Joy as Maasai Mara is voted Africa’s best game sanctuary

The Maasai Mara Game Reserve has been ranked the best park in Africa, according to the latest World Travel Awards (WTA).

The game reserve bagged the trophy for its variety of wildlife, abundance of predators and the spectacular wildebeest migration.

The rating saw the reserve improve from last year’s SafariBookings.com online survey of Africa’s best national reserves that ranked it eighth in the top 50 parks.

Regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife viewing circuit, the Mara beat South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve of Botswana to what can be viewed as the Oscar prize of the tourism industry.

The red carpet event was hosted by Diamonds La Gemma dell’Est on the Northern tip of Zanzibar.

Kenya was represented by a delegation led by Tourism Principal Secretary Fatuma Hirsi.

HOLIDAY PARADISE

Hundreds of industry leaders in attendance described the Mara as an irresistible holiday paradise due to its annual spectacular wildebeest migration across its border with Serengeti recognised as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

The Maasai Mara was followed by Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana, Etosha National Park, Namibia, Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda, Kruger National Park, South Africa, and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park

The winners revealed at World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony on April 9, 2016, included Kenya Airways, which was recognised as Africa’s leading Airline and Africa’s leading Airline - Business Class, while Serena Hotels were honoured with the title of Africa’s leading Hotel Brand.

Each year, World Travel Awards cover the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate three individual and collective  successes within each key geographical region.

The WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai lauded the Maasai Mara National Reserve’s latest accolade.

“It highlights the resilience of the country’s tourism industry that has been on the road to recovery after a period of slump inflicted by insecurity fears and financial crises in the major source markets in Europe,” he said.

“For us in the county, the home of the Mara, the award evokes a deep sense of pride cultivated in successive generations over centuries of interaction with the most important natural resource in our neighbourhood,’ Mr Tunai told journalists.