According to new data from Tourism Sentiment Index (TSI)The Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Zanzibar stood out as winners for beach holidays, while South Africa’s Stellenbosch, Cape Town and Hermanus were ranked highly for food, restaurants and wildlife, respectively.
In lieu of this, travel experts share some interesting awards about the destination:
Cape Town – home to cuisine for over 350 years
Cape Town restaurants regularly feature in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards with Restaurant Fyn earning a plum spot of 37 in 2022.
According to Robert More, custodian and CEO of the MORE Family Collection, Malay Cape Cuisine has become synonymous with fine dining in the Mother City.
“During the colonial period, many Malaysian, Indonesian and East African slaves brought to the Cape in the 17th and 18th centuries had limited access to traditional ingredients and therefore had to improvise. This resulted in a cuisine that is unique to the Cape, and rich in history and tradition ,” said More.
See also: Here are the 10 best Eat Out restaurants in Gauteng
Seychelles – only 1% of the country is solid land
With more than 115 islands, but only 459 square kilometers, 99% of this paradise is made up of water. And the island nation has taken impressive steps to protect it, designating 30% of its waters as Marine Protected Areas.
“We are not surprised that Seychelles ranks fourth in the world in the Tourism Sentiment Index. Seychelles’ waters mean everything to the people and the economy, and we are doing everything we can to protect them with the new Marine Spatial Plan,” said Principal Secretary for the Environment, Dennis Matatiken.
“Visitors to the Seychelles may be familiar with the beautiful coral reefs, but few know that these same waters are a stopping point for whale sharks that migrate from east to west every year. These amazing creatures come to Australia every year, take advantage of this beautiful oasis before continuing your journey,” added Matatiken.
See also: Seychelles – a lush tropical paradise hidden in the Indian Ocean
Stellenbosch – the birthplace of Pinotage
Known for its incredible selection of vineyards, Stellenbosch is a mecca for wine lovers around the world – so it’s got 34Th point in Tourism Sentiment Index 2023. It won the highest award at the 2022 International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2022 with the best trophy for the best red and white wine producer of the year.
With over 200 wineries to choose from, visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the perfect wine experience and in the case of Pinotage, you can’t replicate it anywhere else in the world. This is because scientist Abraham Perold invented Pinotage in 1925 in Stellenbosch. They crossed the Cinsaut and Pinot Noir varietals, explains Visit Stellenbosch CEO Jeanneret Momberg.
See also: WATCH: Sustainability meets single malt whisky
Hermanus – has a resident whale crier
While South Africa’s game lodges and reserves are world-famous, Hermanus wins bragging rights as a wildlife destination of choice thanks to the majestic southern right whales that are drawn to the shallow, sandy waters to breed.
“The unique geography of the Hermanus coastline means these gentle giants can be easily observed from the mainland – or your hotel room, in the case of The Marine Hotel, which overlooks the whale sanctuary,” said Giltedge Group CEO Murray Gardiner.
It was 1991 when Hermanus first made history as the only town on Earth to have its own Whale Crier. The tradition began informally, with tourists alerting locals of whale sightings, and soon became officially recognized, explains Gardiner.
“Thanks to this incredible innovation, everyone who visits Hermanus will now enjoy a unique experience,” he said.
Mauritius – has more than one island
The Republic of Mauritius is famous for its idyllic tropical beaches along its coastline, which is approximately 330 km long. But the country of Mauritius includes the island of Mauritius, Rodrigues and the outer islands of the constituencies of Agaléga and St. Brandon.
Antoinette Turner, GM of the South African Aviation Center said that Mauritius is an area of outstanding beauty that remains undisturbed and unspoiled and is a must-visit for those who enjoy water sports.
See also: Six reasons to put Zambia on your travel bucket list for 2023