion | 2018 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Spier | Spier in the Western Cape of South Africa and PEAK East Africa in Kenya have much in common when it comes to creating shared business value. Both businesses demonstrated a comprehensive approach to improving working conditions, including various internal engagement tools, training, employee wellness and health programmes, staff awards and beyond-the-norm employee benefits. A strong commitment to going beyond compliance in relation to pay, health and safety, freedom of association and fostering purposeful work environments is evident at both Spier and PEAK East Africa. To track achievements, employees are annually asked for feedback and suggestions, and results compared year-to year. Both achieve exceptionally high staff engagement and positive feedback on the general working environment in these surveys. Spier’s inclusive business philosophy is actioned through a 30km preferential radius for recruitment, a focus on youth employment, providing internships and sourcing more than 70% of goods and services from the Winelands district and Cape Metro. The judges thought that allowing staff to spend individual learning budgets on sustainability solutions at home is a constructive and practical way for employees to apply work-based sustainability learnings outside of the workplace. | |||
| Destination | 2014 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | V&A Watrfront | It must be hard for Cape Town residents to imagine the V&A Waterfront not being there now, having put the city's run down harbour area back on the map. Big time. Since opening in 1990, it spreads over 326 acres of this historic area in Table Bay with leisure, entertainment and shopping outlets to play in. Yet all the time keeping a view back out on the water, reflecting the marine heritage attached to it. | |||
| Destination | 2009 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | City of Cape Town | The City of Cape Town has taken responsibility for identifying and prioritising local issues from a responsible tourism perspective. The City’s Tourism Department has worked in conjunction with its colleagues in the city administration and the industry to develop a Responsible Tourism Charter which commits both the industry and the city government to address the local priorities and to report on progress. Signatories have committed to define measurable goals and to monitor and report publicly on progress. | |||
| Destination Award | 2020 | Silver | Africa | Mozambique | Ilha Blue Island Safaris | Ilha Blue won Gold in the Africa Awards, Engaging People & Culture category in 2017. The judges recognised the deep and diverse cultural experiences offered by Ilha Blue on the African World Heritage Ilha de Moçambique. Ilha Blue offers an exotic mix of Makhuwa, Swahili, Arabic, Indian, and Portuguese cultures through low impact small group tours by bicycle, sea-kayak and Swahili sailing dhow with diverse local voices. Ilha Blue is a rare example of a business which has recognised the importance of localhood, of focussing on local people with respect. Through their approach to developing local experiences for tourists, they have enriched the tourists’ experience of local cultures and lifestyles and created sustainable livelihoods. Under-educated locals struggled to benefit from tourism; now they have opportunities as guides and storytellers to tell a complete story, there is more to the history and culture of the Ilha de Moçambique than its colonial past. Ilha Blue played a leading role in initiating the annual Welcome the Whales Festival a community festival which celebrates the humpback whales birthing site. The inaugural festival brought together a broad cross-section of the community in active participation. From ‘escolinhas’ (preschools), primary and secondary schools to university students; local fishermen and the Port Authority; local government and non-government agencies; arts practitioners including visual arts, film, music, dance and theatre performances; local cooks; private and public sector, BCI bank, World Cetacean Alliance; hotels; international volunteers. Responsible whale watching education workshops included local government staff and entrepreneurs. Dhow safety and licensing has been implemented and maintained by the Port Authority. This annual event is a community festival which welcomes guests. Local guiding has become a profession which now carries respect in the local community, and the tourism industry and the guiding community now include young women, two of whom have expressed interest in becoming snorkelling guides. Ilha Blue has provided free tourism training for scores of individuals, many of whom have benefited from the university courses now available on the island. Ilha Blue’s manager was head-hunted by the university to lecture and co-ordinate the course. Two Ilha Blue guides have established tourism businesses. | https://ilhablue.com/ | ||
| Destination Award | 2020 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre South Africa | !Khwa ttu won the Africa Award Cultural & Heritage Experience in 2019, the judges recognised the contribution which !Khwa ttu has made to empowering and supporting the San across southern Africa through heritage and education initiatives. !Khwa ttu brings together San from across southern Africa restituting and sharing Bushman heritage by training the younger generation in skills and knowledge that might otherwise be lost. Twice a year eight young San arrive from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana to partake in the six-month internship offered by !Khwa ttu. Over the last twelve years, the //Kabbo Academy has graduated 132 young San graduates, each of whom leaves leave equipped with a CV, internship certificate, workplace reference and the know-how to start their own business. To graduate, the interns must demonstrate their ability to design and conduct their own tour and convincingly present their Sustainable Livelihood Business Plan. The Culture and Education Centre is now 60% self-funded from revenue primarily from tourism.!Khwa ttu is a replicable example of how tourism can be used to celebrate and grow cultures in the contemporary world. They do this by developing intensive residential, educational activity and bridging courses to: pave the way for young San to enter the world of study and work, to secure access to bridging courses and undergraduate education in humanities, and the creation of a community curator network and “satellites” community cultural hubs. The San Culture and Education Centre opened in September 2018 and in its first year attracted 19,000 visitors. Their influence grows rapidly. The Iziko National Museum convenes at !Khwa ttu for their team building and museum conferences. The Goedgedacht Trust is helping to build resilient, rural communities in the Swartland areas; it routinely takes groups there to experience food and medicinal herb production and meet other interns on a similar pathway. !Khwa ttu is working with the IRDNC in Bwabwata National Park in the Zambezi region to develop a traditional knowledge project for the Kyaramacan Association, to retain their existing knowledge and generate sustainable incomes. | https://www.khwattu.org/ | ||
| destination for responsible tourism | 2015 | OVERALL | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Gansbaai | The Gansbaai is like an oyster that the local fishermen have opened only to discover a pearl inside - but that they then go on to share with all the world. Because Gansbaai, a town in the Overberg region, Western Cape, South Africa has transformed itself from fishing village to one of South Africa's most exciting, and community led adventure hubs, a process that has been led by the Gansbaai Tourism Association. The Gansbaai Tourism Association is one of South Africa's most proactive and passionate clusters of tourism businesses, from fishermen to fynbos conservationists. Because at Responsible Travel we know that responsible destinations don't just happen. People make them happen. The judges wanted to recognise them for the overall award for the way in which they have worked, together to create a destination, with outstanding product, memorable experiences and brought local economic development and communal facilities to the local community. They have demonstrated what tourism can do to make better places to live in and great places to visit. | ||
| Destination for Responsible Tourism | 2013 | HC | Africa | Kenya | Mara Naboisho Conservancy, | ||||
| Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid | 2022 | Gold | Africa | Africa | TUI Care Foundation | The TUI Care Foundation connects holidaymakers to good causes, they foster education and the wellbeing of children and youth, the protection of nature and the environment, and the positive impacts of tourism on people and places in destinations worldwide. At the TUI Academy on Zanzibar youths are being trained to become tour guides. Children with limited access to opportunities across the African continent have benefitted from the TUI Junior Academy´s support, for example in communities near Kruger Park and on the islands of Sal and BoaVista on the Cape Verdean archipelago. Through their 100 Helping Hands Initiatives the TUI Care Foundation provided financial support for local NGOs, small charitable organizations and social enterprises to strengthen their crisis relief activities in vulnerable tourism-adjacent communities support for food banks in tourism communities to cover the local population´s basic needs in these times of crisis. The TUI Care Foundation initiated, together with the Berlin-based non-profit enpact eV and the support of the German government and GIZ, the COVID-19 Relief Programme for Tourism and the Tourism Recovery Programme which supported 465 tourism SMMEs in Egypt, Kenya, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico and South Africa. The programmes consist of a 6-month cycle which includes financial support (provided by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development), online training and dedicated one-on-one mentoring for the participating businesses by European tourism experts. The judges recognised the TUI Care Foundation’s, COVID-19 Relief Programme for Tourism and the Tourism Recovery Programme as pioneering initiative of international collaboration to provide support for small scale tourism entrepreneurs through the pandemic and enable them to build back better. | https://www.tuicarefoundation.com/en/programmes/corona-relief-fund | ||
| Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid | 2022 | Silver | Africa | Mauritus | Sustainable Island | Sustainable Island Mauritius (SIM) is a project funded by the European Union designed to improve value chain sustainability by identifying and scaling-up sustainable tourism innovations by responding to changing consumer demand, introducing sustainable consumption and production practices to the inbound Tour Operators and their suppliers hotels, tour guides, taxi drivers, pleasure boat operators and crafters. The judges recognised that with the funding from the EU, SIM has been able to operate at scale through the pandemic to work with the whole supply chain from tour operators to smallholder farmers and local communities. | www.tourismauthority.mu | ||
| Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid | 2022 | One to Watch | Africa | Namibia | Ultimate Safaris | When the pandemic hit in 2020 Ultimate Safaris launched the Namibia 'Conservation First' Covid Chronicles, is a real-life, conservation travel series reporting the 'behind the scenes' life of active conservation in Namibia, and putting “CONSERVATION FIRST”. Sixty five episodes were produced over a six month period, taking followers behind-the-scenes of Namibia's Conservation engine room ensuring that Namibia remained in the forefront of the minds of potential travellers. The Covid Chronicles engaged with conservation initiatives across the country, helped to maintain morale and provides a resource to enhance the tourism experience post-Covid. The initiative inspired Jens Schneider, to create the Conservation Film Foundation. The judges hope to hear more about the impact of this initiative as tourism returns to Namibia. | www.ultimatesafaris.na | ||
| Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid | 2022 | One to Watch | Africa | Rwanda | Rwanda Development Board | Tourism in one of the sectors that the Rwanda Development Board works with providing market intelligence, practical advice, and business tools to improve local livelihoods and helping the sector to grow. In Rwanda COVID-19 highlighted the risks associated with overreliance on tourism as the country's top export and the need to diversify and build greater resilience. The judges recognised that this will result in significant positive change in Rwanda over the next few years and hope to see a further application. | https://rdb.rw/ | ||
| Diversity and Inclusion | 2023 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Birdlife | Birdlife's Community Bird Guide project trains people from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities to become professional bird guides and promotes their services through their website, social media, magazine, and other channels. They have graduated over 200 people. changing the face of community-led tourism and transforming the industry. Their South African Names for South African Birds (SANSAB) Project launched in 2022 aims to produce lists of South Africa's birds in local languages previously, these only existed in English and Afrikaans. Birdlife is working with a popular and freely available birding identification app to translate all South African bird accounts to isiZulu, a major milestone for language inclusion in the birding tourism community. They has also organised female-only trips providing resent a safe, accessible, and affordable way for women to travel around South Africa despite the high rates of GBV and femicide. "The work we have carried out is unique in South Africa. Our community-focused work has created a network of black guides that are highly respected by tourists and sought-after by birders. They operate at a high level and with utmost integrity and passion. Our Project to give vernacular names to all of our birds in entirely transformative and has been widely applauded by African language speakers and academics, and has been presented at international conferences such as the International Ornithological Congress and the Pan-African Ornithological Congress. This has laid the platform for further transformative action by enabling effective communication, education, and accessible tourism information materials." | www.birdlife.org.za | ||
| Diversity and Inclusion | 2023 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Liveable | There are estimated to be 1.2bn people living globally with a disability, differently-abled people. Liveable is an access consultancy focusing on Universal Design within the hospitality and tourism industries. The travel arm of the company Able2Travel is a concierge service for the differently abled and elderly markets. It was founded in 2019 Liveable provides services in; access consulting in the built environment, disability sensitivity training, and inclusive marketing. "We help the hospitality industry become truly inclusive." Able2Travel helps guests travelling to SA and those who live here to find accessible accommodations, restaurants and activities for a wide range of physical needs. ". We know that we cannot speak of responsible and equitable tourism if people are still barred access to accommodation, restaurants, jobs and activities because of physical barriers to entry, and because of discriminatory attitudes." | www.able2travel.co.za | ||
| Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | 2026 | Silver | Africa | Kenya | Saruni Wild | Saruni Wild is an exclusive eco-luxury camp located within the Maasai Mara ecosystem in Narok County, offering high-end, nature-based experiences including guided safaris and immersive cultural encounters. It prioritises local employment, and staff are encouraged to wear traditional Maasai attire as part of their professional uniform, affirming cultural identity rather than diluting it. Through the Saruni Basecamp Academy internship program, it provides structured, on-the-job training opportunities for local youth. This year’s programme achieved a “50:50 representation of male and female interns, an opportunity for women, who have historically been marginalised within a strongly patriarchal cultural context. … offering training .. actively shifting access to opportunity.” “When the camp was established in 2015, 100% of the staff were male.. ‘ . Today, within a team of 24 permanent staff it has a female Assistant Manager, four additional women in permanent roles, and two young women on the internship programme. This represents roughly 29% female participation across permanent and internship positions. | https://sarunibasecamp.com/our-properties/saruni-wild/ | ||
| Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | South Africa | Cape Tourist Guides Association | The Cape Tourist Guides Association actively supports the representation of guides from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, gender, and socio-economic backgrounds. By doing so, it ensures that the stories and perspectives shared with visitors reflect the authentic diversity of South Africa. It actively supports the representation of guides from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, gender, and socio-economic backgrounds. The Tourist Guides Association was formed because guides deserve a strong collective voice, and visitors and communities deserve responsible, informed, and ethical tourism experiences. The judges hope to see a further application focused on outcomes rather than intentions. | https://tourguides.capetown/ | ||
| Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | Zimbabwe | Jacada Travel | Jacada Travel plans travel experiences around clients’ personal interests and preferences, crafting a luxury journey and a story unique to each client. Judges want to recognise its Female Guides of the Future initiative, addressing gender inequality in the safari industry. Despite women making up most of the African tourism workforce, they remain underrepresented in high-level guiding roles. In partnership with the Wilderness Trust, the project is initially supporting four candidates through their professional safari guide training. “This is a fundraising initiative, designed to increase opportunities for women to train and work as professional guides in the tourism industry… the programme aims to fund training, mentorship and career pathways that help women access higher-paid guiding roles while promoting greater gender equity in tourism.” The judges hope to see a further application when the outcomes of this initiative are clear and measurable. | https://www.jacadatravel.com/ | ||
| Employing & Upskilling | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | São Tomé and Príncipe | HBD Principe | With four boutique hotel properties as well as organic agricultural operations HBD is a major employer with 594 colleagues. The majority of employees are from and live in the same geography as they work, and the expatriate staff has been reduced by 45% since 2019. This means the economic impact of HBD is primarily local, and all of them are paid above the minimum wage. They invest in a clinic, training and development. The judges noted that Matoke uses Weeva data tracking and hoped that we would see a further application with more data in the near future. | www.hbdprincipe.com | ||
| Employing & Upskilling | 2024 | Global | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Grootbos Lodge & the Green Futures College | Grootbos has been conserving a growing part of the fynbos overlooking Walker Bay since 1994, generating funds for conservation and upskilling and empowering people in its neighbouring communities. The Lodge upskills, trains and mentors its staff and supports and promotes local producers. Through the Grootbos Foundation, it provides free skills and business training for employment and ‘economic dignity’ for local people. Its Green Futures College covers the training costs, uniforms, transport, food, stipends and childcare for between 20 and 24 unemployed people each year. The Grootbos Foundation, funded by the business and other donors, has provided fully funded training to 92 horticulture graduates since 2003, 115 hospitality graduates since 2014, entrepreneurship training for 849; seed funding and mentorship to 189 independent small businesses, and trained 20 female biodiversity stewards now working in two independent contractor teams in the local landscape. This citation cannot capture all that has resulted from the efforts of a tourism enterprise on the fynbos, largely devoid of the charismatic megafauna found on safari and in the ocean, | Grootbos Private Nature Reserve & Grootbos Foundation | |
