- The 2025 World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- African nations excelled across 80 award categories, showcasing their tourism and hospitality innovation.
- Countries including Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique emerged as standout winners
African nations stood out at the 2025 World Travel Awards (WTA) Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony, held on June 28 at the Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa dominate 2025 World Travel Awards in Dar es Salaam
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The ceremony kicked off the 2025 WTA regional series, uniting tourism and hospitality leaders across the continent to honor outstanding achievements in travel, destination development, and service innovation, with over 80 award categories presented.
Countries including Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique emerged as standout winners, underscoring Africa’s growing influence in the global tourism industry.
Awards spanned from national parks and beach resorts to airlines and private island retreats, each highlighting the continent’s commitment to excellence and innovation.
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Here is a list of popular awards and their recipients:
| Award | Country | Location/Brand |
|---|---|---|
| Africa’s Leading Destination 2025 | Tanzania | Zanzibar |
| Africa’s Leading most romantic resort 2025 | Mozambique | Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort |
| Africa’s Leading Water Park 2025 | South Africa | Valley of waves |
| Africa’s Leading Airline 2025 | Kenya | KenyaAirways |
| Africa’s Leading National Park 2025 | Tanzania | Serengeti National Park |
| Africa’s Leading Mountain National part 2025 | Tanzania | Mount Kilimanjaro |
| Africa’s Leading Beach Destination 2025 | Tanzania | Zanzibar |
| Africa’s Leading Cruise port 2025 | South Africa | Cape town |
| Africa’s Leading Resort 2025 | Tanzania | Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort |
| Africa’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Tanzania | Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari |
| Africa’s Leading Airport 2025 | Tazania | Julius Nyerere International Airport |
| Africa’s Leading Private Island Resort 2025 | Kenya | Chale Island, Kenya t |
| Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2025 | South Africa | Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) |
| Africa’s Leading honeymoon destination 2025 | Tanzania | Kitulo National Park |
| Africa’s leading safari company 2025 | Kenya | Safari.com |
Other categories included:
Nature Positive Category: Emboo Safari Camp (Kenya) won Gold for its carbon-neutral operations and community engagement.
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Shared Value Category: South Africa’s !Khwa ttu and Dlala Nje were celebrated for linking tourism to heritage preservation and urban youth empowerment.
Climate Change Category: Green Safaris (Zambia) was honoured for pioneering electric game drives and low-impact eco-tourism.
All-Inclusive Category: Foxes Safari Camps (Tanzania) won for its ethical tourism model involving local communities.
Road to the Grand Final
Winners from each continent will proceed to the WTA Grand Final, scheduled for December 9, 2025, in Bahrain. Africa’s representatives will compete with global counterparts in categories such as World’s Leading Destination and World’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Initiative.
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The final ceremony is expected to attract global travel leaders, media, and investors.
Olamilekan Okebiorun
