Tanzania’s tourism profile has received a major boost after Selous and Mpanga-Kipengere, two destinations managed by the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), won top honours at the 2026 World Travel Awards.
The victories, secured at the 33rd World Travel Awards ceremony held in Zanzibar on August 28, mark TAWA’s successful debut in the prestigious international tourism competition.
Selous was named Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2026, beating a strong field that included Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, South Africa’s Table Mountain, Robben Island and V&A Waterfront, Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Lake Malawi.
The category also featured several other Tanzanian attractions, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Amani Nature Forest Reserve and Pugu Hills Forest Reserve.
Mpanga-Kipengere, meanwhile, won the Africa’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2026 award after competing against established destinations including Marrakech in Morocco, the Mozambican Islands, Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Tanzania’s Kitulo National Park.
The awards ceremony was held at Diamonds Bijoux Hotel in Bwejuu, South Zanzibar, bringing together players from across the African and international tourism industry.
TAWA entered three destinations in the 2026 awards, with the third entry being the Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara ruins.
The two victories provide a significant platform for TAWA to promote destinations that have traditionally received less international attention than Tanzania’s best-known attractions.
Speaking after receiving the awards, TAWA Board Chairman Major General (Retired) Hamis Semfuko attributed the success to innovation and commitment among the authority’s board, management and staff.
“The biggest secret behind this victory is the innovation of all my people, from the board to all employees, and, most importantly, their commitment to ensuring that our destinations become more attractive for tourism,” he said.
Major General Semfuko said the recognition would strengthen TAWA’s efforts to promote domestic tourism while opening up more destinations to both local and international visitors.
“We promised Her Excellency the President that TAWA would become a leading force in domestic tourism. TAWA wants to achieve great things in Zanzibar... you will see a major impact next year,” he said.
TAWA Acting Conservation Commissioner Mlage Y. Kabange said the awards should not be viewed as the end of the authority’s efforts, noting that the country has many other attractions with significant tourism potential.
He said TAWA was investing in infrastructure and improving services to make its destinations easier to access and more attractive to visitors.
“We have many more destinations. We are continuing to improve their infrastructure so that they can attract more visitors. We assure Tanzanians that we will continue providing better services at our destinations,” Mr Kabange said.
The awards come as Tanzania seeks to broaden its tourism offering and increase the visibility of destinations beyond the country’s traditional tourism circuit.
For TAWA, the recognition also demonstrates the potential of its conservation areas to compete with established tourism destinations across Africa.
The latest achievement is expected to provide additional momentum for the authority’s efforts to improve infrastructure, strengthen visitor services and promote domestic tourism.
It also gives Tanzania another opportunity to position its diverse tourism products—including wildlife, natural landscapes, historical sites and cultural heritage—more prominently in regional and international markets.