| Employing & Upskilling | 2024 | Silver | Africa | Uganda | Save Wildlife | Wildlife Uganda works with communities to develop alternative livelihoods around Queen Elizabeth National Park. They train people over 18 to make high-quality handicrafts, weave baskets, and carve animals; and they design African fabrics to match the demand of tourists. Since the project started in 2021 after six tree-climbing lions were poisoned, since then, none has been killed. Save Wildlife Uganda has three hundred families working in shifts at the Ishasha Community Centre and five hundred being trained in sewing, guiding and weaving. With the money earned by the centre and donations from visitors, they have been able to enrol some 200 children in school. The applicant wrote: I have entered this category to show the world how human beings can coexist with wildlife and how training, skills, employment and income-generating activities can change the mindset of communities towards wildlife or conservation in general. Also I have entered this category to demonstrate how some conservation challenges can be solved without force or firing guns. Finally, I wanted to show the entire world how tourists can play a crucial role in conservation once they get connected with local people or communities around protected areas.” | Wildlife Uganda | ||
| Employing & Upskilling | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | Uganda | Matoke Tours | This DMC emphasises the importance of human connections in travel and tourism, bridging barriers between cultures and driving economic development. Through the Matoke Academy, they support and use the Ukarimu open-source curriculum, and they have a Women in Tourism initiative providing guide and driver training and are developing women-only itineraries. The judges would like to see a further entry for the awards when there is data on impact. | www.matoketours.com | ||
| Endangered Species or Protected Area | 2008 | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps | For demonstrating that a high revenue, low impact tourism development approach can benefit the local Maasai, enabling them through developing conservancies and tourism in partnership with safari companies to create employment and community income and to conserve their land for wildlife. | |||
| Engagement with People & Cultures | 2012 | Gold | Africa | The Gambia | ITTOG | The judges were impressed by the strength of the partnership between South Nottingham College and the Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG). The South Nottingham College of Travel and Tourism curriculum team worked in partnership with local people to set up and run a vocational tourism education institute within the Gambia. This was staffed by Gambian students who were sponsored to study at the college in Nottingham, who subsequently returned to Gambia with the skills to train others. | |||
| Engaging People & Culture | 2017 | Gold | Africa | Mozambique | Ilha Blue Island Safaris | The judges wanted to recognise the deep and diverse cultural experiences offered by Ilha Blue on the African World Heritage Ilha de Moçambique. Ilha Blue offers an exotic mix of Makhuwa, Swahili, Arabic, Indian, and Portuguese cultures through low impact small group tours by bicycle, sea-kayak and Swahili sailing dhow. The judges particularly valued the diverse local voices presented by Ilha Blue as an alternative to the colonial narrative, the presentation of local indigenous knowledge, with local guides presenting their perspectives and stories through experiences creating entrepreneurial opportunities and ensuring that local people shape and have a stake in tourism to their place. | |||
| Engaging People & Culture | 2017 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Maboneng Arts, | Since 2000 the rapper Siphiwe Ngwenya has been turning township homes into exhibition spaces from Johannesburg to Cape Town, believing that the home is the epicentre of all culture. Maboneng Township Arts Experience’s objective is to turn townships into tourism towns by using the art which already exists in the townships to attract domestic and international visitors. This approach enables visitors to meet locals in their own homes, to experience the wealth of their culture, provides market access for emerging artists and additional household income for artists and the Gallery Homes, celebrates cultural diversity and provides opportunities for cultural integration for hosts and guests. | |||
| Engaging people & culture | 2014 | Silver | Africa | The Gambia | Footsteps Eco Lodge | Since opening in 2002, they not only built a lodge using only a local workforce, used locally bought building materials and methods but also incorporated activities that support the local communities in many ways. Such as taking a guided cycling trip with local expert Musa Fatty. It does feel like one big local family at Footsteps, really with Dodou Touray, for example, who was part of the ground building team when the lodge was built, and is now General Manager. The fifteen staff members are given a fair and way beyond the average living wage, as well as up to 21 days paid leave per year, sick pay and pension benefits. The Gunjur community is at the heart of everything they do at Footsteps, as you can see in their 'Peace of mind' policy, which gets to the point a lot more quickly than many sustainability policies which seem to be totally detached from 'people'. In terms of responsible tourism, Footsteps should really be called Giant Footsteps, although they carry their achievements so lightly, and naturally, one might also call it Silent Footsteps. The responsible realities also kick in at Footsteps when you meet members of their staff such as Lamin Bojang. Lamin is the Lodge's birding guide, but also the founder of the Gunjur Cultural Heritage Museum, located in one of the oldest and biggest villages in the Gambia. Realising that local culture such as traditional language and history was being lost, he created a museum where the history of the area has been narrated by the Gunjar people, in traditional storytelling style. Footsteps has been a major partner in making this dream come true and, in return, they have one of the best birding guides in the country available to guests. Although a day of birdwatching with Lamin turns into a day of stories, meeting people, and discovering many local treasures too. Such is the ethos of Footsteps. | |||
| Engaging People & Cultures | 2015 | Silver | Africa | Mozambique | Nkwichi Lodge, | ||||
| Engaging People & Cultures | 2015 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Coffeebeans Routes, | Setting an example that could be replicated in other destinations, Cape Town-based Coffeebeans Routes creates travel experiences around urban stories. These are contemporary, urban, African experiences that provide deep insights, and plenty of fun. The experiences bring visitors and locals together across boundaries. Unapologetic about pushing social justice agenda, Coffeebeans Routes employs tourism as a tool to unlock economic potential and address societal inequalities through exploring cultural diversity and legacy. | |||
| Engaging People & Cultures | 2015 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre | ||||
| Engaging People & Cultures | 2015 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Baleni Camp, TFPD | ||||
| Fund Raising | 2020 | HC | Africa | South Africa | Wilderness Safaris | Wilderness Safaris’ Covid Relief Conservation Heroes initiative saw over 12,000 people benefit from the company’s community impact support by the end of July. | https://wilderness-safaris.com/ | ||
| Fund Raising | 2020 | Commended | Africa | South Africa & Zimbabwe | Isibindi Africa Lodges | https://www.isibindi.co.za/ | |||
| Global Goals Reporting | 2019 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Two Oceans Aquarium | The Two Oceans Aquarium does not over-state its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. The identified SDGs – Quality Education, Responsible Consumption and Life Below Water – are directly related the organisation’s core business and sphere of influence. There is clear, credible evidence of the alignment between the company’s efforts and the relevant SDGs and specific targets. Actual performance is either transparently reported in an annual sustainability report, or where data against a target is not available, a commitment to the necessary research is in place. By identifying only relevant SDGs and detailing how the business is working to contribute to them, the Two Oceans Aquarium sets a pragmatic and replicable approach to reporting against the SDGs. | |||
| Growing the Local Economic Benefit | 2022 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | andBeyond | andBeyond is a conservation-led, luxury travel company founded in 1991 in South Africa, owning and operating 29 lodges and camps in Africa and South America;they also design personalised journeys, tours and impact-led experiences in 13 African countries and in Asia and South America. The judges recognise the positive impact of their Hustle Economy Programme with this award. In 1992 the Africa Foundation was founded as their implementation partner to uplift, up-skill and empower rural communities living close to the conservation areas in which they operate in 73 rural or peri-urban communities across South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia creating and supporting community-led projects in primary health care, education, livelihoods and enterprise development. Their Hustle Economy Micro-Enterprise Support Programme is working with 200 hustle-preneurs, mostly women, in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga positively impacting the lives of 1,600 individuals adults and children. The programme requires an investment from each hustler, to twice weekly, three-hour, facilitated peer-to-peer workshops in which they are provided with core business skills and a system of financial discipline to transform their enterprises into viable, income-supporting entities. The programme assists micro-entrepreneurs to develop their enterprise skills and grow their businesses to create larger and more reliable incomes for their families; participants in the programme are increasing their incomes by as much as 40%. | www.andbeyond.com | ||
| Growing the Local Economic Benefit | 2022 | Gold | Africa | Zimbabwe | Wild Horizons | At Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Wild Horizons operates four lodges and is the lead provider of activities: whitewater rafting, boat cruises, ground handling, helicopter rides, elephant encounters, and high-wire activities, zip lines, flying fox, and gorge swings. The judges wanted to recognise four of their initiatives, each highly replicable. Their Pay It Forward Initiative, which enables guests to enrich their journey while making a positive impact. From a list of registered charitable organizations, guests select a cause they would like to support, such as the Old Age Home or Orphanage. Armed with a list of 'wishes' that the organization provides, a guide-driver takes guests to various markets in the area. The guests connect with local people, discover less-visited parts of town, and immerse themselves in a different style of grocery shopping before delivering their purchases to their chosen charity. .Their home-hosted meal activity: staff open their homes to travellers, offering them a seat at their table and the opportunity to celebrate authentic Zimbabwean cuisine and customs. The experience fosters a deeper understanding of local customs for guests and enabling staff to share their heritage and earn additional income.Village Tours: the fees provide an additional income for the village and enrich their guests experience in Victoria Falls, enabling them to have a meaningful connection to a different culture. The Raincoat Rainforest Initiative: Wild Horizons sources and donates raincoats to an association of independent vendors, who then hire these out to Wild Horizons guests and other guests visiting the Falls, providing them with a livelihood. | www.wildhorizons.co.zw | ||
| Growing the Local Economic Benefit | 2022 | Gold | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge | Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge is in the Northern Drakensberg of South Africa and provides overnight accommodation and access to hiking the region's most famous trails. Witsieshoek was about to be closed by its community owners, the Sesotho Batlokoa, when TFPD was awarded the concession to manage and market the property in 2011. Since reopening in 2011, Witsieshoek has tracked the local economic benefit created by the Lodge and reported a Regional Economic Benefit of R77,7m over the past 12 years. 46% of the value results from local procurement policies and practices. During the refurbishment, a buy-local policy was mandated. Support was provided to upskill and capacitate local businesses where the services did not exist. As a result, a team of local seamstresses was trained to make curtains and extended their business beyond just the clothing they had previously made. Tefo Magasane, the potter, developed a range of functional ceramics to create a unique bedside light base and several unique décor items. And the local home carpet weavers not only supplied the bedside and décor rugs for Witsieshoek but were also commissioned by other Lodges managed by TFPD to provide handmade rugs. While the economic bounty of the refurbishment period came to an end in 2016 the entrepreneurs who skilled up during this period had the resources to continue their businesses. With 96% of the staff employed from the local area, this money goes directly into the local economy, where it generates another cycle of economic activity. The average salary at Witsieshoek supports seven people. The Principle Traditional Leader of the Batlokoa has maintained a policy that funds earned from the turnover and profit levies must be invested to build a capital reserve before any significant expenditures could be incurred. This financial prudence turned into a lifeline for the Lodge during Covid when the Lodge borrowed those funds to keep staff paid. All Covid-era loans from the community trust have been repaid with interest. This mature commercial relationship between the commercial operation and the community leadership is a key indicator of a sustainable and progressive business with a strong future. | https://www.witsieshoek.co.za/ | |
| Habitat & Species Conservation | 2019 | Overall | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Grootbos Private Nature Reserve | It is rare for a business based on a floral attraction to feature in tourism awards. Grootbos emerged as the overall winner because the judges recognised that it could have won in several categories. Grootbos has won Gold this year in recognition of the substantial growth in its conservation impacts. But there is much more to Grootbos. They deliver across the economic, social and environmental agendas. The Football Foundation provides positive role models and a safe space for local youth. It reaches 9000 youth each year and provides daily sports coaching in hockey, athletics, soccer and netball and canoeing as well as female empowerment, environmental education, food for sport, grassroots soccer, HIV/Aids and water safety programmes. Green Futures is a vocational training college. Siyakhula – the social enterprise arm of the Grootbos Foundation – runs an organic farm, a careers and entrepreneurship programme and support for Early Childhood Development Centres. Grootbos is a remarkable example of how much can be achieved through a committed approach to responsible tourism. Grootbos was recognised in 2017 in the World Awards in the accommodation category and in 2007 for conservation. Grootbos regularly wins awards but the judges wanted to acknowledge the progress which has been made in recent years with the significant extension of their conservation work. Grootbos has made substantial progress in realising their ambition to achieve a landscape-level conservation project and to create an ecological corridor to conserve fynbos. Six species new to science have been identified, 9500 hectares has now been cleared of alien species and a further 653 hectares has been included in the conservation area. Grootbos now employs six conservation specialists which includes a botanist, entomologist, alien clearing specialist, mammalian fauna specialist and motion camera monitoring specialist. There are 36 motion sensor cameras in service enabling Grootbos to identify the fauna species in the flora reserve and to extend their conservation work. The Groootbos Private Nature Reserve supports 20% of the direct spend on conservation through a ZAR75 conservation levy on the lodge and 25% is raised by the Groootbos Foundation selling products and services at above-market prices to the Grootbos Lodges. | ||
| Habitat & Species Conservation | 2019 | One to Watch | Africa | Zimbabwe | Great Plains Conservation | Great Plains Conservation was recognised for its conservation work in the World Awards in 2009. The judges were delighted to see that Great Plains has won the rights to trade and offer safari experiences in the private Sapi Reserve in Zimbabwe. A wildlife protection and monitoring anti-poaching unit has begun work and wire snares are being removed. The judges recognise that this is an important new development and expect it to win an award in the near future as the new photographic safari business develops replacing the previous hunting concession. | |||
| Habitat Species & Conservation | 2017 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Wildlife ACT | Both of this year’s winners in this category have demonstrated that volunteering tourists can when professionally managed. As one of Wildlife Act’s referees wrote: “They have set and maintained the highest levels of integrity in an industry that is often characterised by unscrupulous operators that abuse the goodwill and naivety of volunteers.” The judges were impressed by the range of habitat and species conservation work that Wildlife Act had contributed to by working with partners from Ethiopia to South Africa. | |||
| Habitat Species & Conservation | 2017 | Gold | Africa | Swaziland | All Out Africa | With references from universities in Swaziland and Florida attesting to All Out Africa’s contribution to both research and education on habitats and species the judges were particularly impressed by All Out Africa’s social-entrepreneur approach to solving the problem of insufficient ecological information and capacity to enable successful conservation. Over the last 12 years All Out Africa has enabled 500 international volunteers to contribute meaningfully to conservation through data collection and supported and trained over 100 local students in field-based conservation and ecological research, With activities in Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa they have supported the education of 15 local students at MSc level and more than 1000 undergraduate students from both local and international universities. | |||
| hotel for local sourcing | 2015 | Gold | Africa | Morocco | Atlas Kasbah Ecolodge | The Atlas Kasbah Ecolodge has the appearance of an ancient Berber fortress, even though it was built from scratch over a period of two and a half years using only traditional techniques and locally sourced, natural materials. All created by local craftsmen using ancestral knowledge of traditional architecture. The owners Hassan Aboutayeb and his wife Helene both have Masters degrees in sustainability, but they are also both masters at creating a business that segues seamlessly into the Berber communities all around. Employing staff from the Berber community is a fundamental aspect of the Kasbah's work, and they have led sensitive training within the community to change the mind-set of traditional families that women should not work outside the community. Consequently, 100% of staff is hired within the community, from hiking guides to hammam assistants and the communities supply produce for the Kasbah including food, local handicrafts, argan oil, and also bathroom products made by Berber women. Masters students produce papers. With 81% the Kasbah's income spent within a 50kms radius of the Kasbah, these masters of responsible tourism simply produce. And keep producing. | |||
| Increasing Diversity in Tourism: | 2022 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Bon Hotel Bloemfontein Central | BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central is a three star hotel with115 bedrooms and conference facilities that can accommodate up to 420 guests, owned by three shareholders and the staff. In 2007 they appointed previously disadvantaged staff members to their board of directors and then created a staff share trust. They allocated 51% of the shares in the business to the staff. The initiative is self-funded from the hotel’s profits. The Bon Hotel in Bloemfontein is involved with the Towers of Hope, NGO located across the street from the hotel which works to improve the lives of marginalised citizens in inner-city Bloemfontein. The judges wanted to recognise this unusual example of an initiative designed to empower previously disadvantaged members of their community. The Bon Hotel believes that it is better to upskill their and promote their own staff than to involve outside shareholders. Everyone in the hotel from cleaners to managers has a share in the success of the hotel, the staff have ownership which facilitates staff retention through development and promotion and enhances service delivery. Most of their management team have progressed through the ranks. By engaging with the Towers of Hope they have contributed more widely to improving the lives of these marginalised people of Bloemfontein. As they pointed our in their application “Winning this ward will truly be inspiring for our staff and the people at Towers of Hope, as well as the broader community of Bloemfontein.” | www.bhbloemfonteincentral.co.za | ||
