The 17th Edition of the Ecowarrior Awards is around the corner, and this year’s theme, ‘Realizing Sustainable Development Goals through Sustainable Tourism,’ couldn’t be more relevant. As we gear up to celebrate consistent milestones that are driving tourism towards the Global Goals, we’re thrilled to share the much-anticipated shortlist! But before we dive into that, we’re beyond excited to announce that Kenya Geographic has made it onto this prestigious list!

From humble beginnings as a travel blog to becoming a multi-award-winning travel marketplace, our journey has been nothing short of a wild safari. I mean, one day you’re posting about a hidden gem in Tsavo, and the next you’re leading a digital revolution in travel! This shortlist recognition marks yet another huge leap towards market leadership as we continue to curate exceptional, forever-lasting experiences through our various services. It’s a proud moment that we couldn’t have achieved without our community of travellers, partners, and dreamers.

At the heart of our offerings is SafariQuest™, our flagship booking engine. It’s the place where our B2B and B2C worlds meet. Hotels, rentals, safari operators, and more, all converge here, offering our customers access to an ever-growing inventory at the click of a button. And for our B2B partners, well, you get the best of both worlds—commission-based listings and access to our thriving B2C base that keeps us all thriving. Think of it as your one-stop shop for safaris, rentals, and all things adventure.

Our innovations don’t stop there! We launched EneaViral™, the first-ever Display Banner Advertising (DBA) engine dedicated to the travel and hospitality industry. Brands can now get their ads in front of a highly engaged audience who are all about travel—so those Click-through Rates (CTRs) are on fire! And it gets better. With our EneaViral™ tool, bundled within SafariQuest™, businesses get even more bang for their advertising buck.

Not to brag, but our CreativeQuest™ service is revolutionising how travel brands look and feel. We know that in this industry, visuals and words are everything, and we offer creative support from copywriting to photography and graphic design. If you don’t have an in-house team, we’ve got you covered—no sweat!

And that’s not all, folks! After the hard lessons learned from the pandemic, we are developing MICEQuest™, a versatile platform designed to help manage events, whether they are virtual or in-person. Imagine running an entire conference digitally—from booth booking to ticketing—without breaking a sweat. Even better, it works for physical events, too, making it easy to digitise payments, bookings, and confirmations while you focus on the human experience.

Looking ahead, we’re set to launch Travel Duka™, the first online travel-dedicated shop in Kenya. Think of it as your go-to marketplace for all your adventure gear. And whether you’re a brand or a traveller, this multi-vendor platform will make sure you’re well-equipped before the journey even begins.

And let’s not forget LearnQuest™, our online travelling academy where you can pick up essential skills before your next big trip. Whether you’re interested in sustainability in travel, local cultures, or niche safari tips, there’s something here for everyone. Think of it as the classroom you never knew you needed, but you’ll be grateful to have.

Now, back to the reason you’re here—the 2024 Ecowarrior Awards. The shortlist features some of the brightest stars in sustainable tourism. From renowned safari lodges to conservation groups, these nominees are making waves in an industry that’s deeply intertwined with our planet’s future.

Here’s the shortlist (* indicates multiple subcategory nominations):

  1. Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge *3
  2. Asilia Africa Encounter Mara
  3. Asilia Africa Naboisho Camp
  4. Asilia Africa Rekero Camp *2
  5. Basecamp Mara Houses
  6. Basecamp Masai Mara
  7. Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp *2
  8. Elewana Elsa’s Kopje Meru *3
  9. Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs
  10. Elewana Loisaba Star Beds
  11. Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli *2
  12. Entumoto Safari Camp
  13. Governors’ Loldia House
  14. Governors’ Mugie House
  15. Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge *2
  16. Kilima Camp Maasai Mara
  17. Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp
  18. Little Governors’ Camp
  19. Mara Serena Safari Lodge *2
  20. Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
  21. Royal Mara Safari Camp *2
  22. Saruni Eagle View
  23. Saruni Leopard Hill *2
  24. Saruni Mara *2
  25. Saruni Samburu *4
  26. Saruni Wild *4
  27. Serena Beach Resort and Spa
  28. Sirikoi Lodge *2
  29. Jambojet Limited
  30. Kenya Airways Limited
  31. Safarilink Aviation Limited
  32. Tropic Air Kenya
  33. 748 Air Services Limited
  34. AirKenya Express
  35. Diani Turtle Watch
  36. Kijabe Environment Volunteers
  37. Ngare Ndare Forest Trust
  38. The Big Ship Organization
  39. Nairobi City County
  40. Asilia Africa Limited
  41. Blancos Youth Group
  42. DiscoverBrands Systems Limited
  43. Ecocycle Limited
  1. Greenthing Kenya
  2. Kenya Geographic
  3. Purple Elephant Ventures
  4. Saruni Basecamp
  5. Dr. Shem Maingi
  6. Margaret Njeri
  7. Peter Ogalo
  8. Laikipia Wildlife Forum
  9. Mully Children’s Family
  10. Slow Food Kenya
  11. Water4Wildlife Maasai Mara Foundation
  12. Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy
  13. Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park & Reserve
  14. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
  15. Lumo Conservancy
  16. Mugie Conservancy
  17. Ngong Hills Forest Reserve
  18. Sera Wildlife Conservancy
  19. Cheli & Peacock Safaris
  20. Intrepid Travel (Peak East Africa Limited) *2
  21. Let’s Go Travel Limited *2
  22. Natural World Kenya Safaris
  23. Peaks and Safaris Limited
  24. Purple Nomad Limited
  25. VistaVoyage Travel Group Limited
  26. Amboseli Institute of Hospitality & Technology
  27. Boma International Hospitality College
  28. Kenya Utalii College

So, who will come out on top at the 2024 Ecowarrior Awards Gala Ceremony? That’s for you to find out on 17th October 2024 at Emara Ole Sereni. And hey, don’t forget to turn up in your best SDG-themed outfit with a splash of white. It’s going to be a night to remember, so mark your calendars—you won’t want to miss it! Check rates here