The Saxon Hotel, Shamwari Game Reserve and Bushman Sands in the Eastern Cape were voted as the best in the world in their respective categories at the World Travel Awards held at London's Royal Opera House on 13 November 2005.

Shamwari Game Reserve was voted as the world's leading conservation company and the world's leading safari and game reserve, while The Saxon was voted as the world's leading boutique hotel and Bushman Sands in the Eastern Cape walked away with the world's leading responsible tourism project.

The World Travel Awards accounts for all sectors of the global travel industry, with over 80 winners alone for the "World's Leading Travel" category.

South Africa in general dominated the categories in Africa and walked away with thirteen awards out of the seventeen up for grabs.

A total of 156,000 travel agencies and professionals in over 140 countries worldwide were asked to vote for their leading travel destinations, airlines, hotels and companies around the world. "The survey is truly global in scale, independent and accountable," says Graham Cooke, president of the World Travel Awards.

Below is a full list of South Africa's achievements:

World's Leading Responsible Tourism Project
Bushman Sands - Eastern Cape, South Africa

World's Leading Safari & Game Reserve
Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

World's Leading Boutique Hotel
The Saxon, South Africa

World's Leading Conservation Company
Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

Africa's Leading Airline
South African Airways

Africa's Leading First Class Airline
South African Airways

Africa's Leading Business Class Airline
South African Airways

Africa's Leading Airport
Johannesburg International Airport, South Africa

Africa's Leading Casino Resort
The Palace of the Lost City, South Africa

Africa's Leading Conference Centre
International Convention Centre Durban, South Africa

Africa's Leading Conference Hotel
Sun City Resort, Sun City, South Africa

Africa's Leading Destination
Cape Town, South Africa

Africa's Leading Golf Resort
Fancourt Hotel & Country Club, South Africa

Africa's Leading Hotel
Mount Nelson Hotel, South Africa

Africa's Leading Resort
Sun City, South Africa

Africa's Leading Safari
Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

Africa's Leading Spa Resort
Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, South Africa

South Africa's Leading Hotel
Mount Nelson Hotel

South Africa's Leading Resort
Sun City Resort

South Africa's Leading Golf Resort
Fancourt Hotel & Country Club

South Africa's Leading Safari
Shamwari Game Reserve

South Africa's Leading Spa Resort
Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa

(Source: South Africa The Good News, November 2005)