| Increasing Diversity in Tourism: | 2022 | Silver | Africa | Tanzania & Uganda | Lemala Camps and Lodges | Lemala recognises that the East African tourism industry is male dominated, and is striving to balance the gender ratio. The empowerment of women is their social responsibility priority. Lemala's senior management consists of 6 females and 2 males. They annually host a young person’s leadership academy though which they have inspired and recruited two female guides. They hace created an employment opportunity for 32 homeworker mums to make their 100% biodegradable banana leaf lunch boxes. 18% of Lemala’s staff are female. Mary Jovin, Lemala's First Female Guide, explains: "I am doing this to prove to every girl out there, that we can do whatever men can." At Lemala’s Ngorongoro Tented Camp they are providing sanitary towels so that girls do not need to lose school days. As Lemala points out in its entry “this is a long journey but a step in the right direction”. | www.lemalacamp.com | ||
| Increasing Local Sourcing | 2025 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | !Khwa ttu | !Khwa ttu is a cultural and educational centre that honours the San people’s heritage while supporting economic empowerment and sustainability. Its approach to food and beverage sourcing is deeply rooted in ethics and tradition. The centre revives San culinary practices through the use of foraged ingredients and partners with local and ethical producers to supply its kitchens. In 2024, it supported 44 local producers and generated 4,500 employment days, demonstrating a tangible economic impact. Judges praised !Khwa ttu’s commitment to local sourcing as a way to preserve cultural knowledge and drive rural development. Through workshops, museum exhibits, and immersive experiences, guests are invited to learn about the San people’s deep relationship with nature. The centre’s model ensures that revenue and recognition flow directly to the communities it represents. Its integration of cultural preservation, economic opportunity, and responsible procurement makes it a standout example of regenerative, inclusive tourism | https://www.khwattu.org/ | ||
| Increasing Local Sourcing | 2025 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Dlala Nje | Dlala Nje runs transformative inner-city tours in Hillbrow and Yeoville, encouraging guests to reframe their perceptions of Johannesburg’s most misunderstood areas. Tours are led by local guides who share personal stories and historical context, helping visitors understand the complex realities of urban life. Dlala Nje also operates a Youth Champions Program, offering mentorship, excursions, and educational support to local children. More than 500 young people have participated in its programmes, gaining confidence and new perspectives. The organisation creates economic opportunity by training and employing local residents as guides and coordinators. Judges were struck by Dlala Nje’s commitment to empowerment through storytelling, and its efforts to use tourism as a platform for community pride and personal growth. By inviting travellers to see beyond media narratives, Dlala Nje challenges stigma and highlights the resilience and creativity of Johannesburg’s inner-city communities. It exemplifies tourism as a tool for justice and shared value. | https://www.dlalanje.org/ | ||
| Increasing Local Sourcing | 2024 | Gold | Africa | Botswana | Okavango Gin | “Okavango Gin was founded out of a love and passion for the pristine wilderness of the Okavango Delta … by a handful of like-minded naturalists, safari guides, botany enthusiasts and hospitality experts” Using locally harvested Mophane seeds and traditional Marula Beer sourced from local women in Gweta, distilled off-grid, with gin bottle sleeves sewn locally and recycling gin bottles in Botswana this new gin has the authenticity of the Delta and is a souvenir to remind travellers of their wilderness experience at home. Recognising the “need for a more innovative approach to tourism, beyond the “bums in beds”, Okavango Gin has demonstrated how a quality local product can displace imported brands, becoming the house gin of most lodges in the Okavango Delta. The business started with one full-time working director it now directly employs six and creates additional employment in its supply chain and distribution, in 2023 revenue grew 75%. The judges were delighted to see this innovative approach to creating additional and shared value from tourism. In 2022, they won a Double Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirit Competition. , | www.okavangogin.com | ||
| Increasing Local Sourcing | 2024 | Silver | Africa | Uganda | Muhabura Cultural Experience and Craft Centr | Muhabura is a social enterprise community-based tourism enterprise established to benefit local communities through the sale of locally produced goods and services to visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Virunga. Muhabura is an initiative of Raising the Artisans, selling organically grown coffee, honey, bananas, carvings and hand-crafted baskets. Their vision is to contribute to the social and economic transformation of marginalised people living around national parks. Local guides introduce tourists to the cultural experiences, coffee growing and Batwa Bushmen Trails. The judges would like to have seen some evidence of impact, for example, numbers employed and benefiting, and revenue. However, this is a highly replicable model and we hope that this award might encourage others to do something similar. www.muhaburaculturalexperienceandcraftcentre.com | www.raisingtheartisansat.com | ||
| Innovation | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Kenya | Baobab Beach Resort, | The judges appreciated the wide range of in-house environmental management practices that reduce water and energy use and help to manage waste at Baobab Beach Resort. Efforts to protect children from exploitation, conserve the coastal forest environment, reach out to communities through tours for guests and a weekly village market, contributed to a Silver Award. | |||
| Innovation | 2016 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Sharkspotters, | Sharkspotter’s solution to safe beaches removes the fear factor from enjoying Cape Town’s beaches while working to protect sharks, particularly the Great White Shark – a globally threatened species. This pioneering and innovative approach netted a Gold Award. Spotters positioned on the mountainsides surrounding swimming beaches look out for sharks near shore and use a series of flags as a warning system. Community members benefit from employment and skills development, and beachgoers get to learn about sharks and their place in the ecology. | |||
| Innovation | 2004 | HC | Africa | Tanzania | Kahawa Shamba | ||||
| Innovation / Technology | 2006 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) | Based in Cape Town, BEN offers township tours with a difference. Rather than touring in an air-conditioned bus, tourists travel by bike increasing their interaction with the local Xhosa community. Most importantly, the bikes used for the tours are abandoned ones, reclaimed and reconditioned by the host community providing them with an alternative source of income. | |||
| Innovation in Water Management | 2018 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Wilderness Safaris, | The judges were looking for innovative and replicable practices with measurable achievement in reducing water consumption. Wilderness Safaris has a Group Environmental Impact System (GEMS) and in 2012 they determined to reduce the consumption of bottled water across their whole operation. They committed earlier than most to reduce plastic water bottle usage by introducing reusable water bottles and reverse osmosis water filtering systems in all their camps. Wilderness Safaris have reduced bottled water consumption across all their camps by 77%. In 2012 they were consuming two litres of bottled water per bed night in Botswana, in 2017 they used an average of 0.23 litres per bednight. This well exceeded their group target of 0.8 litres per bednight. Across the group in 2012 average bottled water consumption was 2.7 litres per bednight by 2017 they had reduced it to 0.46 litres per bednight. Their new group target is 0.4 litres per bednight by 2023. In addition to its success in reducing the consumption of bottled water Wilderness Safaris is fitting tap aerators, flow restrictors, efficient shower heads, dual flush toilets, recycles grey water, monitors leakages. Further, Wilderness, along with another industry leader in sustainable tourism, is developing benchmark water usage figures for safari camps. The judges were pleased to see the commitment to reduce water bottle use across the whole operation and the consequent reduction in plastic waste and carbon emissions. Water scarcity and security is a major issue in Africa and the judges were surprised and disappointed not to receive more applications addressing water sourcing, the reduction of water use and grey water recycling and the disposal of wastewater. | |||
| Judges Award | 2020 | Judges Award | Africa | Kenya | Ol Pejeta Conservancy | Ol Pejeta is a 90,000-acre conservancy which employs, directly and indirectly, nearly 1,000 people in tourism, agriculture and ranching. Originally a cattle ranch Ol Pejeta was purchased in 2004 by Fauna &Flora International (FFI), with the financial backing of the Arcus Foundation and converted to a national land trust. Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa with 100 black rhinos, and it is home to two of the world’s last remaining northern white rhino. It is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, in a Sanctuary established to rehabilitate animals rescued from the black market. Ol Pejeta is also home to other endangered species such as Grevy’s zebra and Jackson’s Hartebeest, as well as high numbers of elephant, buffalo and a variety of plains game. The landscape in managed productively to generate employment and taxes and provides a vital corridor for migratory animals connecting them to the broader Laikipia ecosystem and beyond. Ol Pejeta has demonstrated that it is possible to use tourism and conservation to create a beneficial resource for people and wildlife. Ol Pejeta is a not-for-profit. They regard community benefit and wildlife conservation as of equal importance. Their Community Development Department employs 12 people in permanent jobs and 50 in part-time/volunteer positions within their community, offering support in health, energy, education and community development. They are supported with donations and expertise by partners. In 2019 Ol Pejeta began to pioneer the use of technology in conservation through a dedicated technology lab and hub to create solutions to regionwide conservation, wildlife and environmental challenges. The conservancy attracts 110,000 visitors each year, many of them for day experiences. In 2018 tourism represented 63% of total income, ranching and farming 22% and donor funding 12%. Ol Pejeta pioneered the use of predator-proof moveable “bomas” (enclosures) to keep their cattle safe from predators at night, these are now used widely across conservation areas across Africa. In 2015, Kenya's Agricultural Development Corporation agreed to set up the Mutara Conservancy on 20,000 acres of land bordering Ol Pejeta Conservancy for integrated wildlife, livestock and tourism operations. Ol Pejeta now manages these operations, working in partnership with the Jambo Mutara Tented Camp. Ol Pejeta has recently played a leading role in establishing the Laikipia Conservancies Association which intends to replicate the success of Ol Pejeta’s model as a means to secure a future for wildlife and people alike. Ol Pejeta was awarded Gold for Wildlife Conservation in the Africa Responsible Tourism Awards in 2016 and Highly Commended in 2017. Ol Pejeta is a strong contender in multiple categories, wildlife, community benefit and reporting. The judges recognise that Ol Pejeta is a global leader in balancing benefits for local communities and wildlife conservation and in delivering Responsible Tourism, using tourism to make better places for people to live in and ensuring the conservation of wildlife and habitat. | olpejetaconservancy.org | ||
| Judges Award | 2020 | Judges Award | Africa | South Africa | Gootbos & Foundation | Grootbos is a private nature reserve committed to the conservation of the Cape Flora, one of the six Floral Kingdoms of the world, and the “upliftment of the community” through the work of the Grootbos Foundation. Grootbos conserves over 20 000 hectares of vulnerable biodiversity and develops sustainable livelihoods through enterprise development and education, addressing food insecurity, and sports development for youth. Their extensive programmes with local communities reach over 11,000 beneficiaries per annum. They established the Green Futures College in 2003, a Football Foundation, which is multi-sport, in 2008, the Masakhane Community Farm in 2016 and the Maskhane, Good Hope and Takalane Early Learning Centers. The sports facilities are located in the middle of the three historically segregated communities, making it accessible to all three communities and their youth. The Football Foundation provides soccer, hockey, athletics, rugby and netball training and programmes from Monday to Thursday in the week and a site for matches on the weekend. There are 11 coaches offering “positive reinforcement, encouragement, discipline, friendships and fun.” In 2019 the Foundation reached 9,000 children through sports training, environmental education, canoeing and a learn to swim programme. The initiative started with an astroturf soccer pitch funded by ABSA Spaces for Sport, others supported the activities including the Premier League, the Fifa Legacy Trust, the Overstrand Municipality, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and the City of Cape Town. The Grootbos Foundation Careers, Employability and Entrepreneurship programme supports learners in five high schools across the region. Grootbos were early adopters of Responsible Tourism and have grown their engagement year on year. In the 2019 Africa Responsible Tourism Awards, they won in the Habitat & Species Conservation category and were overall winners. In London in 2017 they won Gold in the Best Accommodation category and in 2015 they won Silver in the Poverty Reduction category in London. Grootbos has won multiple Responsible Tourism Awards and is widely acknowledged as a global leader worthy of a judges’ award.They recognise that supporting others to take responsibility is important. Most recently they helped the Be Your Own Hero Project (BYOH) in the Underberg in Kwazulu Natal. They assisted with support, training and guidance for the local community coaches in establishing sports programmes. Grootbos has always opened its doors to other businesses interested to see what is possible. As Ruth Crichton, Marketing & Communications Manager at the Grootbos Foundation reminds them “ it is not | grootbos.com | ||
| Judges Award | 2020 | Judges Award | Africa | South Africa | Transfrontier Parks Destination (TFPD), | TFPD was founded in 2004 to work with economically poor rural communities to commercialise community-owned lodges and develop local people to run those lodges in the future. Their role is to transform ‘white elephants’ into successful ventures. TFPD has won Gold twice in the Africa Responsible Tourism Awards, in 2015 and 2016. They won silver twice in the World Responsible Tourism Awards in 2016 & 2018 and Gold in 2017. They are widely recognised for their pioneering work in making a success of community-owned lodges, taking them effectively to market, upskilling the communities which own the lodges and training and employing community members. TFPD seeks to operate in the spirit of Ubuntu referring to the essential ‘humanness’ of the human spirit – to goodwill, generosity, dignity, reconciliation, assuming responsibility for each other’s well-being and the willingness to solve problems together. TFPD works in partnership with the communities which own the lodges recognising the truth of the Shona proverb which states: ‘Chra chimive hachitswane inda’ – a thumb working on its own is worthless. It has to work collectively with the other fingers to get strength and be able to achieve. TFPD has successfully used tourism to create sustainable livelihoods for community members and to develop viable commercial businesses, owned by local communities. Businesses which are sufficiently commercially viable to make a significant contribution to community funds and which create opportunities through employment and local enterprise. Each lodge provides a focus for sustainable local economic development in rural communities. TFPD entered !Xaus Lodge for the 2020 Africa Awards, just one of their four lodges, three safari camps and four cultural camps. A land claim filed by the ‡Khomani San Bushmen, settled in 2002, awarded them and the local Mier community each 25,000 hectares in what became the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park. !Xaus Lodge was built there. A 12 room, 24-bed community lodge located 30 km from the nearest half-decent road, accessible only by 4X4. The lodge stood empty, decaying until it was repaired, refurbished and opened by TFPD in 2008. There is Joint Management Board for this community-owned business which TFPD manages and markets on behalf of the ‡Khomani San and Mier. The Joint Management Board meets quarterly and reviews the financial statements, management reports and discusses the strategic and logistics issues. TFPD resisted turning the !Xaus into self-catering accommodation which would have generated little or no employment. !Xaus now employs 30 people from the local communities, over 14,000 people have visited, and ZAR 16 million (684,000 GBP) has been earned by the community in staff remuneration and benefits, and the rental fee paid to the community. The local unemployment rate is 60%. With an average of 6.5 dependants per employee, about 200 people are sustained by the benefit generated by 30 people having jobs at !Xaus Lodge. While !Xaus Lodge was originally seen as a “white elephant’’ by its community owners, today it’s one of their primary assets thanks to their partnership with TFPD. | www.tfpd.co.za/ | ||
| Large Sustainable Event | 2019 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Meetings Africa | Meetings Africa, the continent’s major tradeshow for the meetings industry with some 300 exhibitors, attracts about 2500 participants. The event is guided by an extensive sustainability plan with quantified targets. Actual performance is meticulously documented in a post-event report and independently verified. These documents cover a sweeping range of actions to reduce the event environmental footprint and increase socio-economic gains for local small businesses. Economic inclusion is a central plank of Meetings Africa. Hosted byers are given vouchers to exchange for locally made gifts from suppliers exhibiting in the Sustainability Village, guaranteeing sales to SMMEs and avoiding wasteful expenditure on unwanted gifts. Black owned tourism SMME’s participate gain exposure to qualified buyers through the Development Zone. Event waste management services and staff uniforms are supplied by female-owned start-up businesses supported and mentored by large exhibition and event infrastructure suppliers. Environmental efforts include waste reduction and recycling, bokashi bins for food waste, upcycled content in décor, renewable energy certificates and carbon offsetting, and donation of carpets to community projects. Exhibitor manuals and briefings include information on sustainable exhibition stands, and show communications reinforce the sustainability message. Major contractors sign a Green Pledge, and exhibitors and accommodation suppliers are awarded for responsible practices though a Green Stand Awards and Green Hotel Awards. Meetings Africa not only harvests business meetings worth billions of Rands for Africa, it masterfully delivers across the environmental and social bottom lines. | |||
| Large Sustainable Event | 2019 | Siver | Africa | South Africa | Cape Town Marathon | The Cape Town Marathon attracts 23,000 runners from 82 countries and generates more than R200 million for the economy. The RUN4Change Legacy Program with five pillars: Charities, Health, Sustainability, Peace and Development governs the event. A comprehensive range of related actions include: fund-raising for 50 charities, zero waste to landfill through meticulous management of the waste stream, climate neutrality through carbon off-setting with Wonderbag, free development entries for community running clubs and collection of donated running shoes. The judges were impressed the use of Blue Water trailers equipped to supply runners with filtered water-on-tap, backed by a pre-event “carryyourown” awareness campaign. A multi-pronged communication plan focussed on the Run4Change Legacy pillars targets participants, partners, sponsors and communities along the race route. The Western Cape was drought-stricken at the time of the 2017 race – increasing the distance between water stations, management of the number of sachets/per runner and the use of grey water reduced overall water use. | |||
