Riding pillion in the jungle of Cambodia with an armed man I’d only just met might sound a tad risky. But there was method to my madness. The reason I found myself clinging to Ket Utdom, a tall ranger in a khaki green uniform with a rifle slung over his shoulder, was because I’d joined the Wildlife Alliance on one of their daily anti-poaching patrols through the Cardamom rainforest.
It was the second day of my stay at the magnificent Shinta Mani Wild, a luxury tented camp designed by co-owner Bill Bensley. The skies had opened, rain pelting down as my travel companion, Cathy Wagstaff, and I joined the rangers deep into the forest. We weren’t there as bystanders. We were part of the patrol.
Together with the team, we spent hours scouring the forest floor in search of snares, traps and logging equipment left behind by poachers. The evidence was there … gnarled ropes, empty plastic food and drink containers, makeshift cooking pots. But the poachers themselves had already moved on.
Still, every item removed is a victory. Since 2002, the patrols have:
- Removed more than 275,000 snares
- Seized 7,000 cubic metres of illegal timber
- Rescued 7,000 animals
- Achieved zero elephant poaching for nearly two decades
That’s no small feat.
Conservation in Action
During our patrol, I was struck by how much impact a single day’s work can have. Each snare dismantled, each chainsaw confiscated, is a lifeline for the critically endangered species of the Cardamoms including Asian elephants, pangolins, and even sun bears. These forests are alive and thriving because of consistent, boots-on-the-ground protection.
Laura Robinson, the Head of Sustainability and Operations at Shinta Mani Wild, put it bluntly: “Without these patrols and the support of Shinta Mani Wild, these forests wouldn’t even exist.”
It is a sobering reminder that conservation isn’t abstract. It’s gritty, physical, relentless work. And it needs both the vision and funding to make it happen.
Luxury Meets Purpose
This is where Shinta Mani Wild stands apart. Far from being just a resort, it is a conservation project first. Conceived by Bill Bensley and Cambodian businessman Sokoun Chanpreda, the camp leases and protects 350 hectares of rainforest that would otherwise have been logged or mined for rich mineral sands. Every guest stay directly funds Wildlife Alliance patrols.
The Evolution of the Shinta Mani Foundation
The Shinta Mani Foundation was founded in 2004 by Sokoun, a Cambodian entrepreneur and in my view something of a hero, as a small community outreach program. Its original focus was on providing hospitality training for underprivileged youth in Siem Reap, equipping them with skills to gain employment and break cycles of poverty.
Over time, the foundation’s scope has expanded. It began building wells for clean water, offering healthcare programs, constructing homes for families, and supporting small-scale entrepreneurs with micro-loans. This grassroots approach allows the foundation to touch thousands of lives across Cambodia.
With Bill Bensley’s involvement, the foundation’s conservation wing grew stronger. Together, the pair linked eco-luxury tourism to conservation funding, most famously here at Shinta Mani Wild in the Cardamom Mountains.
Today, the Shinta Mani Foundation is a shining model of how hospitality, design, and philanthropy can work as one. And, it’s all funded through a socially conscious hospitality model where everyone is a winner.
High-end travellers, by choosing to stay here, are indulging in luxury as well as actively safeguarding one of the world’s last untouched ecosystems.
The Power of Conscious Travel
For me, my three days at Shinta Mani Wild were transformative. Instead of feeling helpless about the plight of endangered species and deforestation, I had the chance to enjoy being engulfed by wilderness and at the same time contribute to its longevity, albeit in my own small way, by joining the rangers on patrol. It was an unforgettable experience which felt both exciting and gruelling, and it’s one which has left me feeling hopeful.
Because conscious tourism, when done right, can shift the future. It’s why my adventure to Shinta Mani was so memorable. Since my first trip to Cambodia last year at Shinta Mani in Siem Reap, I have dreamt of being able to visit this special place.
Now, I understand much more about what’s at stake, and my love for Cambodia; the country and the people just keeps growing. So when I reluctantly waved good bye to the incredible team including Marc, Laura and our butler Robin: I felt truly lucky to play a part in protecting something so precious … and so much at risk.
Too often our every day focuses on ourselves. Those trifling worries, or negative thoughts, and we lose perspective on the important stuff. Shinta Mani Wild’s gift is being able to feel part of something bigger than myself, where my meagre worries were put to the back corners of my brain. So if you want to understand what meaningful travel is about, don’t wait, this place needs to be on your bucket list.