South Africa has been voted the ninth best country in the world, and South African Airways the 10th best international carrier in the prestigious Condé Nast 2005 travel awards.

Several South African hotels and spas also made it into the top lists with the best performer being Singita Private Game Reserve, which scored 96,76 percent and came second in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean Islands leisure hotels category.

In first place was the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania, which scored 96,86 percent.

Cape Town's Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa came in 6th in this category (85,43 percent), the Ngala Private Game Reserve in the Kruger Park took seventh place (85,43 percent), Cape Town's Ellerman House eighth spot (85,06 percent), the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town was 12th (83,63 percent), the Table Bay Hotel 16th (82,22 percent) and Londolozi Lodge one place behind (81,76 percent).

The hotels were judged for location, service, the ambience and decor, food, environmental friendliness, comfort and leisure facilities.

Singita, which won the category last year, still got overall top marks for its food and restaurant, while the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa also took 8th position in the world's best spas (outside of the United Kingdom).

According to the magazine's website, New Zealand was the overall favourite holiday destination. The country got top marks for scenery (99 percent), environmental friendliness (98,87 percent) and safety (97 percent), ensuring its place at number one in The World's Top 100.

New Zealand also won the Best Country category with Thailand and Australia taking second and third places, although South Africa scored highest for range of accommodation (93,23 percent).

The winners are selected from a survey of the glossy international magazine's readers, who are asked to score various categories on a set of criteria which include food, value for money, services and friendliness of staff.