| Local Economic Benefit | 2026 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | The V&A Waterfront Academy | Launched in 2023, the V&A Academy is an employment pathway initiative catalysed and funded by the V&A. The programme connects unemployed young people from surrounding communities with entry-level jobs across the Waterfront’s tourism, hospitality and retail businesses. The Academy focuses on preparing young people for the transition to employment while supporting businesses that hire first-time workers with a particular focus on the first six months, when employment relationships are often most fragile and unstable. Since launch, 315 young people have graduated and are now placed with 46 host employers across the Waterfront. 90% of the V&A Academy’s graduates have gained full-time employment for the first time. The Academy has also supported 15 small independent businesses in the Watershed craft market.Many businesses are hesitant to hire inexperienced employees due to the risks of onboarding and managing staff entering the workplace for the first time. Managers are often stretched and lack the capacity to invest the time required to support new workers through the early stages of employment. The V&A Academy was created to address this gap. | http://www.waterfront.co.za/academy | ||
| Local Economic Benefit | 2026 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company | TMACC recognised that, as one of South Africa’s most visited attractions, it has both the responsibility and the opportunity to ensure tourism benefits local communities. By prioritising local suppliers, TMACC ensures that visitor spending circulates within the local economy rather than leaking out of the destination. This approach turns tourism demand into local economic growth by prioritising local suppliers, supporting small businesses and ensuring that the economic benefits generated remain within the surrounding communities. More than 150 local businesses are now supported. TMACC supports small businesses with mentorship, operational training and certification support. To date, 67 SMMEs have been empowered as this programme helps entrepreneurs strengthen their operations and access tourism markets. TMACC has shifted local procurement from 29% in 2017 to 89% today, and actively develop and mentor suppliers, helping them grow beyond the Cableway. | http://www.tablemountain.net/ | ||
| Local Economic Benefit | 2026 | Silver | Africa | Zanzibar | Lux Marijani | The 5* LUX Marijani has embedded local economic participation into its supply value chain to reduce economic leakage and maximise direct benefits to the surrounding community, ensuring that tourism revenue flows beyond the resort and into households, micro-enterprises and community institutions. Suppliers include Azani Suppliers fresh fish 15,000USD per month; Hamza and Duruma Holdings calamari and octopus each monthly 3,000USD, Neema Mulungi, Oyster mushrooms, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries 1,500USD per month and exotic fruits from Next Level Millennium for 750USD per month. 13,400USD goes monthly to locally owned Premier Laundry Services and 7,600USD monthly for staff transport. LUX Marijani provides beachfront access for a 15-member women’s cooperative (Mama wa Pwani), enabling direct sales of spices, crafts and art to guests supported by a stipend 960USD for transport and a range of other economic relationships following the principle of partnership over charity- ensuring continuity of income flow rather than one-off support enabling community members to conduct business within the resort premises at no additional cost, creating shared value. | https://www.luxresorts.com/en/zanzibar/hotel/luxmarijani | ||
| Local Economic Benefit | 2026 | Silver | Africa | Egypt, Morocco & Tunisia | TUI Care Foundation, Futureshapers North Africa | TUI Futureshapers North Africa is a regional entrepreneurship programme by the TUI Care Foundation, implemented in partnership with enpact Stiftung, that supports young entrepreneurs in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco to build sustainable tourism businesses. The programme provides technical assistance to more than 180 people and supports more than 30 jobs, with a focus on women and rural communities. By enabling locally-led businesses to grow, the initiative creates jobs, strengthens local value chains and ensures tourism delivers direct economic benefits to destination communities. | https://tuicarefoundation.com/projekt/tui-futureshapers-north-africa/ | ||
| Local Economic Benefit | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | Rwanda | Agro-Tourism Park, by Eco Terra Vista Tours Co. Ltd. | Agro-Tourism Park, by Eco Terra Vista Tours Co. Ltd., is a community-based social enterprise based on the southern shores of Lake Ruhondo. This initiative integrates smallholder farming, cultural heritage, and tourism to generate direct and sustained income for rural households that have historically been excluded from tourism value chains. The objective was simple: to: “ ensure that when tourists come to rural Rwanda, money stays in rural Rwanda to improve their living standards sustainably.” The judges were impressed by this “blend of tourism and rural empowerment”, which supports the local economy and promotes cultural exchanges. The judges were impressed by this grassroots initiative and hope to see it again in a few years’ time with more evidence of impact. | http://www.ecoterravista.com/ | ||
| Local Economy | 2013 | HC | Africa | Kenya | Basecamp Explorer Kenya, | ||||
| Local Sourcing, Craft and Food | 2023 | Gold | Africa | Eswatini | Ngwenya Glass | The judges were impressed by this outstanding craft enterprise which produces "Glassware with purpose, the GLASS is greener on our side." Ngwenya Glass re-purposes old bottles into handmade glass ornaments and tableware. They melt between 600kg and 1 ton of broken bottles daily, in a furnace burning an 85/15 blend of used cooking oil (mainly KFC) and paraffin. All the craft products are mouth-blown or hand sculpted by talented Swazi artisans producing 1500 pieces daily. Fifty-nine employees turn waste glass into "products with a purpose" sold on seven continents. Assessed against the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's measuring tool for a Circular Economy, Ngwenya Glass scored A-, way above the average C. Solar panels provide electricity when the sun shines and use harvested rainwater and recycled paper in their production and packaging. Ngwenya Glass attracts 50 000 international tourists on guided tours yearly. They accommodate 13 other boutique shops in their indigenous garden, all selling locally produced art and craft, including artisanal chocolate and gin shops. In 2007 Ngwenya Glass started collaborating with other Swazi handcraft producers, also involved in tourism in the Kingdom, resulting in the eSwatini Fair Trade (SWIFT). Ngwenya Glass regularly hosts a design workshop, inviting designers and glassblowers from Europe and South Africa to ensure they stay ahead of the world's design trends and remain a leader in the Southern African art glass community. They also raise considerable sums for local charities each year. | www.ngwenyaglass.co.sz | ||
| Local Sourcing, Craft and Food | 2023 | Gold | Africa | Mauritius | Mauritius | Last year Mauritius was recognised in the 'Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid" category. This year the judges wanted to recognise Mauritius for its work in developing sustainable craft. The Tourism Authority, as the regulator of the tourism sector, has taken responsibility for assisting tourism operators in adopting inclusive tourism principles, supporting local SMEs, sourcing local crafts, and promoting regenerative agriculture. Their vision is to make local sourcing and products labelled Made in Moris the first choice for locals and tourists alike, while shopping and looking out for gifts and souvenirs. Funding from the European Union through the SWITCH Africa Green Programme enabled the development and publication of a Creative Guidebook and Toolbox for SMEs, entrepreneurs, artisans and designers that produce products in Mauritius and for companies that want to sell locally made goods, whether in their business, to tourists of for their own consumption. They use the footprint to describe negative impacts and the handprint to describe the positive value-adding impacts of actions taken by businesses that contribute to local community prosperity, the conservation of culture and nature and authentic tourist experiences. | www.sus-island.com | ||
| Local Sourcing, Craft and Food | 2023 | Silver | Africa | Uganda | Artisans | Artisans is a social enterprise company registered in Uganda, empowering marginalised artisans, supported by Aid for Artisans. They work with local craft workers and food producers at Lake Bunyonyi and around Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Parks to raise the quality of their work and improve livelihoods. The judges wanted to recognise their development of Muhabura Cultural Experience and Craft Centre, which involves tourists directly in cultural experiences, including Batwa bushmen trails, coffee roasting agri-tours and community walks followed by opportunities to purchase craft: handcrafted raffia baskets, papyrus woven mats, gorilla walking sticks, carvings, weaving and table placemats. Artisans promotes mountain gorilla conservation by creating economic options for 400 people who would otherwise be involved in illegal hunting. | https://www.muhaburaculturalexperienceandcraftcentre.com/ | ||
| Making Tourism Inclusive | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | Kenya | Bontel Adventures | Bontel Adventures told us about their impressive plans to offer inclusive travel experiences, designing “tour packages with inclusivity in mind, considering the diverse needs and preferences of our travellers”. They are collaborating with advocacy groups to provide training and sensitivity programmes; “staff undergo extensive training and sensitivity programs to ensure that they are equipped to assist travellers with diverse needs and backgrounds. This includes training on disability awareness, cultural sensitivity, and providing assistance with respect and empathy.” The judges hope to see a further entry in a couple of years’ time with some impact evidence | www.bonteladventures.com | ||
| Making Tourism Inclusive | 2024 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Warrior on Wheels Foundation | Warrior on Wheels provides sport and adventure experiences for children with disabilities, uplifting and empowering them and “changing perceptions of ability and bridging gaps between able-bodied and differently-abled communities.” It is a registered not-for-profit reliant on sponsorships, volunteers, and partnerships with adventure hosts to provide regular adventures, experiences, and outings to differently-abled children and their families. These have included zip lining, river rafting, cycling, surfing, wildlife safaris, boat cruises, helicopter and plane rides. “As at the start of 2024, Warrior On Wheels is 8 years old, we have 100+ families on our invitation mailing list, and we have hosted 89+ experiences with an average of 12 to 15 families attending each event.” | www.warrioronwheels.co.za | ||
| Managing Waste | 2025 | Silver | Africa | São Tomé and Príncipe | HBD Príncipe | HBD Príncipe operates with a clear vision of environmental responsibility on the island of Príncipe. Its ten-person waste management team leads a range of community and business-focused initiatives that reduce landfill and support reuse and recycling. The company has developed innovative programmes including “cans for schoolbooks,” “plastic for cardboard cakes” (eco-friendly charcoal), and upcycling waste into items like jewellery, bowls, and furniture. Recycled glass is used in construction, replacing mined sand and reducing extraction. These solutions benefit both the environment and the economy by engaging local communities and artisans in sustainable enterprise. HBD also works closely with schools, integrating waste education and clean-up campaigns into the curriculum to foster a culture of environmental care from an early age. Judges noted the company’s practical, place-based solutions and the depth of its long-term commitment to island sustainability. Its holistic approach demonstrates how waste can become a resource and a catalyst for community pride. | https://www.hbdprincipe.com/ | ||
| Marine Environment | 2009 | HC | Africa | Egypt | Camel Dive Club and Hotel, | ||||
| Marine Environment | 2008 | HC | Africa | Egypt | blue o two | ||||
| Marine Environment | 2006 | HC | Africa | Egypt | Basata Ecolodge | ||||
| Marine Environment | 2004 | Gold | Africa | Zanzibar | Chumbe Island Coral Park | Chumbe Island, near Zanzibar has funded a number of outstanding conservation and social programmes from tourism revenues. | |||
| Meaningful Connections | 2023 | Silver | Africa | Botswana | Happy Soul Adventures | As Happy Soul Adventures say on their website, "Africa isn't only safari, people need to visit Africa and connect with the real people. We don't want you to feel like a tourist, we want you to feel like a true local connecting with long-lost friends." They offer meaningful experiences. "Stay with locals in their homesteads, go dancing and singing in local pubs with the locals, go cycling in villages, immerse yourself in their daily way of living and feel like a true local. Visit community projects, learn their crafts and support their local businesses." In November 2018, they launched Mmamontle, which offers shelf space on a monthly rental basis where local producers can sell their own products at their own retail price. 80% of the products sold in the store are locally produced and owned by local entrepreneurs. | www.happysouladventures.agency | ||
| Meaningful Connections | 2023 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Uthando | They opened their entry with a bold statement of their purpose. "Uthando means Love, and through our experiences of connecting people, we aim to spread seeds of love, kindness and understanding. We strive to be an example of inspirational travel that connects visitors with communities in an authentic and culturally sensitive way that leaves a lasting positive impact for visitors and locals alike." Since 2008, Uthando has been provided "respectful, life-changing Philanthropic Educational Excursions around Cape Town." They have enabled thousands of Uthando guests annually to experience South Africa's unique spirit of Ubuntu 'I am because we are.' Uthando creates links between tourism and community development projects by facilitating group visits to development projects. Some visitors become regular donors. For example, a Dutch family that went on an Uthando Excursion in 2009 assisted Uthando in financing the construction of 6 high-quality Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD). The most recent ECD was built from 1700 tyres, plastic bottles, and film set waste bricks, making it the most unique ECD in South Africa. In 2021 Uthando allocated R4 992 060 (280, 529 USD) to community projects in 2021 and R4 458 833 (250,565 USD) in 2022 | https://www.uthandosa.org/ | ||
| Mountain Environment | 2010 | HC | Africa | Morocco | Kasbah du Toubkal | ||||
| Mountain Environment | 2009 | HC | Africa | Kenya | Wilderness Journeys | ||||
| Mountain Environment | 2004 | Gold | Africa | Morocco | Kasbah du Toubkal | A mountain accommodation situated in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco , Kasbah de Toubkal has forged an extraordinary partnership between the Berber community and Discover Ltd, leading to the sensitive development of tourism and extensive benefits to the local community. | |||
| Nature Positive | 2026 | Gold | Africa | Zimbabwe | Ele Collection | Ele Collection exists to protect a tourism region by removing pollution, reducing extractive pressure on nature, and implementing a system that both mitigates tourism-related environmental harm and actively protects and replenishes the natural environment by turning waste into long-term infrastructure value. Its community-based collection network pays informal waste collectors above standard informal rates, providing a stable income while incentivising the removal of plastic from sensitive ecological areas. Ele Collection removes plastic waste from the environment and transforms it into construction-grade aggregate used in roads, paving, and building materials. It partners with hotels, lodges, safari operators, tour companies and local authorities to remove plastic waste from the environment. The plastic is collected through community collectors, clean-up initiatives, and tourism partnerships. Collected plastic is shredded and processed into a building aggregate called Plazrok. This material partially replaces quarry stone and river sand in construction, reducing pressure on natural extraction systems while providing a durable, circular solution. Through factory tours and presentations for tourists, schools, and travel companies, Ele Collection educates visitors about the impact of plastic pollution on wildlife and ecosystems. These engagements promote meaningful, harm-free encounters with nature by encouraging responsible behaviour and demonstrating practical conservation solutions. Tourism partners use its impact data to communicate their conservation contributions transparently to guests and stakeholders. | https://elecollection.co/ | ||
| Nature Positive | 2026 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Graskop Gorge Lift Company | Graskop Gorge Lift Co (GGLC) operates a specialised nature-based tourism facility on the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga. The primary infrastructure consists of a 51-metre glass-fronted elevator and a 1000-metre circular network of elevated timber boardwalks. This system was specifically engineered to provide ‘zero-impact’ access to a sensitive forest floor that was previously degrading due to unmanaged human encroachment. The facility serves as an outdoor classroom, utilising interpretive signage and guided experiences to translate complex ecological processes for a general audience. The GGLC protects a significant range of ‘Red Data’ species, including the critically endangered Graskop cliff aloe (Aloe nubigena), which has a highly restricted range and finds its primary refuge there. Before intervention, the gorge was a ‘tragedy of the commons’, vulnerable to illegal plant harvesting, wood collection and opportunistic poaching. Informal scramble paths caused soil erosion, siltation of the gorge stream and destruction of delicate understory micro-habitat boundaries. GGLC prioritises hyperlocal sourcing. 90% of its workforce is from the immediate Graskop community, and 64% of procurement spend is within a 100km radius. | http://www.gglc.co.za/ | ||
| Nature Positive | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | Southern Africa | Spekboom | The judges were excited to see this innovative approach to raising money for conservation and hope to see it grow and be replicated. When a guest books through Spekboom, the payment is split transparently: 87.5% goes directly to the host, 2.5% goes to a vetted conservation or community cause linked to that property, and 10% sustains the platform. This conservation fee is not optional or an add-on. It is built into the payment infrastructure through automated split payments. There is no extra cost to the guest; the contribution is embedded in the booking price. Spekboom has generated approximately R20,000 in direct conservation contributions through the 2.5% automated fee since launch. While this figure is modest in absolute terms, it represents proof of concept for the funding model: every rand was generated automatically, without any guest opting in, without any host making a separate decision to contribute, and without any administrative overhead for the conservation organisation receiving it. | https://www.spekboom.org/ | ||
| Nature Positive | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | Cape Verde | TUI Turtle Aid and Project Diversity | TUI Turtle Aid Cape Verde protects endangered loggerhead turtles and their nesting habitats on the island of Sal through monitoring, nest protection, research and community engagement. Implemented with local partner Project Biodiversity, the initiative combines beach patrols, drone surveillance and nest relocation to safeguard turtles from threats such as poaching, habitat loss, coastal development and disturbance from tourism. The project also works with tourism businesses to reduce environmental impacts through a turtle friendly certification scheme and awareness training for staff and visitors. Alongside conservation action, outreach activities including school workshops, radio programmes and beach clean-ups educate residents and tourists about marine protection. The project has protected more than1.2 million hatchlings and adult sea turtles through coordinated beach monitoring, nest relocation and drone surveillance of nesting sites. 883,396 hatchlings were protected in the first phase of the project (2017-2022) and 306,475 hatchlings on the recently completed second phase (2023-2025). These figures are based on monitoring data collected during patrols and hatchery records maintained by the implementing partner. By preventing nest disturbance, deterring poaching and relocating vulnerable nests to protected areas, the project has directly increased hatchling survival rates and safeguarded one of the world’s most important loggerhead turtle populations. Project | https://tuicarefoundation.com/projekt/tui-turtle-aid-cabo-verde/ | ||
| Biodiversity – Sea Turtle Conservation Cabo Verde" | |||||||||
