03 Nov 2015
Zarafa Camp in Botswana is the “Best Safari Experience in Africa” in the 2016 Safari Awards sponsored by The Good Safari Guide with support from SkySafari by Elewana and Hickman & Bousfield.
The 2016 Safari Awards Results, judged by sixteen of the safari industry's most experienced safari specialists (www.safariawards.com/judges) were announced last night at a gala cocktail event at Aloft, Excel, London.
Safari tourism and conservation veterans joined the Safari Awards Nominees to see winners in twenty safari categories named during the evening, culminating in the long-awaited crowning of the 'Best Safari Experience in Africa' won by Zarafa Camp, flagship of Great Plains Conservation (www.greatplainsconservation.com)
In its ninth year, the Safari Awards reveal the very best safari lodges, camps and safari houses alongside the most outstanding safari guides and operators in Africa - the 'who's who' of the safari community.
Sponsored by the independent Good Safari Guide, with support from SkySafari by Elewana (www.skysafari.com) and hosted by Hickman & Bousfield safari outfitters (http://hickmanandbousfield.com), and led by a team of thirteen highly respected independent safari specialists from Australia, South Africa, India, Germany, USA and the UK, the Safari Awards saw over fifteen thousand public and travel trade nominations for over four hundred safari properties, guides and operators. Nineteen award winners represent the future of wildlife tourism and conservation of wildlife in Africa.
Dereck Joubert - CEO and Founder of Great Plains Conservation said, "Being acknowledged by these awards is very special and a wonderful endorsement for us all; our staff, guides and managers who work so hard every day to give their best. I see being "Best" as short for "Giving your best" and I can ask no more of the Great Plains family. They're all very motivated by being mentioned amongst the greats of the industry”.
www.greatplainsconservation.com
Further Results
A full list of 2016 Africa awards results can be seen at: http://www.safariawards.com/2016_results_africa/
A full list of 2016 country-level awards results can be seen here: http://www.safariawards.com/2016_results_countries/
A full list of 2016 Judges can be seen here: http://www.safariawards.com/judges/
'The Safari Awards recognize the many contributions of the nominees including their time, energy and innovation. It is because of these safari operators and the vast supporting staff standing behind them that our safari industry continues to thrive in a turbulent market and that tourism-led conservation remains at the forefront of much of Africa's agenda. We wish the nominees, finalists and winners all the success they deserve for their incredibly hard work in reaching this point; every Safari Awards winner is a leader in its field'. - Henry Hallward, Safari Awards Founder
--------
Notes for Editors
2016 Awards Data:
15,000+ votes received from travellers, safari specialists and journalists
420 lodges/operations made the cut and reached the country finalist stage
16 expert judges from independent tour operators in USA, India, UK, Germany, Holland and South Africa voted on the finalists.
Contact:
henry.hallward@safariawards.com
Twitter: @safariawards
Images: sarah.collins@miradatravelgroup.com
Mobile: +44 7776 131807
Phone: +44 1865 989280
Fax: +44 1865 989281
