Megan de Jager, Portfolio Director at RX Africa

   By Nehru Odeh

Africa Travel Week has announced the winners of its 2025 Media Awards, recognising five exceptional journalists whose work has helped elevate the profile of Africa’s tourism offering on the global stage.

The event held between 9 and 11 April 2025  at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town.

A distinguished judging panel, which included Pat Riddell (National Geographic Traveller UK), Barry Neild (CNN Travel), Ellie Rothnie (Canon Ambassador), and Kojo Bentum-Williams (VoyagesAfriq), selected the winners from a competitive field of entries.

The five award-winning journalists are: Mike Unwin, who claimed the top prize for his piece, “Rock of Ages”, published in Travel Africa Magazine. Others are Summer  Rylander for “What Does Successful Low-Volume, High-Value Tourism Look Like?”; Ryan Eslin for “A wild, Wild Life”; Shanna Jacobsen for “Addressing the Train-Retain Drain”; and Qaqamba Matundu.

Mike Unwin’s piece, “Rock of Ages”, is a vivid exploration of Zimbabwe’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Matobo Hills.

“I’m delighted that my feature on Bulawayo and the Matobo Hills has won ATW’s Destination award.  Bulawayo was where my experience of Africa began, as a teacher many years ago.  And I have held a deep affection for this magical corner of the world ever since. Many thanks to the always excellent Travel Africa magazine for allowing me the opportunity to put my feelings into words,” Unwin said.

Summer Rylander’s thoughtful analysis, “What Does Successful Low-Volume, High-Value Tourism Look Like?” examines Botswana’s distinctive approach to balancing tourism development with environmental conservation.

“Sustainability is at the heart of my work as a journalist, and I’m proud of this piece, which delves into the ethics of access about the protection of nature and doing right by local communities. What an honour it is to receive this award! Thank you to the judges and well done to the other nominees, ” Rylander noted

Ryan Enslin’s captivating photo essay “A Wild Wild Life” documents the unique wildlife encounters possible in Cape Town, revealing an unexpected side of urban Africa.

“Travel writing and photography have always been deeply personal for me. They are ways of capturing and sharing the moments that speak directly to my soul,” reflects Enslin.

“Each story I tell is, in many ways, a passion project, born from a place of curiosity and connection. To have that recognised by the Africa Travel Week Media Awards is incredibly encouraging. It reminds me that these stories, rooted in heart and experience, resonate with others too.”

Shanna Jacobsen’s investigative report “Addressing the Train-Retain Drain” examines critical staffing challenges facing South Africa’s incentive travel industry in the post-pandemic landscape.

“This is a big deal for us – not just to spotlight the skills constraints the incentive travel industry is currently grappling with, but to try to find a means to address the issue,” Jacobsen remarked.

Qaqamba Matundu won for her remarkable report on the rediscovery of South Africa’s “lost” golden mole, highlighting both an important conservation milestone and emerging journalistic talent.

“This award is a testament to the power of storytelling and the incredible support I’ve received along the way from my editor,” says Matundu. “Here’s to pushing boundaries, sharing impactful stories, and inspiring others in the media industry.”

Megan de Jager, Portfolio Director at RX Africa, noted: “Compelling storytelling is essential for showcasing Africa’s extraordinary destinations and experiences. These award-winning journalists exemplify the highest standards of travel reporting, helping to position Africa within the global tourism conversation.”

Now in its second year, the ATW Media Awards celebrate excellence in travel reporting, photography and storytelling across five categories.  It also celebrates outstanding travel journalism that brings Africa’s diverse tourism destinations to global audiences. Quality reporting plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions and raising awareness of the continent’s travel offerings.

“Compelling storytelling is essential for showcasing Africa’s extraordinary destinations and experiences,” says Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism & RX Africa Marketing. “These award-winning journalists exemplify the highest standards of travel reporting, helping to position Africa within the global tourism conversation.”

The annual ATW Media Awards are open to all media practitioners, including journalists, bloggers, videographers, and photographers producing content related to African travel. The programme forms part of Africa Travel Week’s broader initiatives to promote the continent’s tourism offerings to international markets.

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About ATW Connect:  Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.

https://atwconnect.com/

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