| Nature Positive | 2025 | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Emboo Safari Camp | Located in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, Emboo Safari Camp is a sustainability leader, running entirely on solar power and recycling all waste. It was the first camp in East Africa to use electric safari vehicles, which not only reduce emissions but also enhance the wildlife experience through quieter, more immersive encounters. Emboo partners with the Mara Elephant Project to support research and protection efforts, while also restoring degraded land through reforestation and soil conservation. Walking safaris are offered as a low-impact alternative, enabling guests to connect with the landscape in a responsible and respectful way. The camp prioritises hiring from the local Maasai community, with 50 staff members benefiting from training, fair pay, and career development. Emboo targets a younger, environmentally conscious traveller and shows that responsible tourism can also be stylish, adventurous, and comfortable. Judges appreciated the camp’s integration of conservation, community, and innovation in a single compelling guest experience. | https://www.emboo.com/ | ||
| Nature Positive | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | São Tomé and Príncipe | HBD Príncipe | HBD Principe is an ecotourism and agroforestry group that has protected 1,041 hectares from becoming palm oil plantations since 2010. These hectares are now used for conservation, two boutique hotels (Sundy Praia and Roça Sundy), organic agroforestry, and organic horticulture. The judges hope to see a further application for recognition with evidence of conservation impact, which, of course, takes time. | www.hbdprincipe.com | ||
| Nature Positive | 2024 | Gold | Africa | Seychelles | Denis Private Island | At the heart of this island destination is a sustained regeneration project; the conservation initiatives are funded by earnings from the small eco-lodge on the island. Palm trees and copra plantations are being removed. Natural vegetation has been restored, non-native predators have been removed, three critically endangered bird species have been reintroduced, and the sea around the island has been recognized as a marine protected area. “The island's owners are proud Seychellois and passionate conservationists. They want to recreate and preserve an island reminiscent of the Seychelles of their youth and help secure the future of critically endangered species of Seychelles wildlife | www.denisisland.com | ||
| Nature Positive | 2024 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | ! Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre | This San heritage and education centre was established in 1999 at Grootwater, then a degraded wheat and sheep farm in the endangered Fynbos. The San restored the land so that it could be used to share the traditional San hunter-gatherer culture, removing invasive species and reintroducing Eland, an important species to the San culture, and a few other species. Nature took its course, and regeneration followed. More recently, they have developed a “Food from our Ancestors” initiative. Archaeologists have revealed that San ancestors foraged plants, animals, and seafood along the West Coast for thousands of years before being displaced by farmers about 370 years ago. The “sustainable use of biodiversity in !Khwa ttu’s WILD Food restaurant menu supports the restoration of climate-resilient biodiversity, which addresses habitat fragmentation and degradation, thereby helping to address climate change, develop a conservation economy and support livelihoods to increase resilience. | www.khwattu.org/ | ||
| Nature Positive | 2024 | One to Watch | Africa | South Africa | Plett Ocean | The judges were intrigued by the way in which marine science and conservation activity, including citizen science, has been woven into a festival of marine activities and excursions, including beach clean ups. This is clearly a replicable approach. 2024 will see the third Plettenberg Bay Ocean Festival and Marine Science Symposium, the judges hope that they will see a further entry for recognition with more evidence of the nature positive impact, which will take time. | www.plettoceanfestival.co.za | ||
| Nature-Positive Tourism | 2023 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Wildlife Act | Under the Wildlife ACT banner sits two operations: a tour operator recruiting ecotourists to join the monitoring work done by the other arm - a registered non-profit Trust that does the actual conservation work on the ground. The Trust also fundraises, applies for grants and has merchandising agreements to fund its conservation work. Wildlife ACT's wildlife volunteer programme is Fair Trade Tourism certified and has welcomed 7,364 volunteers to date. Wildlife ACT specialise in the safe capture, transportation and reintroduction of endangered species into new areas. This requires intensive post-release monitoring. They have assisted WWF South Africa in reintroducing over 200 endangered Black Rhino as part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. Their conservation volunteers, up to 500 a year, “get far more than the typical eco-tourism experience by playing an active role in genuine conservation. Activities include daily wildlife monitoring (including training in using equipment), rescuing and treating animals caught in snares, translocating animals to other reserves when necessary and essential data collection to inform management decisions, fighting against wildlife poaching, education and awareness of conservation in Africa and providing the means to support it while getting actively involved. Too often, the interests of communities living adjacent to areas conserved for wildlife are ignored. To help address these issues, Wildlife ACT has initiated Community Conservation Projects around four game reserves in Zululand where endangered species need protection. This work involves in-school conservation lessons, a Kid’s Bush Camp program, adult conservation seminars, Wildlife Ambassador Clubs and community game drives, much of it focused on Rhino Conservation. Their Human-Wildlife Coexistence Programme (HWCP) reacts rapidly to assist when human-wildlife conflicts arise. | www.wildlifeact.com | ||
| Nature-Positive Tourism | 2023 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Birdlife | BirdLife South Africa's Avitourism runs with a donor-funded organisation and does not need to make a profit. They can work to have a catalytic effect. Their BirdLife South Africa initiative has trained over 200 people from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities to be professional bird guides. At Ingula Nature Reserve, where BirdLife South Africa has a management agreement with Eskom, pristine grassland sections of the reserve. They have trained guides in this area to service the tourism demand. Tourism justifies keeping the land invested in conservation. Across South Africa, the guides have become conservation ambassadors, passing on their knowledge to young people and inspiring greater awareness and appreciation of the environment in communities that live adjacent to and inside important conservation areas | www.birdlife.org.za | ||
| Nature-Positive Tourism | 2023 | One to Watch | Africa | South Africa | Cape Vultures | Founded only in 2020 the judges were excited to see this new not-for-profit, privately funded initiative to conserve this unloved species. Cape Vultures is dedicated to the conservation of more than 728 breeding pairs of Cape vultures nesting on the cliffs of the Northern Drakensberg Escarpment that towers above. Cape Vulture Lodge has been developed to support the conservation of our local environment, education of our local community and employment within the local economy.They are removing alien species, employ 150 people and have reduced poaching by employing and training eight local men who now run anti-poaching across the 1800 hectares. 'One to Watch' because we expect to see it grow and prosper and hope that there will be a further application in a couple of years | www.capevulturelodge.co.za | ||
| Neighbours and Employees | 2020 | Highly Commended | Africa | South Africa | Grootbos Private Nature Reserve | The luxury eco-reserve lodge reinvented their early learning space as a feeding scheme hub helping to feed between 1,800 to 2,500 people per day; and also supported local seamstress entrepreneurs to provide over 10,000 washable cloth masks for the community. | https://www.grootbos.com/en | ||
| Neighbours and Employees | 2020 | Highly Commended | Africa | South Africa | Uthando | Uthando provided emergency relief support and assistance to 35 community development projects in South Africa, raising £100k to provide daily meals to thousands of locals. | https://www.uthandosa.org/ | ||
| Neighbours and Employees | 2020 | Commended | Africa | South Africa | Bulungula Lodge | https://www.bulungula.com/ | |||
| Neighbours and Employees | 2020 | Commended | Africa | South Africa | Coffee Shack | https://www.coffeeshack.co.za/ | |||
| Neighbours and Employees | 2020 | Commended | Africa | South Africa | Radisson RED V&A Waterfront | https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-red-cape-town-va-waterfront | |||
| Neighbours and Employees | 2020 | Commended | Africa | South Africa | Wilderness Safaris | https://wilderness-safaris.com/ | |||
| Operator for People with Disabilities | 2016 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | ATKV Goudini Spa | The judges recognised that ATKV Goudini Spa sets a good example of creating an accessible leisure environment not only for people with mobility limitations, but also people who are blind and deaf. The resort’s relationship with the disabled community is admirable. And the affordability of the product is especially important for a people who are burdened by significant financial constraints. | |||
| Operator for People with Disabilities | 2016 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Flamingo Tours | Flamingo Tours caters for a wide spectrum of functional limitations, and like ATKV Goudini Spa, is very committed to run an operation that does not harm the environment. | |||
| Partnership for Poverty Reduction | 2017 | Silver | Africa | Kenya | Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge | A partnership with Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, International Labour Organisation, African Pro-Poor Tourism Development Centre, and Tech for Trade has given a new lease on life for the women of Kimana’s Women’s Group. This group of HIV+ infected and socially affected small-scale women farmers has become the main supplier of fresh vegetables and herbs to the lodge. Ownership of their own land, working capital to bridge credit periods and strengthened business skills and quality assurance ensure consistency and quality of supply, and have won the women additional clients. Serena Hotels plan to replicate this supply chain model in Tsavo and Mara Parks, which will expand the empowering benefits of long-run income, food security and improved health and nutrition to more households. | |||
| Partnership for Poverty Reduction | 2017 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Isibindi African Lodges | The judges were looking for true partnerships that truly whittle away poverty in local areas. At Isibindi Africa Lodges, partnerships extend way beyond run-of-the-mill charitable giving (although there is plenty of that too). Rental for community-owned land and tourism lodges, employment of local people, purchases of vegetables, crafts, and laundry and recycling services from local small producers, create sustainable income for four communities and hundreds of people in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. To widen the spread of the benefits of tourism, Isibindi recently launched a special mechanism ITHUBA (“opportunity”) – a dedicated community engagement programme – to establish greater partnerships with communities and replace individual lodge efforts with a structure that allows resource sharing. Next up, a training facility focussing on lodge hospitality offering internships and a career path at Isibindi lodges for successful graduates | |||
| Peace, Understanding & Inclusion | 2025 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Township & Village | Township & Village (T&V) creates community-based tourism experiences around Stellenbosch that encourage guests to explore local culture, history, and life through immersive guided tours. By working with local entrepreneurs and guides, the organisation delivers enriching encounters that build mutual respect and understanding. Since its launch in 2023, T&V has welcomed over 2,500 visitors and supported more than 40 local tourism providers, including guides, artisans, and home-based businesses. Its mission is to challenge stereotypes and bridge social divides through human connection. Post-tour surveys show 87% of guests gained deeper insight into South African history and 98% found the experience “deeply meaningful,” demonstrating the project’s impact. Judges highlighted T&V’s role in promoting dignity and inclusivity while creating economic opportunities for historically marginalised communities. By centring local voices and storytelling, T&V offers a model for tourism that fosters empathy and real engagement with the cultural diversity of South Africa. | https://townshipandvillage.co.za/ | ||
| People's Choice | 2016 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Marine Dynamics | Voted for entirely by the public, the People’s Choice in Responsible Tourism Award allows members of the public to vote for the most inspiring category winner from 2015. Winner Marine Dynamics provide very high quality shark cage diving experiences. They are industry leaders, a commercial operation which operates to the highest conservation standards, where every trip has a marine biologist aboard to provide interpretation and collect data for scientific research. An operator that makes a significant contribution to conservation and the local economy. | |||
| Personal Contribution | 2007 | HC | Africa | Namibia | Charlotte Shigwedha, Mondesa Township Tours | ||||
| Personal Contribution | 2005 | Gold | Africa | Zambia | Jo Pope, Robin Pope Safaris | Jo has worked tirelessly to promote responsible tourism in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, in particular to support the local community and Kawaza village. | |||
| Personal Contribution | 2004 | Gold | Africa | The Gambia | Adama Bah | Adama has worked for 20 years bringing together different stakeholder groups in the Gambia to work together to increase the benefits of tourism to local people and the environment. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Botswana | Chitabe Camp | Chitabe Camp in the Okavango Delta was recognised for its commitment to raising the living standards of their employees to ensure that their whole family is raised out of poverty through higher than inflation annual salary increases, annual school education donations and generous profit share pay outs. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Ethiopia | Simien Lodge, | The Simien Lodge in the remote Simien Mountains National Park of Ethiopia has adopted a broad approach to addressing poverty by improving livelihood standards and education, by encouraging creativity in sports and contributing to the conservation of cultural and natural heritage, consistently addressing local issues identified by the community. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2016 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | !Xaus Lodge, | The judges were particularly pleased to see so many worthy entries on the longlist for this category, as in the World Awards, competition is tough. More and more businesses understand the importance of using tourism to address poverty, in the Awards more emphasis is now being placed on the evidence which businesses can provide of their positive impacts. The Gold Award went to !Xaus Lodge a community-owned, commercially managed lodge in the South African part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The judges were particularly impressed by both the scale of the contribution and the transparent quantification of the economic and social benefits flowing to the economically poor and marginalized communities of the Khomani San and Mier from their lodge. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2016 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Sani Lodge & Drakensberg Adventures | Sani Lodge Backpackers and Drakensberg Adventures has made a major contribution to local livelihoods and poverty reduction over many years and by involving Basotho stakeholders created opportunities for communities to proudly showcase their unique cultural practices, engaging with guests in an authentic manner, thereby earning their respect. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2015 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Grootbos Private Nature Reserve | Grootbos is no stranger to winning Responsible Tourism Awards. What stands out is the long history of interventions that amplify each other. The programmes of the Grootbos Foundation focus on improved livelihoods through self-reliance, development of viable enterprise development, gender balance and empowerment of women. Impacts are well quantified and information about projects easily accessible to the willing reader. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2015 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Transfrontier Parks Destinations | The scale and ambition of the Transfrontier Parks Destination’s work is truly remarkable. To actively seek out failing tourism businesses in areas of very high unemployment is very admirable but to them turn them round into viable businesses again employing many locals on a living wage giving them long term stability and income displays true leadership. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2015 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Stormsriver Adventures | ||||
| Poverty Reduction | 2014 | Silver | Africa | Kenya | Lewa Wildlife Conservancy | Wildlife conservation isn't always synonymous with poverty reduction in tourism, at least not in tourists' eyes, whose focus is more on the preservation of wildlife than lifestyles. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is already famous for its fine wildlife conservation work, but the achievements with regards to poverty are also worthy of note. Originally a cattle ranch, it was turned into a wildlife area, and then a conservancy, which means that funds raised from tourism are reinvested directly back into conservation and development projects. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2014 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Mdumbi Backpackers | Mdumbi Backpackers in South Africa's Eastern Cape is a small accommodation with 36 beds, which has been thriving since it opened eleven years ago. Committed to the creation of and integration with small local businesses such as laundries and bakeries, Mdumbi Backpackers puts people and poverty alleviation before profits. Consequently, the owners are on the same pay scale as their staff, five of whom have 30% of the shares, and all shareholders agreed to give 10% of the profits to a community body. Also, as tourism leaders in the area, they work closely with the community as a whole to highlight how important tourism can be to their region, to create a pride of place, and facilitate the creation of other community run tourism projects. Mdumbi is exemplary as a form of tourism that is outward looking and forward thinking, generous in its community support and always playing a pedagogical role when it comes to helping others make their mark in tourism. Just as they have. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2012 | HC | Africa | Kenya | The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille | ||||
| Poverty Reduction | 2011 | overall | Gold | Africa | Zambia & Malawi | Robin Pope Safaris | Robin Pope Safaris' 20 year record of remarkable work with local communities in Zambia is a standard for tourism organisations to aspire to. 20 years of commitment to grass roots sustainable community development, like the successful Kawaza Village Tourism Project in Zambia, have distinguished Robin Pope Safaris as a pioneer in responsible tourism. Their contribution to local livelihoods in South Luangwa through education and business development has established an inspiring model that even now is being rolled out to Malawi, with the promise of similar laudable effect. | ||
| Poverty Reduction | 2009 | HC | Africa | Kenya | Tribal Voice Communications, | ||||
| Poverty Reduction | 2009 | HC | Africa | Kenya | Rekero | ||||
