Serengeti retains title as Africa's Leading National Park as Ruaha scoops the top cultural award at WTA 2026
Tanzania's Serengeti National Park has retained its title as Africa's Leading National Park at the 2026 World Travel Awards. Other Tanzanian parks, including Ruaha, Nyerere, and Tarangire, also received top honors for their cultural and scenic contributions.
Why it matters
These awards highlight the growing importance of the southern tourism circuit in Tanzania and the global recognition of African conservation efforts.
Serengeti which is known for its annual wildebeests’ migration has however scooped Africa’s leading ‘Big Five,’ National Park at the World Travel Awards 2026 ceremony.
But Serengeti, also emerged the overall winner in the Africa’s Leading National Park category of the 33 rd World Travel Awards, beating the Central Kalahari Game reserve of Botswana, Etosha National Park of Namibia and South Africa’s Kruger.
The Conservation Commissioner of Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) Massana Gibril Mwishawa received the trophies during the WTA Africa Gala Night held at Diamonds Bijoux resort in Zanzibar.
In the Big Five slot, Serengeti, which won the accolade for the second time, managed to beat Akagera of Rwanda, Chobe of Botswana, its sibling, Nyerere of Tanzania and Kruger National Park of South Africa.
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