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This tented camp set up in the Cardamon mountains of Cambodia is anything but rustic. 15 bespoke tents, whimsical and flamboyant in design feature open air rolltop baths, heavy teak furniture and a private butler. Guests can choose from a waterfall or wild tent, all built on stilts. The resort is spread over 865 acres of rainforest dotted with rainforest, bought as a way to protect the region from deforestation and poaching. Many of the staff employed used to be poachers or loggers. Shanti Mani Wild also funds an anti poaching station, and hopes to run a student programme for future wildlife protectors. Shanti Mani Wild is choc-a-block full of low impact adventures from camera trapping to ziplining, foraging to joining an anti poaching patrol. Adventure, but in A grade style. Even arrival to the camp can be via zipline. This is luxury responsible tourism at its best.
Sustainability
After the success of designing the Four Seasons Golden Triangle Elephant Camp in the northern reaches of Chiang Rai in Thailand, Bill Bensley turned his focus to Cambodia. After purchasing 865 acres in the south of the Cardamon Mountains, he set about creating Shanti Mani Wild, 15 bespoke tents painstakingly built over time in order to understand the environment first. It now employs over 100 people, many of which used to be illegal poachers or loggers. Plastics are nowhere to be seen, either front or back of house. Containers are recycled and the resort bottles its own water. The wider location is also protected. Shanti Mani Wild has collaborated with The Wildlife Alliance to create a ranger station which guests are welcome to visit. Graduates from the Phnom Penh Royal University regularly join as expert naturalists too.
Rooms
15 luxury tents perch alongside the riverfront with some close to the waterfalls. Don't expect a run of the mill camp though, these beautifully flamboyant tents all have added touches from outdoor rolltop baths to cocktail making kits in the minibar. All are roomy, with rainforest showers and luxury bedding.
Food and drink
Food is locally produced. So much so, the resort's employees goes foraging daily for fresh produce. Decidedly Cambodian menus change daily in time with the seasons, and is excellent quality which wouldn't be out of place in a high end city restaurant. Meals can be taken in the jungle restaurant, back in the room, or out exploring the lush river valleys. The Landing Zone Bar is well stocked with drinks and there's even a zipwire to get there should walking seem a little, well, pedestrian.
Facilities
Wellness is the name of the game at Shanti Mani Wild. The resort spa has two treatment rooms, both of which are built using wood and stone to fit in with the natural surroundings of the river. You can also have treatments outside by the natural swimming pool adjacent to the soothing sounds of the river and birdsong nearby. Treatments range from Kymer massage, which involves passive stretching and acupuncture to facials using local medicinal herbs and plants.
Things to do
Spot rainforest birds and butterflies
Head out on patrol with the rangers
Explore the backwaters on an expedition boat (seasonal)
Go foraging for and cook wild foods
Hike or bike out into pristine forests
Swim or kayak in gin clear groundwater surrounded by trees and birdsong
Zipline down to the bar for a cocktail or two
Getting there
Shanti Mani Wild is set in the unspoilt and protected forests of the Cardamon Mountains, southern Cambodia. It takes three hours from Phnom Penh to get here followed by a 30 minute 4x4 drive across rugged ground.
- Limits plastic use
- Ecosystem preservation
- Sustainable build
- Employs local people
- Local or organic food
- Education
- Empowerment
- Community conservation
- Nature
- Luxury
- Rural
- Spa
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Wifi
- Up to 2
- Up to 4
- Tented camp
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Watersports
- Cookery
- Birdwatching
