The National Geographic Traveller (UK) writers were at the forefront of excellence at the recent Inspire Global Media Awards (IGMAs). The awards IGMAs recognise and celebrate stories that champion sustainable and positive-impact tourism. 

Out of eight shortlisted National Geographic Traveller (UK) features, an incredible four writers emerged victorious across various categories. 

The distinguished judging panel at the IGMAs resonated with the impactful narratives crafted by the talented writers. Here’s a closer look at the winning entries: 

Africa & the Indian Ocean 

‘Winds of Change’ by Sarah Marshall 

Life plays out much as it always has on the great plains of Kenya’s Maasai Mara, but the latest generation of Maasai are gradually changing the face of modern safari — with greater empowerment for female guides and local communities as a whole. 

Awarded: Consumer Magazine Feature of the Year (Print) 

Latin America & The Caribbean   

‘Back to Basics’ by Sarah Gillespie 

Around the grounds of Hacienda Zuleta, the local Andean community works across a range of initiatives to tell the story of their ancestors and celebrate centuries-old traditions.  

Awarded: Consumer Magazine Feature of the Year (Print) 

North America   

‘Flavours of the Great Plains’ by Zoey Goto 

Amid the expansive grasslands of South Dakota, Matte Wilson and his family and friends are using food to reclaim their Sicangu Lakota culture, one dish at a time. 

Awarded: Consumer Magazine Feature of the Year (Print) 

Asia, Australasia & Oceania  

‘Tourism is our only option’: the community banking on birding in north India’ by Lorna Parkes published in for Guardian online. 

A new initiative in a Himalayan wildlife sanctuary is attracting birdwatchers and hikers to the remote foothills and offering vulnerable villages a lifeline. 

Awarded: Consumer Magazine Feature of the Year (Online) 

The awards ceremony on April 16th was a night of celebration, and the National Geographic Traveller (UK) team look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence at next year’s IGMAs.