Over and above this, the first World Travel Green Awards were also announced at this grand event, and Shamwari Game Reserve walked away with the World’s Leading Conservation Company for 2008.

James Wilson CEO of Dubai World Africa, a major shareholder of Shamwari, says: “To be awarded the ‘World’s Leading Safari and Game Reserve’ for an eleventh consecutive year and the Green Award acknowledgement is an outstanding achievement.

“The Shamwari Game Reserve team has set out to continuously elevate the guest experience at the game reserve, creating new benchmarks in delivering complete wildlife and hospitality offerings to our guests and travel industry colleagues. Going forward, we will continue to maintain the highest regard for our environment whilst remaining at the forefront of conservation and hospitality in Africa.”

Adrian Gardiner, CEO and Founder of the Mantis Group, says: “Yet again, we have to thank the travel trade industry for demonstrating their belief and confidence in Shamwari Game Reserve. We are proud of the achievements and commitment made by all and will continue to promote ecologically sensitive tourism and support the local environments through community development projects and conservation of natural and human resources. Our goal is to continuously set ecological standards and benchmarks in the green tourism industry of South Africa.”

The World Travel Awards are hailed as the ‘travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscars’ by the Wall Street Journal and are described as “the most comprehensive and the most prestigious awards program in the global travel industry’ by numerous media reports. “The survey is truly global in scale, independent and accountable,” says Graham Cooke, president of the World Travel Awards.

Thousands of travel agents and industry members from around the globe vote for winners of the World Travel Awards, which was launched in 1993 to celebrate excellence in the World’s travel and tourism industry.

For more info visit www.shamwari.com.