For its rich safari destinations and wildlife, Kenya has again been voted as the world’s leading safari destination by the 2017 World Travel Awards, reports Daily Nation.

Kenya scooped the prestigious award during a grand ceremony that took place at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Hotel in Vietnam on December 10.

This is the fourth time that Kenya has won the global accolade, having bagged the award in 2016, 2015 and 2013.

Kenya overcame very close competition from other African safari destinations such as South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

This year, Kenya also scooped the Africa’s leading beach destination award, the Africa’s leading national park award and the Africa’s leading tourist board award from the World Travel Awards.

Thanda Island from Tanzania scooped the world’s leading exclusive private island award while Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti, also from Tanzania, won the world’s leading safari lodge award.

Legend Golf and Safari Resort from South Africa won the world’s leading safari resort award while Villa iZulu Thanda Safari, also from South Africa, bagged the world’s leading luxury private villa award.

Shambala Private Reserve from South Africa scooped the world’s leading private game reserve.

Regarded as the Oscars of the travel industry, the World Travel Awards is the travel industry’s most prestigious awards programme, rewarding leaders in the tourism, airline, hotel and hospitality sectors around the world.

Kenya is an East African country with coastline on the Indian Ocean. It encompasses savannah, lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands. It's also home to safari destinations and wildlife including lions, elephants and rhinos.