Kenya has strengthened its position as one of Africa’s leading luxury tourism destinations after 15 of its hotels and safari properties received top recognition at the inaugural Tatler Best Africa Awards held in Nairobi on Thursday.
The awards celebrated 100 hotels across 21 African countries, selected through votes by a panel of more than 95 hospitality and travel experts from around the world. An additional 12 Best-in-Class awards recognised excellence in specialised categories.
Kenya’s strong performance comes as the country continues to attract investment in luxury hotels, safari lodges and unique tourism experiences. The growing investment aims to appeal to international travellers looking for high-quality service, comfort and memorable experiences.
The ceremony marked the end of the 16th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE), which brought together a record 10,000 delegates from more than 40 countries. The three-day event, held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, featured 400 exhibitors and 250 international buyers.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the recognition reflected Kenya’s growing reputation in the global luxury travel market.
She said the partnership with Tatler would help showcase Kenya’s tourism products to influential travellers, investors and hospitality businesses looking for new opportunities across Africa.
“Kenya is proud to host this first edition of Tatler Best Africa,” Miano said, adding that the travel expo had created new business opportunities and strengthened partnerships within the tourism industry.
She expressed hope that the discussions held during the expo would lead to more visitors, longer stays and increased investment in communities across the country.
Miano said the awards recognised hotels and tourism businesses that were raising standards in service, innovation and visitor experiences. She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting tourism, noting that the sector creates jobs, attracts investment and supports livelihoods.
Kenya’s Wild Hill, a luxury property overlooking the plains of the Maasai Mara, received the evening’s highest individual honour after being named Hotel of the Year.
Tourism Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok said the recognition reflected the strength and diversity of Kenya’s hospitality industry.
He noted that the country’s tourism offering extends beyond wildlife safaris to include coastal holidays, food, culture, wellness, adventure, art, fashion and sport.
Bitok said the recognised establishments showed the value of investing in quality services and distinctive experiences that meet the expectations of international visitors.
Tatler Asia Chief Experience Officer Sean Fitzpatrick said Africa was a natural choice for the awards’ first expansion beyond its original region.
He explained that Africa had attracted growing interest from Tatler’s global readers, particularly those seeking travel, food and exclusive experiences.
The awards programme was first introduced in 2024 and has since expanded beyond the Asia-Pacific region, with the Middle East added before the move into Africa.
Fitzpatrick also announced plans to expand next year’s programme to include the Best 100 Restaurants, Best 100 Bars, as well as awards covering cruises and other travel experiences.
The recognition is part of a three-year partnership between the Kenya Tourism Board and Tatler Africa aimed at promoting Kenya’s premium tourism offering to a wider international audience.
The 15 Kenyan properties recognised at the awards were &Beyond Ol Donyo Lodge, &Beyond Suyian Lodge, Angama Amboseli, Angama Mara, Arijiju, Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, Finch Hattons Luxury Camp, Hemingways Nairobi, Ishara Mara, Loirien Mara, Mahali Mzuri, Ol Jogi, Sirai Beach, Sirai House and Wild Hill.
The recognition gives Kenya an opportunity to strengthen its profile among high-end travellers while encouraging continued investment in hospitality and tourism services.
With the government and private sector working to improve the visitor experience, the awards also highlight Kenya’s ambition to attract more international visitors, increase tourism earnings and ensure that local communities benefit from the sector’s growth.
