Mantis, a leading conservation-focused hotel brand within the Accor group has attained the first Global Humane Certified™ designation for Humane Tourism™ at four select locations. The certification is an indication that Mantis has met the comprehensive welfare criteria and rigorous standards for tourism and animal wellbeing. Audits of Mantis facilities in Southern Africa were conducted in August 2023, which established that the properties met the certification requirements. The sites that are certified include Nyosi Wildlife Reserve and the following Mantis properties:

  • Mantis Founders Lodge in South Africa
  • Ichingo Chobe River Lodge by Mantis in Namibia
  • Chobe Princesses by Mantis on the border of Namibia and Botswana
  • Zambezi Queen by Mantis on the border of Namibia and Botswana.

Plans are underway to conduct audits of the remaining lodging facilities within the Mantis brand portfolio in the future, as Mantis looks to adopt this certification as a key brand standard.

“We are thrilled that Mantis has met the standards to attain the first Global Humane Tourism certification,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO Global Humane. “Mantis has proven that it makes animal welfare a priority for their tourists who seek a unique opportunity to connect with our world’s wildlife. I always say, you can’t protect what you don’t love, and you can’t love what you don’t know. It is my hope that this certification endeavor will encourage people to experience animals in their natural environment firsthand, and then join the conservation movement to protect these endangered creatures from extinction.”

Amid what scientists have deemed the “Sixth Mass Extinction,” with species disappearing at a rapid rate, Global Humane recognizes how important it is, now more than ever, that the work being done by today’s leading ecotourism operations, conservation centers, lodging facilities, and wildlife reserves is indeed humane and essential to the survival of Earth’s incredible species.

“Accor invested into Mantis just over 5 years ago, with a key objective of bringing a brand with real conservation credibility into the portfolio. In an industry where everyone is talking about ESG, Mantis has always focused on “doing” and delivering credible outcomes at all our properties. The Humane Tourism™ certification of four of our properties is another layer in this continuous journey and one in which we plan to work with Global Humane to achieve this accreditation for all properties within the portfolio,” said Craig Erasmus, Vice President Operations Fairmont Africa & Mantis.

“Having been involved in land and wildlife restoration for thirty years, the recognition by Global Humane for mine and my team’s achievements is an endorsement we will be forever proud of. Sadly, many of my mentors are no longer with us, but I use this opportunity to say thank you to them all who I know would be very proud of this incredible recognition by Global Humane. I promise to make you proud,” said Adrian Gardiner, Mantis Founder and Chairman.

Humane Tourism™ is a unique animal welfare certification program that assesses and certifies wildlife reserves, lodging facilities, and tour operators for their humane responsibility toward the animal life that these operations may encounter and have the potential to impact.

A Scientific Advisory Committee comprised of animal welfare experts in this unique space advised Global Humane on the complex dynamics of this industry and how various operations may impact wildlife. This scientific feedback led to the development of comprehensive welfare criteria and rigorous standards that are assessed and verified through independent, on-site audits for any tourism operation seeking Humane Tourism™ certification.

Global Humane Launches Humane Tourism™ Certification Program