Lizothini Munsaka
Harare – Southern Africa has the best resorts in Sub-Sharan Africa, with five establishments in the region rated the finest in the region by respected US magazine Travel + Leisure.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of Travel + Leisure readers vote in the World’s Best Awards for their favourite hotels, cities, islands and more.
Hotels are rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value.
In the 2020 World’s Best Awards, Sub-Sharan Africa’s top resort was adjudged to be Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge (Arusha, Tanzania), followed by Tongabezi Lodge (Livingstone, Zambia), La Residence Franschhoek (South Africa), The Oyster Box (Umhlanga, South Africa), and Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe).
Travel + Leisure said, “Travelling in Sub-Saharan Africa isn’t all game reserves and safari glamour. There are tented camps and giraffe sightings galore for those who want them, but beyond the continent’s wild places, a bevy of relaxing resorts standby should visitors find themselves itching to escape the Land Rover for a few days.
“This year’s list of the best resorts in Africa captures the thrilling variety of experiences on offer, whether you’d like to tip back Syrah in the South African winelands, swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, or gaze down at the vertiginous drop of the Victoria Falls.”
Commenting on the honour bestowed upon Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president Clive Chinwada said: “It is testimony of the great work that African Albida (owners of the resort) is doing to ensure that the tourism light of destination Zimbabwe shine bright.
“It puts perspective to the capacity our industry is building to ensure competitiveness of the destination Zimbabwe and indeed Victoria Falls, the tourism capital for Zimbabwe.”
He said such international recognition served to enhance interest in Southern Africa’s resorts and would act as a fillip for a tourism sector reeling from the effects of COVID-19.
Tourism is among sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic as countries shut their borders and restricted travel as a virus control measure.
“With such accolades, we can only be optimistic about the future notwithstanding the current challenges imposed by COVID-19,” Chinwada said.
