The 2014 Safari Awards, sponsored by the Good Safari Guide, BEST IN COUNTRY Results Announced.

The 8th year of the Safari Awards, sponsored by the Good Safari Guide, saw an unprecedented such a surge of support for over 800 of the best safari lodges, houses and mobile operations in Africa. This called for country-level results to allow potential travelers, and trade, to sort the wheat from the chaff in each 'safari' country.

Although the overall continent results were announced earlier this year, the country by country results announced this week saw more safari operations honoured than ever before, reflecting the growing choice the traveller faces. Horizon Horseback Safaris was voted as one of the best horse riding safaris in South Africa and took the trophy for the best value safari lodge in South Africa. Owner Laura Dowinton commented 'To be recognized on a country level is hugely useful; now riders can choose a country that suits them and find the best in that country.'

The Awards process is transparent and robust: past guests, tour operators and travel journalists vote on the best safari lodges; based on the number of votes a finalist pool is created. The 16 safari expert independent tour operator Judges discuss the finalists in each category at an annual conference and cast their votes. From these votes the winners are drawn.

The categories of particular interest are the Best New Safari Camp, unearthing the hot new safari lodges and operations being launched, along with the Best Guiding Team, Best Safari Cuisine, and of course the overall winning Best Safari Camp or Lodge in that country.

Leobo Private Reserve won the Best Safari House in Africa; 'The Safari Awards is a prestigious body of expert opinion, and winning a Safari Award is the highest stamp of approval one can get. This instantly tells future guests that we are the very best, as all our past guests already know.'

Awards co-founder Henry Hallward commented 'The country-level results gives the traveller - and travel agent- much more information with which to make an informed decision when booking a safari, and that extra confidence to know that the professionals in the industry have chosen these as the best of the best. The 2015 Safari Awards are now global so when these results are out next year the traveller will have qualified feedback on wildlife product in South America, India and Australia, among others.'

To view the country results, check in to the new Safari Awards Facebook page.... or to the Safari Awards website

Voting for the 2015 Safari Awards is now open.

Give a little back to the excellent lodge or camp that you stayed in, give them some recognition and thanks by voting for them in the 2015 Safari Awards...

The 2015 Safari Awards are global, honoring wildlife tourism across the world. We invite you to vote for the best safari lodges by visiting www.safariawards.com, and to follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com and twitter @safariawards

The Safari Awards are sponsored by the Good Safari Guide. We invite you to like Good Safari Guide's facebook page www.facebook.com/goodsafariguide and join us on twitter @goodsafariguide

(ENDS)

For all media enquiries, including images:

Rosanne Cobb

Rosanne@miradatravelintelligence.com 

Phone:     +44 1865 989280

Fax:          +44 1865 989281 

Notes to the editor:

About The Safari Awards

The Safari Awards are the 'Oscars' of the safari industry. The Judges are all voted onto the panel by past finalists. The Africa Judges are as follows, and new Judges are currently being nominated with expertise in new safari regions being, such as India, Australia and South America:

AlbeeYeend
Joost Thania
Sandy Wood – Pulse Africa
Gabi Rimbock - 
Nicola Shepherd - 
Ingram Casey – To Escape To
Caroline Grayburn - 
Marc Harris – Tanzania Odyssey
Mark Nolting - 
Sarah Hoyland - 
Sarah-Jane
Giles Trotter – Scott Dunn
Julian Asher – Timeless Africa

The Awards results are announced in November each year, with the Awards ceremony taking place in London to coincide with World Travel Market. The country-level results are announced one month before the global results, following the Judges' conference in early September. Now heading for its 10th year, the Safari Awards are sponsored and managed by the Good Safari Guide.