| Poverty Reduction | 2009 | Gold | Africa | Mozambique | Guludo Beach Lodge | The work of Guludo Beach Lodge, through their charitable foundation ‘Nema’ has had an unprecedented and undeniably positive impact on the immediate community, working towards major improvements in children’s health care and education conditions. Their portfolio of projects in the local area is exhaustive, having improved school attendance by 350 per cent, providing access to safe drinking water for 15,000 people, supplying over 10,000 women and children with mosquito-nets, and working closely with the local community for the sustainable continuation of their projects by providing water committee training, hygiene and sanitation workshops and much more. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2008 | Gold | Africa | The Gambia | Gambia is Good Project, | For demonstrating that it is possible for local farmers, 1,000 growers, 90% of them women, to produce 20 tonnes of vegetables and fruit in the tourism season to supply the tourism hotels and make a real contribution to the reduction of poverty in The Gambia – this is a local project of international significance. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2007 | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Borana | For making a sustainable contribution to the alleviation of poverty through generating employment, improving school facilities, funding a mobile clinic which reaches thousands of people and for innovative initiatives like “Hide and Sheep” which adds value to local products for the benefit of the economically poor. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2007 | HC | Africa | Mozambique | Guludo Beach Lodge, | ||||
| Poverty Reduction | 2006 | overall | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Ol Malo Lodge & Trust | This eco-lodge and charitable trust is situated in the deserts of Samburuland in Northern Kenya, on what was an overgrazed cattle ranch. Their key achievement to date is the establishment of The Ol Malo Eye Project which focuses upon the eradication of Trachoma - a cause of painful blindness in over 80% of adults over 30 – from the Ol Malo area. This is an infectious and preventable disease, the root of which is poverty. They value most highly of all their interaction with the community through the women and children who come to Ol Malo to produce beadwork and paintings. This a chance for Ol Malo to see if they are achieving their aim for the community: to contribute to the preservation of the Samburu people in such a way that the Samburus are independent, strong and empowered to live their lives in the way that they strongly desire and choose. | ||
| Poverty Reduction | 2006 | HC | Africa | Mozambique | Guludo Beach Lodge, | ||||
| Poverty Reduction | 2005 | Gold | Africa | The Gambia | ASSETT | Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET), has increased the income of poor Gambians by enabling them to become more productively involved in the tourism industry. | |||
| Poverty Reduction | 2004 | overall | Gold | Africa | South Africa | The Calabash Trust | Calabash Trust and Tours - township tours in Port Elizabeth South Africa - are a shining example of how tourism can benefit the poor. | ||
| Poverty Reduction | 2004 | HC | Africa | The Gambia | Makasutu Cultural Forest | ||||
| poverty reduction and inclusion | 2016 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | !Xaus Lodge | An oasis in the Kalahari Desert, this small lodge is located inside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa's Northern Cape. The original idea back in 2002 was for it to be shared, as part of a land claim settlement, between the Mier and ‡Khomani San communities giving them access to their ancestral lands. However, historical conflict between these two groups meant that managing a lodge together was never going to be an easy ride. The good news is, however, that time heals. And tourism does too. | |||
| Protected Area/National Park | 2006 | HC | Africa | Namibia | Damaraland Camp - Wilderness Safaris | ||||
| Protected Area/National Park | 2005 | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Basecamp Mara, Kenya | Selected for its contribution to conservation and local communities, but in particular for the Maasai arts and crafts project empowering disadvantaged local Masai women to produce and sell traditional designs and materials | |||
| Public Policy & Support | 2016 | one | Africa | Morocco | Ministry of Tourism | The Ministry of Tourism has secured support from other government departments, local authorities and the private sector for its Vision 2020. Based on a multi-stakeholder process, using UNEP’s Sustainable Consumption and Production approach, the Ministry of Tourism has taken the lead and created the policy framework – it remains to be seen how the industry responds. | |||
| Public Policy & Support | 2016 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | National Department of Tourism, | It is 20 years since the new post-apartheid government in South Africa adopted responsible tourism as a fundamental part of its national tourism strategy recognising that tourism has a responsibility to make a significant contribution to making South Africa a better place to live in and uplifting the quality of life, particularly of the disadvantaged and economically poor. This was recognised in the Cape Town Declaration of 2002 which launched the Responsible Tourism movement internationally. This Public Sector Policy category was designed to focus attention on those government agencies which have adopted clear policy frameworks to encourage tourism businesses to take more responsibility – we placed less emphasis on “support” because tourism businesses too often look for financial incentives or subsidies. In a period when, internationally, governments generally have been reluctant to regulate, progress in securing private sector engagement and compliance has been slow although some businesses have contributed a great deal, many have failed to respond to the challenge. The National Department of Tourism in South Africa won Gold for its steadfast commitment over 20 years to the principles of the 1996 white paper, the legislative and policy work and support programmes which have flowed from it, including the Responsible Tourism Standard, Tourism Incentive Programme and the adoption and application of Responsible Tourism principles by provinces and cities and by agencies like SANParks. | |||
| Public Policy & Support | 2016 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | City of Cape Town | The 1st International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations took place in Cape Town in 2002 and there have been many initiatives to encourage businesses to respond to the social, economic and environmental challenges experienced in the City. | |||
| Reducing Plastic Waste in the Environment | 2022 | Gold | Africa | Africa | Asilia | Operating safaris in Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar through 17 camps and lodges since 2016 Asilia uses stainless steel water bottles. They were early partners of Zanrec in introducing sustainable waste-management and played a part in encouraging 100 other hotels and guesthouses on the east coast of Zanzibar to partner with them and recycle their waste responsibly. In 2020 at Sayari, in the Serengeti, they launched a solar powered micro-brewery using reverse osmosis purified water from a borehole on site. On site they produce beer, soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade, and an elderflower tonic, and sparkling water - all using solar power. They no longer purchase plastic and glass bottles and cans for the camp and save carbon emissions transporting drinks to the lodge. They also supply other camps in the Serengeti and TANAPA staff. Water is transported twice a month from Sayari to the other camps in 1000 litre tanks and 20 litre recycled reusable bottles. TANAPA collects the water as and when they need it. This has resulted in a 45% reduction in plastic waste in the three pre-pandemic years. They hope that the guest experience of recycling and not using plastic water bottles will encourage their guests to take the practice home with them. | www.asiliaafrica.com | ||
| Reducing Plastic Waste in the Environment | 2022 | Silver | Africa | Tanzania & Uganda | Lemala Camps and Lodges | Operating in Tanzania and Uganda Lemala Camps and Lodges removes plastic bottles from inside the national parks and conservation areas and converts them to school desks. They supply plastic waste bins made from recycled plastic and collect waste plastic, each full bin contains enough waste (10-15kg of plastic) to make one school desk and two chairs. Lemala upcycled 7.6 tonnes of plastic bottles to make the main area flooring for Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp. Lemala provides their guests with reusable aluminium and 100% biodegradable lunch boxes, where all contents and packaging is plastic free made from banana leaves. By using a 100,000L reverse osmosis water system Lemala saves $15,000 and ~300,000 plastic bottles. | www.lemalacamp.com | ||
| Reducing Plastic Waste in the Environment | 2021 | One to Watch | Africa | South Africa | Marine Dynamics | Marine Dynamics have long organised beach clean-ups and installed fishing line bins. Most recently, the organisation has worked with the municipality to design and develop a stormwater drain net which was installed over a storm drain in Gansbaai to prevent plastic from entering the ocean. Stencils were placed on the drains in town with a message of "Don't Litter. The Sea Starts Here." Marine Dynamics has analysed the "waste catch" in the nets, 141.55 kg to date, and discovered that cigarette butts are the largest pollutant by number and plastic bags were the largest pollutant by weight. | https://marinedynamics.org/ | ||
| Regenerative Tourism | 2026 | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Saruni Basecamp | Saruni Basecamp’s ambition is “through community conservancies … To create a healthy ecosystem where business, biodiversity and humanity live in harmony.” It sees itself as “custodians of what we call the ‘web of life’: land, people, wildlife, flora, fauna are not separate entities, but co-existing pieces of the same puzzle.” The impact of its work on environmental conservation and socioeconomic empowerment is considerable: “Overall, Saruni Basecamp’s projects have generated over $1.5 million for communities, benefiting 6,605 landowners and conserving 414,232 hectares of land.” Saruni Basecamp runs 13 low-impact camps working in partnership with indigenous Maasai and Samburu landowners who remain custodians of their land, using tourism revenue to secure large, connected landscapes for wildlife while strengthening local livelihoods. Through long-term lease agreements and bed-night fees, tourism directly finances land conservation, enabling pastoral communities to keep their land intact rather than subdividing or converting it to agriculture. Regenerative food systems are integrated into camp operations through organic gardens and circular waste-to-food initiatives. 10 of the 13 camps now produce vegetables and herbs on site, reducing supply chain emissions and supporting soil health. A poultry project at Basecamp Maasai Mara, converts selected kitchen waste into feed, producing organic eggs while reducing food waste and external sourcing. Cultural heritage and women’s economic empowerment are supported by the Basecamp Maasai Brand, which provides market access for beadwork produced by 250 women and sold exclusively through camp gift shops, generating direct income from tourism. Saruni Basecamp has built a tourism model designed to regenerate both ecosystems and local livelihoods by changing how land is used, how tourism revenue flows, and how communities participate in conservation. Cumulatively, these actions and more have resulted in tourism driving the regeneration of: “ecological systems, strengthening community land stewardship, and building diversified, resilient local economies that depend on healthy landscapes rather than extractive land use.” | https://sarunibasecamp.com/ | ||
| Regenerative Tourism | 2026 | Gold | Africa | Namibia | RuralRevive | “RuralRevive Building a Desert Based Economy Initiative” is conceptualised and driven by the Wolwedans Foundation. Rural Revive, the AridEden Project in the Namib Desert, underpinned by a philosophy of balancing people, planet and profit, aims to build resilient, more sustainable and equitable tourism/ conservation economies based on five core pillars: commerce, community, conservation, culture and consciousness. Based around Maltahöhe, in southern Namibia, it is changing the way the tourism system operates, building locally owned systems that restore livelihoods, strengthen resilience, and reconnect tourism with the people and landscapes that sustain it. “Through climate-appropriate horticulture initiatives, we have developed greenhouses and irrigation systems, trained over 200 local farmers, strengthened food security, and enabled the supply of organic produce to tourism establishments. This reduces dependence on imported food, lowers transport-related emissions, and ensures that tourism spending benefits local producers.” Maltahöhe, with a population of 6,000, is a former economic hub that declined following the collapse of the karakul sheep industry and the increasing severity of droughts. Once a productive agricultural centre, it is now characterised by limited economic activity, youth outmigration, and growing dependency. Tourism was operating alongside the community rather than with it. How could tourism be restructured to actively contribute to local economic regeneration instead of reinforcing exclusion? What was needed was a regenerative approach that could rebuild local systems, restore dignity through work, and create a resilient, desert-based economy rooted in local participation. The need was identified through years of engagement with the Maltahöhe community, tourism operators, and development partners. Conversations with residents revealed shared priorities: jobs, skills, food security, and opportunities for youth and women. Engagement with tourism businesses revealed operational needs, such as laundry services, fresh produce, waste management, and transport, that could realistically be met locally if the right systems and skills were in place. This realignment between community needs and tourism demand formed the foundation of RuralRevive, designed to shift tourism from an extractive model to a regenerative one, in which value circulates locally and strengthens both people and place. | https://ruralrevive.com/ | ||
| Regenerative Tourism | 2026 | Silver | Africa | Zimbabwe | Imvelo Safari Lodges | Imvelo Safari Lodges recognises that for years, indigenous rural communities received very little direct benefit from Zimbabwe’s booming tourism industry. For the rural villager living next to an unfenced national park like Hwange, wildlife was by no means an attraction; elephants ate their crops and lions killed their livestock. Imvelo’s regenerative tourism model seeks to build harmonious relationships between people and wildlife in an area burdened by intense human-wildlife conflicts. Tourism camps have been strategically located to deter poachers, and Imvelo maintains and manages a chain of watering holes along Hwange’s 120km southern boundary to sustain thousands of animals, including huge herds of elephants, through the annual dry seasons. A regenerative approach has resulted from piecemeal efforts to “solve” the problems arising at the human/wildlife interface, sufficient to facilitate the successful reintroduction of four white rhinos. Imvelo is a small company with a big vision: “By embedding conservation and community benefit into its operations, Imvelo seeks to demonstrate that tourism can function as a regenerative system rather than a short-term extraction of value or distant by-stander.” https://www.hwangecommunityrhino.com/ | https://imvelosafarilodges.com/ | ||
| Regenerative Tourism | 2026 | Silver | Africa | Namibia | Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) | Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) works with communities across more than 2 million hectares of elephant landscape in Namibia’s northwest to reduce conflict while ensuring that elephants remain both ecologically viable and socially accepted. EHRA won a Gold Responsible Tourism Award in 2012 for the way it used international volunteers to strengthen water points so they can be used by both humans and elephants without getting damaged. Conflict arises when elephants damage water infrastructure while searching for water during drought periods. EHRA intervenes to protect water sources use solar lights to deter elephants and improve safety, uses GPS collaring and monitoring to enable early warning systems and digs water sources for elephants away from villages. Over the past decade, EHRA has invested more than NAD$13 million in coexistence infrastructure and mitigation measures, and in improving community preparedness. Reported human-elephant conflict incidents declined from 92 in 2023, to 50 in 2024, and 39 in 2025, with only 12 incidents recorded so far in 2026. No elephants were shot as ‘problem animals’ in 2025. EHRA has effectively intervened at the ecosystem level to enable elephants and people to coexist, “regenerating the relationship between people, wildlife and tourism by ensuring that elephants create tangible benefits for the communities who live alongside them.” | http://www.ehranamibia.org/ | ||
| Regenerative Tourism | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | Zambia & Malawi | Green Safaris | Green Safaris supported by the Green Safaris Foundation has committed to founding and supporting a multitude of projects and focuses, with an equal emphasis on education, sustainability, conservation, and sustainable community development. It won a Silver Responsible Tourism Award in 2025 in the climate change category and Gold in 2022 for decarbonising. Now more ambitious, its Mukuni Organic Farm is presented as a “model for regenerative agriculture, transforming 12.6 hectares of degraded land into a thriving, productive farm.” As reported on the Foundation website: “Although full sustainability has not yet been achieved, there is renewed momentum.” The ambitious regenerative approach uses cascading semi-permeable check dams in Mulendema Chiefdom, built across seasonal waterways to slow floodwater and allow infiltration into the groundwater table. Rather than diverting water, it restores natural hydrological function. The judges hope to see further applications as this new regenerative approach delivers ecosystem-level change. | http://www.greensafaris.com/ | ||
| Regenerative Tourism | 2026 | One to Watch | Africa | Tanzania | TUI Care Foundation, Field to Fork | The TUI Care Foundation currently runs its TUI Field to Fork programme across nine projects worldwide, supporting local farmers and producers through training in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, business development, and market access, while strengthening links with the tourism sector. By promoting local sourcing, climate-resilient food production, and community-led enterprises, the programme helps restore ecosystems, improve livelihoods, and ensure tourism contributes directly to resilient local food systems and inclusive economic development. The TUI Care Foundation plans to expand its regenerative tourism work by enhancing programmes that connect sustainable food systems, local livelihoods, and tourism value chains. Combining regenerative farming with cultural tourism and storytelling enables women not only to earn income but also to be recognised as leaders, hosts, and custodians of both land and culture. The judges look forward to seeing evidence of this approach’s impact in future applications. | https://tuicarefoundation.com/projekt/tui-field-to-fork-tanzania/ | ||
| Reporting on the Global Goals | 2018 | overall | Gold | Africa | Botswana | Wilderness Safaris, | The judges were impressed by the success of Wilderness Safaris in driving down the consumption of bottled water and the consequent savings in plastic waste and the greenhouse gas emissions which result from transporting bottled water. By measuring their use and reporting reductions year on year in their Annual Integrated Report they demonstrated how it is possible to report progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their robust approach to tackling the consumption of bottled water sets an example and challenges the industry to do far more. The industry needs to take much more vigorous action to reduce its water consumption; the resilience of individual businesses and the sector requires it.Wilderness demonstrated that active engagement with the SDGs is their business imperative. There is clear, credible evidence of the alignment between the company’s efforts and the relevant SDGs and specific targets. Performance is transparently reported. Target 12.6 under SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production encourages companies to adopt sustainability practices AND to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. As a company listed on both the Botswana and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, Wilderness Safaris is required to produce an Annual Integrated Report (AIR). The Global Reporting Initiative, widely recognized as best practice for triple bottom line reporting, guides the preparation of the Wilderness Safaris’ AIR. By identifying relevant SDGs and detailing how the business is working to contribute to them, the company goes beyond compliance requirements for listed companies. The quantification and reporting of performance against indicators is fundamental to the SDGs. Wilderness Safaris’ disclosure of progress against indicators for carbon emissions, water and waste usage and compliance with the Group Environmental Minimum Standards is exemplary. Furthermore, in addition to reporting on areas of good performance areas of weakness are also indicated. Wilderness Safaris’ commitment to gaining shareholder and stakeholder trust through transparency is noteworthy. The annual report and a consumer and guest-focused version (Sustainability Review) available on the website, and the Sustainability Review in all guest rooms | ||
