The Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2025 survey has once again highlighted top travel experiences across the globe, with nearly 180,000 readers casting over 657,000 votes across more than 8,700 properties. This year, readers showed a decisive preference for destinations in North Africa and the Middle East, while also celebrating exceptional hotels and resorts across sub-Saharan Africa.

In the "World's Best Cities in Africa and the Middle East" category, a dominant theme was the appeal of cities rich in history and culture, alongside modern metropolises. Readers rated cities based on Sights/landmarks, Culture, Food, Friendliness, Shopping, and Value. While ancient sites like Luxor in Egypt and Petra in Jordan were recognized for their historic ruins and remarkable architecture, contemporary hubs such as Dubai and Doha were lauded for their modern infrastructure and diverse experiences. Safety, history, culture, and food emerged as key reasons for readers' adoration of these destinations.

Cape Town, South Africa, emerged as the top city in Africa and the Middle East, climbing from second place last year. Described by one reader as “one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” Cape Town captivated visitors not only with its scenic views of Table Mountain, Constantia vineyards, and the Atlantic Ocean but also with its “amazing” food and wine, “friendly and welcoming” people, unique wildlife such as the Boulders Beach penguin colony, and excellent value for money. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, secured the second spot, praised for its “jaw-dropping” architecture, safety, and vast range of experiences. Petra, Jordan, ranked eighth, was noted for its “remarkable” architectural sights, with one reader expressing a desire to spend days there.

The full list of top 10 cities in Africa and the Middle East, along with their reader scores, is as follows: 1. Cape Town, South Africa (88.98), 2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates (87.38), 3. Jerusalem, Israel (87.02), 4. Marrakesh, Morocco (86.44), 5. Tel Aviv, Israel (85.90), 6. Fez, Morocco (85.00), 7. Luxor, Egypt (83.63), 8. Petra, Jordan (83.08), 9. Doha, Qatar (82.89), 10. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (82.56).

The survey also recognized outstanding sub-Saharan African city hotels and resorts, where location, scenery, and exceptional service were paramount considerations. Hotels were classified based on their location and amenities and rated on Rooms/facilities, Location, Service, Food, and Value.

In the "African City Hotels" category, Cape Town continued its dominance, with four of the top five properties located in the "Mother City." These included waterside properties like Ellerman House (No. 2), One&Only Cape Town (No. 3), and Cape Grace, a Fairmont Managed Hotel (No. 5), which were celebrated for their ocean or harbor views. Reader comments frequently highlighted the “friendly staff” and “over-the-top” service at these establishments.

However, the top spot for African City Hotels went to Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya, rising from fifth place last year. Famed for its resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes that interact with guests during breakfast, this unique property was lauded as "a delightful experience" and "one of the best stays of my life." The full list of top city hotels includes: 1. Giraffe Manor: Nairobi, Kenya (97.33), 2. Ellerman House: Cape Town (96.80), 3. One&Only Cape Town (96.57), 4. Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, Cape Town (96.14), 5. Cape Grace: Cape Town (93.80).

African resort hotels showcased diversity across the continent, from wine farms in South Africa to beach resorts in the Seychelles and Tanzania. Scenery was a crucial factor, with descriptions such as “Paradise!” for Four Seasons Resort Seychelles (No. 4) and “beautiful” for The Victoria Falls Hotel (No. 5).

Kilindi Zanzibar in Tanzania debuted as the favorite African resort hotel for 2025. This beach resort on the island of Zanzibar, off the Indian Ocean coast, garnered praise for its “paradise” location and its suitability for honeymooners. Above all, its service, including management, was frequently mentioned, with staff described as “attentive to fulfill guests needs” and villa hosts as “attentive, smart, and hardworking.” The top resorts are: 1. Kilindi Zanzibar: Tanzania (99.50), 2. Matetsi Victoria Falls: Matetsi Private Game Reserve, Zimbabwe (97.47), 3. Babylonstoren: Simondium, South Africa (95.41), 4. Four Seasons Resort Seychelles (94.75), 5. The Victoria Falls Hotel: Zimbabwe (86.55).