Winners are Grinners at Jamala Wildlife Lodge

At the recently held 2023 Australian Tourism Awards, Canberra’s Jamala Wildlife Lodge added to its extensive collection of local, national and international awards by becoming the first entrant from Canberra to win Gold at the National Awards since 2018, taking out the Unique Accommodation category. The National Zoo and Aquarium also took out the Silver in the biggest category of the night, the Major Tourist Attraction.

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“To win these awards against the best Australia has to offer is a huge achievement and recognition of the dedication and commitment of our staff. It reflects on the level of care and compassion that our zookeepers provide to our animals, along with the passion of our tour and encounter guides in helping visitors understand how they can help animals in the wild,” said General Manager of the zoo, Paul Whitehorn.

The General Manager of Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Amanda Mead, expressed similar comments about her staff and referred to the incredibly positive feedback about the team and the overall experience received from guests.

“The fact that Jamala is nearly always full and that so many guests return, usually for an even longer stay, is evidence of their level of enjoyment,” said Amanda.

“Their interaction with the animals, what they learn about them and about conservation in the wild has a significant impact on virtually all guests. Apart from having one to five days of luxury, adventure and excitement, most go away with a new perspective on how they can contribute to the animal kingdom.

“If that isn’t enough, they also get to experience why Jamala won Best Restaurant at the recent Canberra Tourism Awards.”

All Jamala rooms, including dining and lounge areas, are furnished and decorated with African themes, including many artworks and artefacts from throughout that continent.

“We have had so many current or past residents of Africa stay here, and almost invariably, they comment on how the accommodation transported them back there. They tell other guests that Jamala is such a great opportunity for Australian residents to experience Africa in their own backyard,” said Amanda.

The majority of the proceeds from Jamala and the zoo go towards looking after the zoo’s animals, its future development, education programs, animal breeding programs, conservation in the wild, animal welfare agencies and assisting local and national charities, causes and those in need. So booking a stay does great for conservation – and is excellent for you too!