| Resource Management | 2019 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company | Given its location in Table Mountain National Park and the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site, responsibly managing water and waste associated with more than 1 million visitors per year in a sensitive biosphere is a top priority for Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC). The business already had a multifaceted suite of measures to reduce waste and manage water consumption in place to support a silver win for Resource Management in the 2015 African Responsible Tourism Awards. These included low-flush toilets, compostable catering supplies that reduce both waste to landfill and water use, beverage dispensers instead of glass bottles or tins, recycling information and guidance for visitors, and responsible management of hazardous waste. Additional measures since 2015 range from an organic waste management system to waterless urinals and the introduction of hand-sanitiser as taps were closed off. Transporting all potable water and food products to the top of the mountain, and solid waste and waste water down by means of the cable car, is worthy of recognition. Reductions in per capita consumption of water or volumes of waste generated are typically most marked soon after the introduction of management measures. Given that most of the water and waste management innovations were introduced before 2015, the judges did not expect to see drastic reductions in per capita figures in recent years. However, maintaining reduced per person water consumption and waste levels over a five-year period is remarkable. The judges were convinced that enough supplementary work has been done and performance maintained since 2015 to warrant another win.. | |||
| Resource Management | 2015 | Gold | Africa | Botswana | Chobe Game Lodge, | Chobe Game Lodge is over 40 years old, to refurbish an old structure the size of this lodge, making it more eco-friendly is a mammoth and on-going task. The lodge has a long term approach to energy efficiency with the ultimate aim of reducing dependency on the grid. The most noticeable innovation is the use of all-electric game drive vehicles and electric game viewing boats. | |||
| Resource Management | 2015 | Silver | Africa | Namibia | Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp | ||||
| Resource Management | 2015 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, | ||||
| Resource Management | 2015 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | Vineyard Hotel, | ||||
| Resource Management | 2015 | Silver | Africa | The Gambia | Sandele Eco-Retreat and Learning Centre, | ||||
| Responsible Attraction | 2019 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Two Oceans Aquarium | It is rare to find an aquarium that exhibits ONLY species from its own geography and not rely on exotics to attract visitors. The Two Oceans Aquarium showcases the diversity of the oceans off southern Africa and raises awareness of threats to ocean life and responsible use of marine resources. Plastic in the ocean and sustainable seafood are key topics. Conservation and sustainability-oriented messaging is included in exhibit signage, daily talks, media platforms, and speaker evenings. As could be expected, the conservation and research of marine and coastal species is a major focus. A sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release programme, seal monitoring and disentanglement project in the Waterfront, and support for SANCCOB and Shark Spotters though donations of a portion of visitor fees, are but some of the related programmes. An environmental management system directs the operation of the attraction that draws 500 000 visitors per year. Performance against targets for water and energy consumption, waste production and carbon emissions are monitored and documented in annual sustainability reports. Performance is independently audited annually. Educational programmes about marine life, coastal habitats and sustainable living are not limited to the Aquarium building – three outreach programmes reach more than 35,000 children, mainly from disadvantaged areas, per year. Various environmental campaigns and activations and campaigns increase conservation awareness amongst the general public. These include beach clean-ups, Rethink the Bag and Home to Ocean campaign and participation in Plastic Free July. | |||
| Responsible Attraction | 2019 | One to Watch | Africa | South Africa | Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary | Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary provides sanctuary to rescued big cats and educates the public about the reality that animals in captivity face. Educational visits, volunteer and ambassador program, school outreach program, presentations to tourism sector stakeholders and social media are used to raise awareness and support ethical decisions about animal interactions. The Education Centre under development will add an additional dimension to the visitor experience that may well warrant an award once fully established. | |||
| Responsible Business | 2020 | Silver | Africa | Botswana | Chobe Game Lodge | Chobe Game Lodge won Gold in 2015 for refurbishing and retrofitting a 40-year-old lodge making it more eco-friendly and for innovating with the use of all-electric game drive vehicles and electric game viewing boats and in 2017 for their efforts at carbon reduction. Started as an effort to create gender equality in safari guiding Chobe Game Lodge, the empowerment programme has created Africa’s first and only all-female guiding team. Many of those trained at Chobe have moved on like Lynn Tebalo who moved to Camp Xakanaxa in the Moremi Game Reserve where she recognised as Desert & Delta Safaris’ Guide of the Year for 2019. More than half of all the female guides working in Botswana have worked at Chobe. When Chobe employed their first female guides, there were around 10 in the country, and now there are over 50, 18 of whom work at Chobe. Many of the others have worked at Chobe in the past. 65% of all the staff members at Chobe Game Lodge are women.Since their decarbonisation experiment for which they were recognised in 2015, the last diesel safari boat in operation at the lodge was converted to be fully electric-powered in 2019, the fleet is now four boats and four vehicles, and in 2017 a solar field was added. From 2014 to the end of January 2020 their electric fleet has saved close to 100,000 litres of diesel. Freedom Won converted the boats and vehicles, Chobe passed their details to the many operators who expressed interest in the adaptation. Chobe Game Lodge contributes to over 20 initiatives in the community including the Chobe Enclave youth centre and the Turning Heads Beauty Salon, providing employment for vulnerable women removed from the sex working industry in the Kasane/Kazangula area. The biogas plant uses two 10,000 litre tanks to process 100kg of biodegradable waste daily The Chobe Boardwalk & Deck – a 250m guest boardwalk made entirely from recycled timber-plastic decking on poles sourced from a sustainable forestry operation. The decking is maintenance-free, removing the need for harsh cleaning chemicals which would otherwise end up polluting the Chobe River system. The greywater treatment plant processes approximately 60 000 litres of water a day for irrigation creating lush green surroundings, a plus for the guest experience. 95% of Chobe Game Lodge's waste is sorted and recycled through a variety of methods including glass crushing, for manufacturing bricks on-site; tin crushing, for easy transportation to the nearby recycling depot; and crushing of plastic bottles, returned to the supplier for recycling.Chobe Game Lodge has had a Youth Development Programme since 2006, they’ve trained close to 200 youths, they have permanently employed 55 of them. They also sponsor Kazungula Children’s Ark, a school on Kubu Lodge’s property for young children from disadvantaged backgrounds.All members of the lodge staff receive an annual share dividend, and a staff wellness programme provides medical assistance and a staff counsellor to assist with personal growth and development.Spier provides a venue for the Sisonke Social Circus which offers free performing arts training to children from vastly different backgrounds. The circus fosters social cohesion, connection and inclusion, while enhancing skills such as teamwork, balance and coordination. | www.chobegamelodge.com | ||
| Responsible Business | 2020 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Spier | Spier is one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, a day visit attraction with a hotel and a conference facility. Spier won Gold in the Accommodation for Responsible Employment category in the Africa Awards 2016. The judges recognised them for their “ the transparent reporting and the breadth of their approach to improving the employment conditions of their staff ranging from addressing the issue of safety on public transport to their provision of Individual Learning Spend budgets to support the development of skills and knowledge, for personal development and innovation for the employee and their family for example by using it to pay school fees. Since 2016 Spier has expanded its commitment to doing good through learning, investing in Growing for Good, a range of learning initiatives that empower communities to make positive social and environmental change, making a difference through learning.Learning Spend: each employee receives money to spend on their personal development. The stipend can be spent on anything that will empower their staff with skills and knowledge, boost health and wellbeing, foster financial wellness or enhance self-awareness and self-knowledge. Some staff members use this money to help pay for their children’s school fees. Tree-preneurs, range in age from 5 to 93, drawn from some of the Cape’s poorest communities they have been taught how to care for indigenous trees and plants. They are given seedlings to nurture; once these have reached 30cm, they are exchanged for vouchers for food, clothing, agricultural goods, tools, bicycles and educational support. Initially established in KwaZulu-Natal by the Wildlands Conservation Trust the programme now operates in 24 communiites across South Africa. Spier launched the programme in Western Cape with land on the farm, free electricity and water and the support of Lesley Joemat, a Spier employee. Tree-preneurs at Spier are now celebrating their tenth year, they have contributed to improving the lives of 259 Tree-preneurs in 12 communities through bartering trees. They have grown 990,709 trees donated to schools, NGOs, churches and rehabilitation programmes. Spier supports the primary school in Lynedoch Eco-village, by sponsoring a multidisciplinary team of Community Keepers who offer psychological and social services such as counselling, therapy, assessments, as well as life skills programmes and parenting workshops. Each year 30 ceramic apprentices join the Spier Arts Academy on a three-year programme. The Creative Block project invites established and emerging artists to transform blocks in any medium they choose. The best are purchased immediately for resale at R1500 each enabling artists to earn an immediate income and to break out into new artistic territories. Spier recruits entry-level staff through Harambee, an initiative which sources, trains and places unemployed young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into their first jobs.Every new employee participates in a five-day training course to explore environmental and social challenges, encouraging them to play a positive and meaningful impact as 'agents of change'. Spier currently pays 40% above the minimum wage for hourly earners and 55% above the minimum wage for full-time earners. The staff retention rate is 77%. They encourage visitors and guests to pack for a purpose proving information about what is needed. Spier recycles 97% of their solid waste, 100% of organic waste and 100% of grey- and black-water | https://www.spier.co.za/ | ||
| Responsible Cultural Experience | 2018 | Silver | Africa | Kenya | Basecamp Explorer | For Basecamp enabling tourist to engage with local people and culture is fundamental to their vision of demonstrating how the conservation of ecosystems requires co-existence between wildlife and humans. They regard consistent support for local people and cultures as fundamental to preserving the heritage of the land to ensure it remains habitable for people and wildlife. By including the cultural aspects of the local Maasai, Basecamp raises the standard of living of the Maasai people and provides a richer better guest experiences for their clients. Basecamp established the Basecamp Maasai Brand (BMB), a community-based handicraft workshop that empowers 158 Maasai women while preserving the traditional Maasai beading practice. As a fair-trade practice, the Maasai women receive about 55 percent of the proceeds which goes towards providing food, clothing and shelter for their families while the remaining 45 percent goes towards management costs and purchase of materials. Basecamp also supports a capacity building program through education sponsorship at Koiyaki Guiding School (KGS). Over the last 13 years, KGS has trained over 270 students, 20% of whom are young Maasai girls, young Maasai men and women continue to wear their traditional costumes and jewellery. | |||
| Responsible Cultural Experience | 2018 | One to Watch | Africa | Namibia | Nande Junias Explorer Tours | The judges wanted to recognise Nande Junias Explorer Tours for his work in developing township tours for community upliftment in Mondesa Township in Swakopmund; | Nande Junias Explorer Tours | ||
| Responsible Cultural Experience | 2018 | One to Watch | Africa | South Africa | Abang Africa | For their new Goedverwacht mission village tour and homestays. | https://abangafrica.com/ | ||
| Responsible Event | 2017 | Silver | Africa | Botswana | Tour de Tuli | The Nedbank Tour de Tuli is an annual four-day mountain bike tour that takes 350 participants through 250km of protected wilderness in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa with the primary aim of raising funds for Children in the Wilderness (CITW). The judges recognised the skill and commitment which has created a signature event raising, in 2016, R4 million (US$295 700up from 2015’s total of R2.5 million (US$185 800), largely due to additional sponsorship raised by cyclists, amounting to some R1.5 million (US$110 900). Wilderness Safaris’ CITW is an environmental and life skills educational programme, some of which funds activities in their camps, focused on developing a generation of rural decision makers inspired to conserve wildlife. | |||
| Responsible Event | 2017 | Gold | Africa | Swaziland | MTN Bushfire, | A three-day festival held annually in the scenic Malkerns Valleys of Swaziland attracting 25,000 participants from across the globe (in 2016 from 62 countries) to enjoy and experience a rich texture of arts, cultures, crafts, food markets. Over the last 10 years the festival has grown in international recognition and used its cultural and economic success, the festival creates employment for 1200 Swazis making a significant contribution to the local economy. The festival’s call to action #BRINGYOURFIRE, has stimulated a personal and collective commitment to social programmes: the Schools Festival (2000 Swazi students and teachers annually), the Arts Round Table (that brings together international and local artists) funding for Young Heroes (an Aids Orphan support programme) and BoMake Rural Projects which benefits rural Swazi women. Bushfire sparked the FireFest Route, which now involves Azgo (Mozambique), Zakifo (Durban, SA) Africa Day (Johannesburg, SA) and Sakifo (Mother festival to Zakifo, held in Reunion Island.) | |||
| Responsible Tourism Campaign | 2017 | overall | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Blood Lions | The judges were looking for a campaign with a clear target, able to report its impact and to demonstrate that it had contributed to making tourism more responsible. From its launch in 2015 there was a clear focus “to stop lions being bred for the bullet.” With a powerful documentary film at the heart of a campaign which used social and traditional media to engage the industry, voluntourism, the public, government (local, national and international), professional hunters and the scientific and conservation community with a simple and compelling message: “THINK before you VISIT, CUDDLE, WALK, VOLUNTEER or SHOOT.” Otherwise, you might unwittingly be contributing to canned hunting. The campaign is able to report with clear metrics on the traction it has gained and the impact it has had. | ||
| Responsible Tourism Marketing Campaign | 2016 | Gold | Africa | Botswana | Great Plains Conservation | e judges gave the Gold Award to Great Plains Conservation operating in Botswana and Kenya for their success in raising awareness of the importance of conservation through traditional and social media and in converting the public into ambassadors for wildlife. In just one talk in 2015 in China the Jouberts reached 195 million and Great Plains Conservation’s social media channels are followed by over 1.5 million daily. | |||
| Small Hotel | 2006 | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Il N’gwesi Community Lodge, | Run and managed by the Ilaikipiak Maasai Il N’gwesi community. A successful cohabitation system of both wildlife and humans that live, ‘share’ and own the area. 40% of profits go to the 600 plus families that have a share in owning the lodge. The success of Il N’gwesi has served as a model for other communities in Northern Kenya. | |||
| Small Hotel/Accommodation | 2008 | Gold | Africa | Mozambique | Nkwichi Lodge | For demonstrating what a small, privately-owned, luxury eco-tourist lodge can contribute through a $5 bed night levy, and for their role in the creation of the Umoji Association representing 20,000 local people through their chiefs and elected representatives. One of the first large community associations in Mozambique, it has enabled six communities to secure their land rights certificates from the Government. | |||
| Small Hotel/Accommodation | 2008 | HC | Africa | The Gambia | Safari Garden Hotel | ||||
| Small Sustainable Event | 2019 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | EGF 2018 Conference & Master Class, South Africa | One would expect an event run by South Africa’s Event Greening Forum to tick all the sustainable eventing boxes. From the selection of an accredited Healthy venue with ample natural light to a menu with locally-sourced seasonal ingredients and interactive hands-on activities for 60-odd delegates, this well-conceived event showcased low cost and easy-to-do sustainable event practices. Lanyards were collected for re-use in 2018 and wasteful branded conference bags and hand-outs avoided. African Mama Crafts, a black female-owned local SME business which works with rural cooperatives, was contracted to supply gifts in the Sustainability Village. | |||
| Small Sustainable Event | 2019 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | GCIP-SA Annual Awards 2017, | An Environmental Vision Statement was adopted at the outset and guided the GCIP-SA Annual Awards 2017 organisers and contractors in all aspects of event management and communication. Waste levels were minimized through a paperless registration system, recycling or reuse of stand material and banners, and reuse of packing materials. All lighting and electronic items were either LED or low energy compliant. Community arts organisations were contracted to provide traditional and local gifts for VIP’s and guests using a voucher system. A philosophy of continuous improvement is evident, and an event impact report details performance on water and energy consumption and waste levels over a three-year period and setting out corrective action for 2018. | |||
| Small Sustainable Event | 2019 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Mdumbi Green Fair Festival | Mdumbi Green Fair Festival in the Mankosi area in rural Eastern Cape proves that even small rural events can deliver ample environmental, social and economic shared value to the local area. The detailed quantification of impacts and achievements across economic, social and environmental pillars, for a festival of this nature is remarkable. The festival’s focus is the strengthening local citizenry’s ability to play a strong and vibrant role in the socio-economic transformation in their area. The organisers crowd in professionals – chefs, security specialists, musicians and make-up artists – to build skills and knowledge amongst local people. All festival revenue flows into the community: a portion directly to local caterers, security force, cleaners and recyclers, grounds team, accommodation providers and artists; and a portion to TransCape NPO for community-focussed work in education, health and small business development. Mdumbi Green Fair Festival lives up to its name through tree-planting, avoiding single-use items in catering, recycling of 95 % of festival waste, solar lighting, upcycled waste material in décor pieces and environmental footprint information for festival goers. An indigenous nursery and educational garden to generate income and for biodiversity education is planned in the long-term. | |||
