Annapolis, MD – The Okavango Delta has won the Condé Nast Travelers 2013 World Savers Award in the category: Sustainable Destination / Developing Country. The Okavango Delta has won this accolade due to the policies put in place by the Botswana Government to ensure that the tourism sector protects the environment and benefits local people.
The Okavango Delta has been recognized for successful conservation efforts that have resulted in the wetland being home to the largest population of African Savanna Elephants. Although Botswana faces the challenge of balancing human populations and animal populations, the country has been commended for its efforts in the Government working with private companies to tract movements of elephant herds as well as the training of farmers in safe methods of fending off elephants by planting chilies as a deterrent. Acclaimed publication, Condé Nast Traveler has also congratulated Botswana in the protection of Rhinos through the relocation program. To date, 11 white rhinos have been born in the wild, and 32 are running free.
Furthermore, His Excellency the President Seretse Khama Ian Kama has been honored as Global Visionary in 2013 by Condé Nast Traveler for advancing sustainable tourism policy and practices in Botswana. His Excellency Seretse Khama Ian Khama has been applauded for his commitment to developing Botswana in a sustainable manner — not with “the short-term approach that leaves nothing for the future.” President Khama’s vision to wean Botswana off its reliance on diamond mining and develop agriculture and low-impact tourism has been applauded by the publication.
With such qualities, an environmentally responsible and luxurious Botswana can be said to be indeed a tourism destination of choice.
To learn more about the awards, visit the websites listed below:
- For Okavango- Sustainable Destination Award- visit , Conde Nast Traveler
- For H.E Seretse Khama Ian Khama- Global Visionary Award