Wanderlust magazine announced the winners of the 2007 Paul Morrison Guide Award, recognising the unsung heroes of travel. The awards were presented by judge Bill Bryson at London’s Royal Geographical Society on October 4.
Danut Marin, a guide from Romania who specialises in the Carpathian Mountains area shared the top accolade with Selwyn Davidowitz, who guides in the Western Cape area of South Africa.
Set up to recognise the difference that a great guide, whether a naturalist, a sherpa, or a tour leader, can make to your travel experience, a shortlist of six was whittled down from more than 160 guides from around the world who were nominated for this year’s award.
The judging panel was led by Bill Bryson and included Lyn Hughes of Wanderlust, top naturalist Mark Carwardine, and Mark Ellingham, founder of Rough Guides and Michael Palin.
Danut lives in Romania’s Zarnesti region. He works in the Piatra Craiului National Park and the Danube Delta. He helps to open visitors’ eyes to the history of Romania, the ethnic tensions, the hidden orphanages, at the same time as showing the country’s mostly undiscovered wildlife and supporting eco-tourism projects.
Report by Chitra Mogul
