Thanda Island & Thanda Safari Winners at the 25th World Travel Awards
Held on the 6th October in Durban, South Africa, the World Travel Awards (WTA) Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2018 named Thanda Safari’s majestic Villa iZulu, situated in KwaZulu Natal, both Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa as well as South Africa's Leading Luxury Private Villa 2018.
Adding to this, its exclusive sister property Thanda Island, located off the Southern Coast of Tanzania, was awarded the prestigious title Africa's Leading Luxury Island 2018.
Attended by 20 of Thanda Safari and Thanda Island’s team, together with leading industry figure-heads and VIPs from across the globe, the glittering evening marked the sixth leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world, celebrating its 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary this year.
Collecting the award for Africa’s and South Africa's Leading Luxury Private Villa 2018 with Pierre Delvaux, CEO of the Thanda Group, were Lucas Myeni and Wiseman Ntshangase, Villa iZulu’s Manager and Banqueting Manager respectively. Antigone Meda, General Manager for Thanda Island also took to the stage to receive the Africa’s Leading Luxury Island 2018 award with Pierre Delvaux.
“With the awards being hosted so close to our headquarters and a mere few hours from Thanda Safari we couldn’t not get together a good number of our team to attend this incredible event”
says Pierre Delvaux.
“And what a truly fantastic evening it turned out to be! We are so honoured to be awarded both these prizes and I would like to now turn the spotlight on to all those who are tireless in their drive to make both the Thanda Island and the Thanda Safari experience so unique and who were not able to be with us on the night”.
The personal bush and beach retreats of Christin and Dan Olofsson of Sweden, owners of Thanda, both villas offer absolute exclusivity for families and friends to enjoy on a sole-use basis. Furthermore, they are each located within their own private reserves and feature just one magnificent five-bedroom villa and helipad. Together with a strong community and conservation commitment they offer their discerning guests a wide variety of expert led wildlife and marine based activities, including the opportunity to partake in their respective conservation initiatives.
At the disposal of the guests staying at Thanda Island there is also a boathouse full of every water sport imaginable, a tennis court, yoga sala, a selection of instruments, an outdoor area with a pizza oven and more. Off-grid, solar-powered, environmentally sensitive, thoroughly relaxing and lots of fun, guests also have the chance to swim with whale sharks, watch turtles nest and hatch and visit nearby islands to explore their ruins, coconut plantations, lagoons and underwater sights.
Meanwhile, guests staying at Villa iZulu at Thanda Safari spend their days on safari exploring the magnificent 14,000 hectares that surround it. Activities are equally varied from Big Five game drives and specialised bush walks, to Zulu cultural tours into the rural community and photographic safaris. Villa iZulu is set within a fully fenced garden and comprises an outdoor boma, heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, a library lounge and playroom.
World Travel Awards is voted for by travel and tourism professionals and business and leisure travel consumers worldwide. These accolades recognise the commitment to excellence which travel organisations have demonstrated in the last twelve months.
