The Phantom Forest Eco Reserve, Knysna, Garden Route, South Africa
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  Phantom Forest featured on Top Billing - 8 May 2012

(Top Billing is a local South African lifestyle magazine television show)

Phantom Forest Eco Reserve featured as Simba and newly-crowned Mr South Africa, Andrew Govender, took us on an adventure getaway deep into the Tsitsikamma forest...


Phantom Forest has been voted Africa's Leading Green Hotel for the second year running - 19 Sep 2011

We're pleased to announce that Phantom Forest has been voted Africa's Leading Green Hotel for the second year running by World Travel Awards. Described by the Wall Street Journal as the 'Oscars' of the travel and tourism industry. World Travel Awards serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.
While winning this prestigious award is certainly a feather in the cap for us, it will also go a long way to enhancing our credibility in the "green" market.
"2010 demonstrated how consumers are increasingly using the list of winners as a reliable guide and means of reassurance when choosing their holiday, which is why winning one of the World Travel Awards has become more hotly contended than ever," said Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President, World Travel Awards.
The winners were announced at a gala ceremony - which took place at the Egypt Hall at Soho Square in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt on the 16th of September. The affair was a suitably swanky one, replete with the requisite red carpet to welcome us.
Much emphasis has been placed on the use of sustainable methods of construction at Phantom Forest. Alien vegetation, gleaned directly from our eco-restoration programme, has been utilised in floors, furniture, roofs and boardwalks. Drawing inspiration directly from nature, a harmonious balance has been created, from ragged thatch rising into the forest canopy, to wood shingle and a 'freshwater' nature pool. In true eco-terms, man's intrusion in our wonderful natural environment has been graciously accepted by both flora and fauna.


Click here to read an article which appeared in Aboutime in-flight Magazine - April 2010

Phantom Forest nominated as Africa's Leading Green Hotel - November 2009
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."
 
World Travel Awards ~ Winner ~ 2011 Africa's Leading Green Hotel
Phantom Forest Eco Reserve