The East Africa country, Kenya, has been making waves as the world’s leading safari destination, according to the World Travel Awards. It swept the highly coveted award at a grand ceremony held at the Emerald Bay Hotel in Vietnam. Kenya’s neighbour, Tanzania, also competed well for the awards
It is the fourth time that Kenya has won the global accolade. Kenya bagged the award last year, in 2015 and 2013. This year, Kenya overcame fierce competition from other African safari destinations such as South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe to clinch the prize.
Apart from the prime prize, Kenya also carted away Africa’s leading beach destination award, Africa’s leading national park award and Africa’s leading tourist board award from the World Travel Awards. A message from the World Travel Awards read in part: “It is with great pleasure that we announce the world winners of the 24th World Travel Awards 2017.”
The World’s leading exclusive private island award went to Thanda Island from Tanzania while Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti, also from Tanzania, won the world’s leading safari lodge award. Legend Golf and Safari Resort from South Africa won the world’s leading safari resort award while Villa iZulu @ Thanda Safari, also from South Africa, bagged the world’s leading luxury private villa award. The world’s leading private game reserve award went to Shambala Private Reserve from South Africa.
The World Travel Awards are widely regarded as the Oscars of the travel industry. The organisation handles the travel industry’s most prestigious awards program, rewarding leaders in the tourism, airline, hotel and hospitality sectors around the world.
