Lamai Camp is Africa's Best New Safari Property

TANZANIA'S tourism industry continues to record best achievements globally with the latest recognition going to Serengeti's Lamai camp which won the 2013 award of 'Best new Safari Property' in Africa.

This comes shortly after the Serengeti National Park topped all global tourism destinations and named the 2013 global winner of International Award in Tourism, Hotel and Catering Industry. Lamai-Serengeti operates under the Arusha-based 'Nomad Tanzania,' and is tucked amongst the rocks of the endless Kogakuria Kopje plains, just a few miles from Mara River. "This is a prestigious award for us and further proof that Tanzania is one of the very best Safari destinations in the world," stated Mr John Corse, the Managing Director of Nomad Tanzania. With the additional global award for the park, he said Serengeti should emerge as the best area for tourism this year.

Serengeti National Park gets 350,000 tourists a year, earning the country more than 42bn/- and therefore becoming the third highest earner of tourism revenue after Mount Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro Crater. The Singita Faru-Faru Lodge in the Singita game reserve also topped in another category, 'Best property in East Africa,' in which other Tanzanian lodges like Nomad's Greystoke Mahale of Kigoma, Beho-Beho and Sayari camp also got listed in the top five.

Overall it was windfall for Nomad Tanzania because it was also listed in the 'Best Mobile Safari Operator' category and the 'Best Safari Guiding Team,' in Africa while the Singita game reserve produced other outstanding properties such as Singita Sabora camp, Singita Explore camp, Singita Castleton and Singita Grumeti Reserves and Riding Safaris. The official best safari operators, lodges, camps, guides and conservationists in Africa were recently announced in London at the 2013 Safari Awards said to be the 'Oscars of Safari,' which now runs in their fifth year.

The 'Oscars of Safaris' as they have become known, are very established with 90 finalists in 18 categories selected by a panel of eighteen of the most experienced and trusted independent safari specialist tour operators, based on over one thousand eight hundred votes from travel agents and tour operators globally.

The 2013 Safari Awards are not only about honouring the most expensive lodges, or most luxurious spa, but also features categories that range from 'Best Ecological Lodge or Camp' to 'Best Personal Contribution to Wildlife Conservation' and contribution to community and society development.