Every year for the prestigious 2016 Travel & Leisure magazine World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rank cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.
As Melanie Lieberman said “When we travel to an urban center, we’re often looking for the whole package—history, culture, exciting cuisine, modernity, antiquity, and everything in between. It sounds like a tall order, but the world’s best cities offer these attributes and more.
Perhaps the best part of the 2016 World’s Best Cities list is its diversity: from the American South to the Middle East, the heart of Mexico to the capitals of ancient European and Asian empires, the most beloved cities on earth show how dynamic our world really is”.
Cape Town was voted the top city in Africa and the Middle East and has come in 10th out of the world’s top 15 cities, and although higher than Rome in the top 15, it came off below Florence, with the No. 1 city being Charleston, South Carolina.
Among the World’s Top 100 Hotels, South Africa had eight. These were the Cape Grace (at 97), Singita Kruger National Park (95), Madikwe Safari Lodge tied 84th (with La Casa Que Canta, Mexico), the Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa (75), La Residence in Franschhoek (70), Lion Sands Game Reserve (60), Singita Sabi Sand (18), Londolozi (13). Singita’s Grumeti in Tanzania came 11th, Tongabezi Lodge in Zambia 36th, and Mombo Camp and Little Mombo in Botswana 29th.
In the Best Safari Lodges in Africa category, South Africa was way ahead. Said T&L, “South African properties made up about two-thirds of the list, with a full four lodges — andBeyond Kirkman’s Kamp, Lion Sands Game Reserve, Singita Sabi Sand, and Londolozi — located in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve area, bordering renowned Kruger National Park.”
What more can we say? Add Africa to your bucket list!
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