Steve,

You have a remarkable concept -- incoorparating schools, business, and local communities in the conservation of habitat and wildlife. <> Is your operator working with Zoos throughout the US? <> US Zoos often host trips to destinations such as CC Africa. FOR EXAMPLE: www.ZOO.org -- Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.
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William B. (Nick) Niccolls <> Seattle
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On May 28, 2008, the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge” and would like to pass on this feedback for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of sustainable tourism innovators. We wish you continued luck with your sustainable, innovative, and socially impactful initiatives.

All the best, The Changemakers Team

“Although I loved the community partnerships that this initiative incorporates, I wanted to learn more about its financial sustainability. I received the impression that it would require a significant amount of capital to be sustainable, and I wondered, therefore, what are the best ways for replication?"

“This initiative was a huge source of innovation—it revolutionized how African lodges were built, and it has become a world-wide movement.”

-Changemakers Geotourism Judges: National Geographic Society, Past President the Ford Foundation, whl.travel - World Hotel Link, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.

Hello Steve,
Congratulations on becoming a finalist to the Geotourism Challenge. Thanks to Wendy Perrin at Conde Nast Traveler I was able to learn about the success of Phinda in South Africa.

I attended the Luxury Travel Expo in Las Vegas in December of 2007 and a session on South Africa. I look forward to visiting some of the seven award winning Safari lodges in the area someday.

Nancy Brown
Travel Writer
Northern California
What a Trip
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/What-A-Trip/

Is your operation linked to from the South Africa Tourism Portal?