Another Brilliant Creation From Bill Bensley – Glamping Passion

I recently explored the wildest regions of Cambodia, eagerly returning after my previous amazing journey into the North. Now my focus was on the oldest parks in Cambodia; Bokor, Cardamom and Kirirom. These parks define the greatest raw wilderness in all of South East Asia. They are wild to be sure, where elephants roam freely, and often stop traffic for hours, tigers, gibbons, and other animals are prolific.

As a longtime fan of resort designer and owner Bill Bensley, I was thrilled to discover his newest creation, the Shinta Mani Wild Private Nature Sanctuary that will open in 2018.  American born Bensley is based out of Bangkok and has created some of the most spectacular resorts throughout Asia including; Four Seasons Resorts in Thailand, Oberoi Villas in India, St. Regis in Bali, the InterContinental Danang in Vietnam and more.

Like a modern day Willy Wonka, Bensley crafts and creates his projects with wild enthusiasm and passion and maintains focus in transforming resorts with minimal intervention to the land without destroying mother nature. He designs smaller architectural footprints positioned between trees rather than cutting them down and makes sure that natural drainage patterns are used on sites.

His newest project, for which is also the owner is the spectacular Shinta Mani Wild Private Nature Sanctuary in Cambodia.  A new concept for luxury camping it will include first class design and conservation to create a new model to protect the threatened wildlands.  It will also create new sustainable opportunities for the locals that call the land home.

Bensley discovered a wildlife corridor connecting the Bokor National Park with the Kirirom National Park and ventured out to protect the 400-acre valley from poaching, mining, and logging. The location is set along 2 miles of river and waterfalls, Bensley is excited to launch the most ambitious project of his career. This new resort will be an experience unlike any other resort in Asia.

Each luxury tent was designed to perch over the rapidly moving river and waterfalls providing a view and guest experience like none other.  The tents were created in the style of luxury jungle safari adventures.  With an enviable location, guests will be able to explore the never traveled waterways in the Southeast aboard the resorts exclusive Shinta Mani Wild, Bensley designed luxury expedition boats. In the North, guests will accompany rangers and researchers as they create camera traps to study the wild forests and the mysteries of the unexplored lands, from the locals that know the area best.

Perched on the edge of the sanctuary’s largest waterfall will be the Landing Zone Bar and Waterfall Restaurant where guests indulge in locally created food sourced through the Shinta Mani Foundation.  A stunning Boulders Spa will be a full-service Khmer Spa with all natural, chemical free products.

The Shinta Mani Foundation was founded by a Cambodian businessman Mr. Sokoun Chanpreda, and they will be overseeing the conservation and community outreach for the programs at the resort. Their objective is to provide long-term employment opportunities for the indigenous people of the area, where there is limited infrastructure and opportunity to work. The Foundation also provides opportunities for education and training so they can become well-paid hospitality workers if they choose.