The recognition in Indaba’s Inspirational Awards rounds off a landmark 12 months for the EcoTraining team.

In the past year, EcoTraining became the first and only field guidetraining provider in South Africa to offer university-level NQF5 qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education.

In September, it was named Best Education Study Abroad Provider at the 2025 Global Youth Travel Awards in Lisbon.

Now, South African Tourism has recognised the organisation for innovation in conservation education through its Inspirational Awards.

Bringing the bush to a global audience

Over 33 years, EcoTraining has trained more than 17,000 people from 33 countries at its immersive, unfenced camps in South Africa, Botswana and Kenya. Its graduates lead safaris across the continent. Close to a thousand have come from China alone, returning home as guides and guardians of the African wilderness.

The Indaba judges recognised the way EcoTraining is opening the world of conservation to people who can’t always reach the bush. In 2023, it launched the Online Field & Trails Guide Programme, making FGASA-accredited training available anywhere through virtual classrooms, live lectures and field videos, with the option to follow up with an immersive in-camp practical.

Other online courses, including the newly launched Inside the Pride, which explores the evolution, ecology and behaviour of lions, allow guides, wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists to broaden their knowledge and safeguard Africa’s vulnerable species and natural heritage – alongside courses in ecology, wildlife photography, birding and tracking, designed for travellers who want to add more onto a traditional Big-5 safari.

Recognition with a wider message

The Indaba Inspirational Awards honour innovation, inspiration, empowerment, and excellence across African tourism, and the recognition means a great deal to the entire team.

“Three achievements in a single year tell us something bigger is happening,” says EcoTraining’s MD, Anton Lategan. “People want travel that means something. They want to understand the places they visit and leave them better than they found them. Our job is to keep building the courses, camps, guides and advocates that make that possible.”

EcoTraining has delivered guide training in eight countries over the last year and is honoured to train the safari guides of A&K Sanctuary, Londolozi, Great Plains Botswana, the Female Nature Guide Training Programme of African Bush Camps Foundation, and many other top safari organisations. Alongside this, EcoTraining’s wider course range continues to grow, with career courses for school leavers, guides, career-changers, gap year students, mature learners and lifelong conservationists, online and in the bush.

He made the remarks during a visit to Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where he planted an indigenous Outeniqua Yellowwood tree at the new wildlife rehabilitation centre near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

Shamwari’s existing rehabilitation centre is considered as one of the best and most successful in South Africa, so much so that animals from other reserves are sent there for treatment or protection from poaching.

The new, purpose-built facility will expand the capabilities of the rehabilitation team, allowing it to treat and care for more sick and injured animals before releasing them back into the wild.

It will also serve as a conservation education centre where academics, researchers, guests, school groups and members of the community can learn about the practice and benefits of conservation.

Minister Hanekom says Shamwari’s 25-year conservation programme is an example of how tourism can fund projects to restore and protect the country’s indigenous fauna and flora, attract international investment and provide economic opportunities for rural communities.

Owners, the Investment Corporation Dubai, is investing US$25 million to upgrade Shamwari. In the first phase, two lodges, the flagship Eagles Crag and Riverdene Family Lodge, have been extensively refurbished.

The next phase includes building the new rehabilitation centre, renovating the historic manor house, Long Lee Manor, and extensively re-building the contiguous accommodation to provide 18 luxury suites. A new premium, luxury tented camp is under construction.

CEO, Joe Cloete, says the investment is critical to ensure Shamwari remains one of the world’s premier wildlife experiences and can continue attracting revenue to fund its conservation programmes, with all their linked benefits.

Independent research conducted on socio-economic impacts has shown that compared to agriculture, wildlife conservation increases the benefits for local communities by 10% in terms of income and skills development.
The upgrade project includes new menus at the lodges. All the ingredients are procured from local suppliers. Chefs, kitchen and hospitality staff have all received extensive training.

“Globally, eco- and experiential tourism is growing. With our abundant game reserves, natural beauty, modern infrastructure, good air access and favourable exchange rate, South Africa is ideally positioned to compete and develop this market,” says Minister Hanekom.

“Successfully doing so brings not only the obvious economic gains but creates a virtuous cycle which encourages further investment in conservation of our natural heritage and making the destination even more attractive,” adds Hanekom.