Phantom Forest Eco Reserve shortlisted for Africa’s Leading Green Hotel

Phantom Forest Eco Reserve has again been nominated for an eco award by the World Travel Awards. This year’s nomination in the category ‘Africa’s Leading Green Hotel’ follows two previous nominations and an award: in 2007 Phantom Forest won ‘Africa’s Leading Ecotourism Destination’, and in 2008 the lodge was nominated in the category ‘World’s Leading Green Resort’.

This privately-owned five star lodge nestling in 137 hectares of nature reserve on the Knysna River with stunning views over the tranquil landscape offers a unique biodiversity of Afromontane forest, Cape coastal fynbos and estuarine wetland. There are over 165 bird species, bush pig, bushbuck, grysbok, the rare blue duiker and a variety of smaller game.

Owner Kit Stewart says that the lodge first captured the attention of the eco-conscious traveller in 2001 when it was awarded Best Eco Experience of the Year by the Western Cape Premiers Award for Tourism.

Says Stewart: “When we built the lodge, we wanted to ensure that we ‘touched the earth lightly’, with as little disturbance as possible to the forest and the natural environment, through employing sustainable methods of construction. These included utilising alien vegetation, removed in our eco-restoration programme, in floors, furniture, roofs and boardwalks. With our own waste and water re-cycling, and many other eco friendly installations, I believe a harmonious balance between luxury and nature has been achieved and it is extremely gratifying that our efforts have been recognised internationally with the prestigious World Travel Awards.”