| Sustaining Employees and Communities through the Pandemic | 2022 | Gold | Africa | Tanzania | Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project | The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project is a programme of the Kilimanjaro Responsible Trekking Organization, a porter welfare initiative working to improve their working conditions. When Covid arrived they used a phone tree method to provide Covid safety information to 7,000 mountain crew and asked them to share the information with families, friends and neighbours. The phone tree was used to provid expert advice on ways of supporting mountain crew, self-reliant food production (344 participants), alternative livelihoods (1,112 participants) and budgeting (1,957 participants). The Village Savings and Loan methodology was introduced to 76 participants and 15 porters received training as Community-Based Trainers (CBTs) to guide and oversee the savings groups. Four savings groups were created in Moshi, Marangu, Arusha and Rongai. Vaccine awareness classes enable porters to make informed decisions about whether or not to be vaccinated. In 2020 and 2021 $85,900 USD was spent on these activities. With increasing concern about working conditions and greenwashing among consumers KPAP is providing independent third party verification of minimum standard compliance for mountain crew, local companies, and the climbing public. KPAP is “hopeful that this award recognition will create some much-needed awareness within the industry and help facilitate social responsibility on all Kilimanjaro treks.” | www.kiliporters.org | ||
| Sustaining Employees and Communities through the Pandemic | 2022 | Silver | Africa | Zimbabwe | We are Victoria Falls | We Are Victoria Falls' (WAVF) is a grassroots organisation representing the tourism community. When Covid struck tourism ceased and the 80% of the community reliant on it were without livelihoods. Their objectives were to build solidarity, inspire their community to support each other, and tell “real, truthful and inspiring stories” to recover as a destination. Building this narrative and encouraging their community to 'live it' is an important part of boosting morale and positioning their offer in the market - embodying the concept 'better places to live are better places to visit'. We wanted to inspire ourselves, inspire other resource-strapped destinations, and future visitors to our unique hometown.” 180 stakeholders joined large, small, formal and informal. WAVF focused 'on solidarity, community commitment to tourism and health preparedness'. In kind contributions have been made by ~100 different organisations which have sponsored community initiatives, programmes, or volunteered time, resources, transport, or equipment. WAVF engaged 100 local residents to create a week-long event 'Visit your Backyard', providing a morale boost and build solidarity with other industry players”. Stakeholders in and around Hwange National Park have subsequently formed the "Association for Tourism Hwange" and Kariba stakeholders have been in discussions about how they can create a similar initiative. | https://wearevictoriafalls.com/category/community-updates/ | ||
| Tackling Plastic Waste | 2023 | Gold | Africa | Tanzania | Lemala Camps and Lodges | Lemala won silver in 2022 for its efforts to sequester plastic waste. Lemala has removed single-use plastic from its camps but guests arrive with waste plastic. The vehicles that bring supplies to Lemala’s camps return to Arusha with waste plastic bottles and lunch boxes collected from the safari vehicles where guests arrive. Their arriving guests expect Lemala to dispose of the waste plastic on their behalf. Working with Dunia Design Lemala has removed over 100 tons of plastic from the parks and produced 75 recycled school desks that have been donated to Chief Lebolo's School and the Nainokanoka Primary School at Ngorongoro. The waste plastic is a threat to the environment, as they said in their entry for the Awards "Upcycling them into school desks and chairs turned them from a threat to an asset and investment in future generations." Lemala uses 100% biodegradable and plastic-free lunch boxes utilising dried banana leaves collected and assembled by single mothers in a community between Tarangire and Ngoronogoro - allowing them to collect and distribute | www.lemalacamps.com | ||
| Tour Operator | 2008 | HC | Africa | Madagascar | Boogie Pilgrim | ||||
| Tour Operator for Impact in Urban Areas | 2017 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Uthando | Urban community farms and two recipe books, educare centres, music and dance academies, domestic animal care, senior centres and a book that tell the stories of elders, arts and crafts hubs – the list of initiatives in Cape Town’s townships touched by UthandoSA is almost endless. UthandoSA’s urban philantrophic tours and partnership with the Belmont Mount Nelson Hotel capture the hearts, imagination and support of guest and the tourism industry, generating funds for a diverse array of projects. In the 2016 / 2017 fiscal year, Uthando is set to exceed R3 million transferred to 45 community projects – a remarkable impact for a tour operator with only 2 permanent employees. | |||
| Virtual Volunteering | 2022 | Gold | Africa | people and places | www.e-volunteer.co.uk people and places creates individually-designed placements which match volunteer skills to local needs in 10 countries worldwide including Eswatini, The Gambia, South Africa, Madagascar and Morocco. People and places responded to the pandemic by creating a comprehensive e-volunteer programme which enables volunteers to make links with local communities, sharing their skills and experiences, to build the capacity of those communities. This has enabled meaningful relationships between volunteers and local communities, just as happened when their volunteers were able to travel. 70+ meaningful online partnerships between volunteers and local people have delivered, IT training PowerPoints, science experiments and gardening videos and storytelling videos to use in English lessons. Longer-term skills-matched placements lasting from 8-16 weeks have delivered oral English practice for Berber high-school girls, training programmes for new curriculum delivery in The Gambia; and introducing the concept of a book club as a method of developing public speaking skills in South Africa. People and places has developed a way of continuing 'real' volunteering, even though travel was not possible. Volunteers are able to get to know and interact with local people through regular planned video calls -and some local people have said that they feel they have built up better relationships with volunteers online because they have had longer to get to know them. This form of e-volunteering enables those unable to travel for health or financial reasons to volunteer. | www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk | |||
| Virtual Volunteering | 2022 | Silver | Africa | TUI Care Foundation | The judges wanted to recognise separately the TUI Care Foundation’s innovative use of virtual mentoring as part of its COVID-19 Relief Programme for Tourism and the Tourism Recovery Programme, also awarded Silver in the 2022 WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards. The TUI Care Foundation partnered with Berlin-based non-profit Enpact eV [www.enpact.org]and with the support of the German government and GIZ, provided virtual support package for 465 tourism SMMEs. Nine themed workshops were delivered including "Resilience, Communication & Leadership" and "Sustainability". The learning was provided through expert videos - workshops in a web-series format, live Q&A sessions between the workshop facilitators and the participants, written assignments (some of them mandatory) and also weekly newsletters with resources and opportunities for further learning. 86% of all businesses reported that they had achieved their business-related goals. The programme also delivered dedicated virtual one-on-one mentoring from 100 European tourism expert mentors for the participating businesses. | www.tui.com | |||
| Volunteering | 2007 | Gold | Africa | Madagascar | Azafady | For demonstrating real achievements meeting the locally defined needs of communities in Madagascar and for producing detailed reports on impacts and being transparent about where the volunteers’ money goes. | |||
| Volunteering | 2012 | Gold | Africa | Namibia | Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) | Elephant Human Relations Aid focus their activities on the conflict between the desert elephants of Namibia and local communities, caused by elephants damaging vital water points. Their short-term volunteer teams strengthen water points so they can be used by both humans and elephants without getting damaged. | |||
| Volunteering Organisation | 2008 | HC | Africa | Madagascar | Blue Ventures | ||||
| Volunteering Organisation | 2008 | HC | Africa | South Africa | Voluntours | ||||
| Water Conservation | 2013 | HC | Africa | Zanzibar | Chumbe Island Coral Park, | ||||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2020 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Great Plains Conservation | Great Plains Conservation has created private concessions in critical wildlife areas in Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. They adopted a comprehensive approach to their conservation work, including the monitoring and protection of fauna and flora, re-population and augmentation, the reversal of negative environmental damage, and community empowerment. Great Plains are most famous for Rhinos without Borders their joint initiative with andBeyond translocating rhinos to Botswana with support from a wide range of sponsors and donors. Great Plains has demonstrated how hunting areas can be successfully transformed into photographic safari areas generating employment and resource for conservation. For example, Selinda Reserve in Botswana, has been transformed from a hunting concession into a wilderness area that hosts over 18 000 elephants as they move between the Linyanti/Savute and Okavango Delta water systems. Populations of wild dog, predators and antelope continue to grow and thrive with Selinda now being recognised as one of these most pristine wildlife areas in Botswana. Selinda has generated a nett 2,500% increase in financial value to Botswana and the communities that count on tourism there. At Donyo Lodge, Great Plains was one of the founding members and on-going sponsors of the Maasai Olympics which celebrates Maasai culture, providing an alternative way for young Maasai to demonstrate their prowess in traditional warrior skills, without killing a lion; in that corner of Kenya, the killing of lions has reduced from over forty a year to just an isolated few. Great Plains has created around 700 jobs in remote rural areas without formal employment opportunities. In addition to those employed in the camps and in wildlife conservation, they have created bush boutiques and craft sales opportunities and a community Life with Elephants Tour. Guest donations have funded 500 solar lanterns in Botswana. The Great Plains Academy’s Solar Mama Programme has funded 9 women from 5 villages to embark on a five-month course in India to learn solar power technology and basic business skills. Great Plains have demonstrated that the right formula of conservation, communities and commerce can make a lasting, sustainable difference to the world’s iconic wildlife and wilderness areas. Asked whether their model is replicable, they reply “Our practices may require a change of heart for some companies – but humankind is capable of great compassion. Our model takes stressed, threatened environments, surrounds them with compassionate protection and intelligent, sustainable management, and funds them with sensitive, low-volume, low-impact, tourism.” | https://www.greatplainsconservation.com/ | ||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2020 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Marine Dynamics & Dyer Island Conservation Trust, | Marine Dynamics is the tourism operation and funding platform for the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) which manages marine projects addressing the conservation of the endangered African penguin; whale, dolphin, seal and white shark research; marine animal rescue; environmental education with local schools; and efforts to reduce marine pollution. DICT is a registered non-profit founded in 2006. Volkswagen SA is a corporate sponsor and donations also come from American and UK charities. Marine Dynamics is a business using tourism for the conservation of marine life. Marine Dynamics employs 120 people with over 900 dependants.This tourism business exists for the conservation of marine species; that is Marine Dynamics’ raison d’etre. Wilfred Chivell of Marine Dynamics & Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) pushed hard for the African penguin to be recognised and listed as endangered, a status achieved in 2010. Since 2006, DICT has developed, tested and placed over 2000 nest boxes to provide protection from predation and improve fledgeling success. In 2015 DICT opened the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS), a custom-designed and built marine bird rehabilitation centre in the Overstrand area, providing temporary care to diseased, displaced, injured, oiled and abandoned birds with a particular focus on the endangered African penguin. The Sanctuary releases rehabilitated birds to the wild and provides an education and awareness programme for locals and visitors to Gansbaai. In the last five years, DICT has rescued, rehabilitated and released 462 African penguins. Over the last five years, the sanctuary has had over 95,000 local, domestic and international visitors. Marine Dynamics provides marine wildlife experiences for 40,000 day visitors each year all of whom have an experience of the species in their natural environment with a strong conservation education as part of it. DICT has an educational, DEEP, programme working with disadvantaged youngsters. Over 200 people walked, waddled or ran in the annual 5km fun walk March for the Penguins held at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary organised by DICT for locals and visitors to Gansbaai. The event creates awareness about the endangered status of the African penguin and raises funds for the rehabilitation efforts of the APSS. Adults, children, dogs, friends and families enjoy the fun community event. Marine Dynamics has partnered with the Overstrand Municipality in Project Storm which has netted storm drains to catch waste before it enters the ocean and placed stencils on the drains in town with a message of “Don’t Litter. The Sea Starts Here.” Locally more operators now employ marine biologists adding to the guest experience and the educational impact of tours. Marine Dynamics and DICT’s published reports record many academic studies based on their conservation and tourism work. Marine Dynamics has a motto – Your Choice Makes a Difference. They point out that: Any business can look at how they can better protect the environment they rely on for a living, even if it is as simple as arranging regular beach clean-ups. DICT 10 Year Report / DICT 2017-2019 Report | www.marinedynamics.co.za | ||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2016 | Overall | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Mara Naboisho Conservancy | Prior to setting up Naboisho Conservancy, four years of consultation with the 554 landowners lead to 94% of them signing over their land to a holding company with their own appointed directors who have in turn entered into a management agreement with Naboisho Conservancy.The community gets direct and tangible benefits from wildlife conservation; no other activity provides as much income to as many people as Naboisho Conservancy. With these direct benefits there is less need for the community to rely on other destructive practices such as intensive farming and over grazing by too many cattle. This in turn furthers the cycle for a sustainable future for community driven wildlife conservation. Naboisho Conservancy pioneered controlled livestock grazing and holistic rangeland management. The co-existence between wildlife and cattle, where the interests of wildlife and traditional Maasai livestock practices are mutually respected and genuinely integrated.The term ‘Naboisho’ literally means “coming together” in the Maasai’s Maa language and this is exactly what Naboisho Conservancy represents. The Mara Naboisho Conservancy has increased lion density and providing 142 jobs, secure income to 554 local Maasai households and further indirect benefits to ~10,000 local people. | ||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2016 | Gold | Africa | Kenya | Ol Pejeta Conservancy, | The Ol Pejeta Conservancy still maintains a herd of 6,000 beef cattle, it is one of the few conservancies in the world able to cover almost all of its basic operating costs (US$ 6 million) through its own, sustainable, commercially generated revenues from tourism and agriculture. | |||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2016 | Silver | Africa | Namibia | Conservation Travel Foundation | The Conservation Travel Foundation, is a non-profit organization in partnership with and supported by Ultimate Safaris in Namibia for its innovative Conservation Safaris where guests pay a premium in exchange for the privilege of being able to interact with those involved in local conservation projects, and get satisfaction from making a significant contribution to conservation. | |||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2015 | Gold | Africa | Madagascar | Honko Mangrove Conservation & Education | The Ambondrolava mangrove complex in SW Madagascar is not only one of the country's most stunning habitats, home to many endemic bird species, but also home to five mangrove communities. Communities that have depended on the mangroves for wood, fish and other animals for centuries. But as populations rise, the mangroves start to disappear, and so this charity works closely with these communities to help sustain an eco-equilibrium for everyone. A Belgian registered charity, founded in 2007, works with the communities and also with visitors to inform and educate about the importance of the mangroves, from its Mangrove Information Centre. The Centre not only plays a vital role in interpreting the ecological importance of Madagascar's Ambondrolava mangrove complex for visitors, but also in educating the surrounding mangrove dependent communities. Training in community-based mangrove management aims to secure a more sustainable future for this region, as the swamps are vital fishing grounds for local people to earn a livelihood. For example, the creation of a local community association, VOI Mamelo Honko, has led to the restoration of 18ha of deforested mangrove. Lands that are also habitat for 39 wetland bird species, including some endangered endemics. In addition, Honko runs training in sustainable fishing practices as well as educating about ways in which communities can diversify their much needed income sources. Such as through ecotourism, beekeeping, tilapia farming, and artisanal handicraft weaving. Consequently, the success of the Centre as an ecotourism and training organisation is now being used as a model in other mangrove wetland regions. | |||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2015 | Gold | Africa | South Africa | Marine Dynamics | Marine Dynamics provide very high quality shark cage diving experiences. They operate in a sector where there is rightly a lot of criticism of current practice. Marine Dynamics are industry leaders, a commercial operation which operates to the highest conservation standards, where every trip has a marine biologist aboard to provide interpretation and collect data for scientific research. An operator that makes a significant contribution to conservation and the local economy. | |||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2015 | Siver | Africa | South Africa | Bartholomeus Klip Farmhous | ||||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2015 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | andBeyond’s Rhinos Without Borders | ||||
| Wildlife Conservation | 2014 | Silver | Africa | South Africa | On Track Safaris | On Track Safaris lead small safaris to South Africa, Zambia and Uganda, although the work that really stands out for us is on leopards. This company has always had a mission to put conservation at the core of all its safaris. As well as offering all the usual elements of a safari, they invite and attract guests who want to play a role in the conservation of wildlife, not just capture them on camera for posterity. Consequently, they support non-profit conservation organisations, such as the INGWE Leopard Research program, which they created themselves to gather data on leopard behaviour and numbers. This was in response to the fact that although leopards are in significant decline, there was little data available to monitor this. In addition, leopards are still being trophy hunted, or shot because of conflict with livestock owners. On Track works on intense education programs with all of these parties, a task that requires much patience and understanding of the varying social and economic issues, in order to highlight the importance - ecological, ethical and economic - of keeping their leopard populations healthy. | |||
| Award Category | Year | Global | Award Won | Region | Country | Organisation | Citation | Web Link |
Award Category:
Year:
Global:
Award Won:
Region:
Country:
Organisation:
Citation:
Web Link:
