(Posted 29th June 2025)
Tourism and hospitality dignitaries from across Africa and the Indian Ocean convened in Tanzania for the opening leg of World Travel Awards 2025 to honour the organisations pushing the boundaries of excellence and innovation across the region.
Winners at the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2025, hosted at Johari Rotana, Dar es Salaam, included the Maldives, which was voted ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination’. The prestigious Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club claimed ‘Africa’s Leading Hotel’, while Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort was hailed ‘Africa’s Leading Resort’.
Tanzania solidified its position as a tourism powerhouse, collecting the title of ‘Africa’s Leading Destination’. The legendary Serengeti National Park claimed the crown for ‘Africa’s Leading National Park’, whilst the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro won ‘Africa’s Leading Mountain National Park’, with Zanzibar named ‘Africa’s Leading Beach Destination’.
The buoyancy of Africa’s luxury hospitality sector was reflected in the newcomer category for ‘Africa’s Leading New Hotel’, with Singita Milele, Tanzania emerging victorious from a stellar field of entries. Meanwhile JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort collected ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading New Resort’, echoing the dynamism of tourism in the region.
In the aviation sector, Kenya Airways secured ‘Africa’s Leading Airline’, while Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam earned the title of ‘Africa’s Leading Airport’.
Port of Cape Town was voted ‘Africa’s Leading Cruise Port’ and Durban ICC named ‘Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre’.
Graham Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards, said: “It has been a privilege to welcome our winners from across Africa and the Indian Ocean to this extraordinary celebration in Tanzania and its thriving capital, Dar es Salaam. The warmth and vibrancy of Tanzanian hospitality made this night unforgettable. Our winners represent the very best of our industry, and we salute their achievements in helping shape the future of travel across the region.”
Ephraim Mafuru, Director General, Tanzania Tourist Board, says: “Hosting the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2025 has been a milestone moment for Tanzania’s travel and tourism sector, and a unique opportunity to showcase our country’s breath-taking landscapes, vibrant cultures and world-class hospitality to key figures in the travel and tourism sector. We are honoured to have been at the heart of this celebration of travel excellence and innovation.”
Other winners included Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Conference Hotel’); Chale Island, Kenya (‘Africa’s Leading Private Island Resort’); Go Places (‘Kenya’s Leading Destination Management Company’); and Jumeirah Thanda Safari (‘South Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Villa’).
Africa Winners 2025
Africa
Algeria
| Algeria’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Constantine Marriott Hotel |
|---|---|
| Algeria’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 | Melala Voyages et Tourisme by Unitour |
| Algeria’s Leading Travel Agency 2025 | Satguru Travel Algeria |
Angola
| Angola’s Leading Car Rental Company 2025 | Avis |
|---|---|
| Angola’s Leading Hotel 2025 | EPIC SANA Luanda Hotel |
| Angola’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 | Eco Tur |
| Angola’s Leading Travel Agency 2025 | Satguru Travel Angola |
Benin
| Benin’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Novotel Cotonou Orisha |
|---|
Botswana
Burkina Faso
| Burkina Faso’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Lancaster Ouaga 2000 |
|---|
Burundi
| Burundi’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika |
|---|
Cameroon
| Cameroon’s Leading Hotel 2025 | K Hotel Douala |
|---|---|
| Cameroon’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 | Luxecam Tours |
| Cameroon’s Leading Travel Management Company 2025 | Hariom Travels |
Cape Verde
Côte d’Ivoire
| Côte d’Ivoire’s Leading Business Hotel 2025 | Mövenpick Hotel Abidjan |
|---|---|
| Côte d’Ivoire’s Leading Car Rental Company 2025 | Avis |
| Côte d’Ivoire’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Radisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport |
Democratic Republic of Congo
Djibouti
| Djibouti’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Djibouti Palace Kempinski |
|---|
Egypt
Eswatini
| Eswatini’s Leading Car Rental Company 2025 | Avis |
|---|---|
| Eswatini’s Leading Hotel 2025 | The Royal Villas Eswatini |
Ethiopia
| Ethiopia’s Leading Destination Management Company 2025 | Wild Expeditions Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Ethiopia’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Hilton Addis Ababa |
| Ethiopia’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 | Aman Ethiopia Tours |
Gabon
| Gabon’s Leading Car Rental Company 2025 | Avis |
|---|---|
| Gabon’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Radisson Blu Okoume Palace Hotel, Libreville |
| Gabon’s Leading Travel Management Company 2025 | Hariom Travels |
Gambia
| Gambia’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Majula Boutique Hotel |
|---|---|
| Gambia’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 | Alkamba Travel & Tours |
| Gambia’s Leading Travel Agency 2025 | Satguru Travel Gambia |
Ghana
Kenya
Lesotho
| Lesotho’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Maliba Lodge |
|---|---|
| Lesotho’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 | Thaba Tours |
Malawi
| Malawi’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Umodzi Park Hotel |
|---|
Mali
| Mali’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Radisson Collection Hotel, Bamako |
|---|
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
| Niger’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey |
|---|
Nigeria
Republic of the Congo
| Republic of the Congo’s Leading Hotel 2025 | DoubleTree by Hilton Pointe-Noire |
|---|---|
| Republic of the Congo’s Leading Travel Management Company 2025 | Hariom Travels |
Rwanda
São Tomé & Príncipe
| São Tomé & Príncipe’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Pestana São Tomé |
|---|
Senegal
South Africa
South Sudan
| South Sudan’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Pyramid Continental Hotel |
|---|
Sudan
| Sudan’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Al Salam Hotel Khartoum |
|---|---|
| Sudan’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 | Raidan Travel & Tours |
Tanzania
Tanzania » Zanzibar
Togo
| Togo’s Leading Car Rental Company 2025 | Hertz |
|---|---|
| Togo’s Leading Hotel 2025 | Hotel 2 Février Lomé |
