Tanzania shines at World Travel Awards as Altezza takes top honour

Dar es Salaam. Altezza Travel has been named Tanzania’s leading tour operator for the second consecutive year at the prestigious World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony, held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Jahari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

The annual event, which honours excellence across the continent’s travel and tourism industry, brought together more than 500 delegates from 39 countries—ten more than the 2016 edition held in Zanzibar.

This year marked the first time Dar es Salaam hosted the ceremony, with attendees lauding the city’s rising profile in African tourism.

Among the evening’s most noteworthy winners was Altezza Travel, a Kilimanjaro-based operator known for its commitment to safety, sustainability, and community engagement.

Speaking shortly after receiving the award, Altezza’s project manager, Mr Dickson Muganda, spoke on the company’s back-to-back success to consistency.

“We haven’t changed much from what we did in 2023 or 2024. We’ve simply continued organising safe expeditions and supporting sustainability initiatives,” he told The Citizen.

He said despite his modest tone, the company’s track record speaks for itself.

“In February 2024, Altezza achieved Travelife Certified status—one of the world’s leading sustainability certifications. Out of more than 500 registered tour operators in Tanzania, only five hold the designation, with Altezza being the largest among them,” he added.

However, Mr Muganda was quick to credit the company’s staff for its growing reputation.

“Our success is down to the team. On behalf of the company, I’d like to thank everyone involved. I’ll soon be bringing this award back to all of you,” he said.

He said Altezza is preparing for continued growth amid rising global interest in Tanzania’s natural attractions.

“We’ll be scaling up our equipment—more tents, additional oxygen systems for mountain expeditions, and an expanded safari vehicle fleet,” revealed Mr Muganda.

But expansion, he emphasised, will go hand-in-hand with social responsibility.

“Last year, we introduced a company-wide minimum wage. Even our low-skilled employees now earn at least double the Kilimanjaro regional average,” he said.

The company’s environmental and community-focused initiatives also contributed to its recognition at the World Travel Awards.

Altezza supports a range of conservation projects, including the Serengeti de-snaring programme and hyena protection efforts near Lake Eyasi.

The firm has planted more than 10,000 trees in Rundugai, donated fire-fighting equipment to Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA), and worked with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) on wild dog collaring and tracking.

A member of Altezza’s reservation team, Ms Irene Maphie, underscored the broader value of tourism in transforming lives and sustaining livelihoods.

“We always hear that tourism drives development—and we witness that every day. I’ve seen real change in our communities. Enquiries are rising year after year, and that keeps me hopeful. But we must continue protecting our natural heritage,” she said.

“Tanzania has the best parks and wildlife in Africa. That’s why travellers come. The more we conserve, the stronger the industry becomes,” she added.

As the evening wrapped up in Dar es Salaam, the ceremony served as both celebration and contemplation—a reflection of the sector’s resilience and promise.

With even lesser-known destinations such as South Sudan, Mali and São Tomé and Príncipe entering the regional tourism conversation, Tanzania continues to position itself as a leader.

While it remains uncertain when the World Travel Awards will next return to Tanzania, the achievements of companies like Altezza Travel strengthen the country’s standing as a hub for sustainable and responsible tourism.