Namibia emerged ‘Top Country’ at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2019, putting the Southern African country at the number one spot on the Top Country 2019 list compiled by the magazine.
The awards were presented at a special event hosted at Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show at Olympia on 31st January 2019. Wanderlust Magazine’s Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Lyn Hughes was joined by broadcaster, presenter and author Kate Humble to honour the best in travel.
“Namibia’s otherworldly red deserts, unique tribal culture and the wildlife that roams its dramatic plains are just some of the reasons why this African nation clinched the Top Country spot in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2019,” the magazine said.
Namibia last achieved top spot in 2014, with the country frequently appearing in the top ten destinations over the last few years.
Hughes commented on the destination: “Having tracked rhinos there, I can personally testify that this country is a conservation success story, with wildlife still flourishing both inside and outside the national parks, really adding to the visitor experience.”
South Africa is the only African country beside Namibia to be rated, securing the seventh position on Top Country 2019 list.
Top Country 2019
Namibia 97.69
Japan 95.78
New Zealand 95.75
Iceland 94.44
Chile 94.05
Costa Rica 93.86
South Africa 93.72
Indonesia 93.42
Peru 93.33
Sri Lanka 93.10
Rwanda clinched the fifth spot on the Emerging Destinations list.
Top Emerging Destination 2019
Uzbekistan 94.67
Iran 94.44
Kyrgyzstan 94.38
Bolivia 94.17
Rwanda 93.33
Cape Town is fourth on the Top City List
Top City (Worldwide) 2019
Luang Prabang
Granada
Seville
Cape Town
Krakow
Edinburgh
Kyoto
Venice
Copenhagen
York
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Wanderlust was launched by Paul Morrison and Lyn Hughes in 1993. The couple were bored on a long flight to South America and decided to sketch out their dream travel magazine on the back of a sick bag. They soon decided that they could do it themselves and there was no other name for it than Wanderlust. Over the last 25 years the magazine has established itself as the bible for independently-minded and curious travellers
The awards are based on readers’ travels from December 2017 to November 2018. Results are based on an average satisfaction score (converted to a percentage) rather than the number of votes cast. An entry required a minimum number of votes to be considered. In categories where no percentage is shown, results are based on the number of votes cast.
