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Cottar’s Awards and Accolades

  • Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2024: best resorts in the world – No.20 The Best Resorts in the Rest of Africa (excludes South Africa) 2024
  • Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2021: best hotels and resorts in Africa – No.5 The Best Resorts in the Rest of Africa (excludes South Africa) 2021
  • Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2021: The Best Resorts in the World – No.31 2021
  • The Safari Awards Africa 2019 – Most Romantic Safari Property 2019
  • The Safari Awards Africa 2019 – Best Safari Guiding Team 2019
  • The Safari Awards Kenya 2019 – The Best Guiding Team – Winner 2019
  • The Safari Awards Kenya 2019 – The Most Romantic Safari Property – Winner 2019
  • The Safari Awards Kenya 2019 – The Best Walking Safari – 3rd Place 2019
  • The Safari Awards Kenya 2019 – Best Safari Cuisine – Runner Up 2019
  • The Safari Awards Kenya 2019 – Best Design – 3rd Place 2019
  • 1 of 11 Global Ecosphere Retreats in the World – The Long Run 2019
  • GOLD Eco Rating Certification – Ecotourism Kenya 2019
  • Twisht – Global Experience Award 2019
  • Chad Clark Travel Ventures Certified™ Experience 2019
  • The Safari Awards Best Safari Guiding Team 3rd place 2018
  • The Safari Awards Best Safari House – runners up 2018
  • The Safari Awards Best Walking Safari – runners up 2018
  • The Safari Awards Best Mobile Safari – runners up 2018
  • Conde Nast Reader’s Choice awards – No.24 in 2017
  • Africa’s Best Sustainable Boutique Hotel winner 2017
  • African’s Leading Luxury Private Villa 2016 – World Travel Awards winner 2016
  • Trip of a Lifetime – Fodors 100 Travel Awards 2014
  • Best Guide – Harper’s Bazaar 2008
  • 101 Best Hotels – Tatler Travel Guide 2007
  • The 50 Best Camp Sites – The Independent 2006
  • Best Safari Camp – Harper’s & Queen 2003
  • Best Tented Camp in the World – Tatler 2003
  • Top Guides of Africa – Conde Nast Traveller 2002

Cottar’s – In The Press

Select a year to view our Press Articles

2023

“25 Travel Deals to Book Before Summer Is Over” was also the leading story for CNT’s Daily Newsletter August 2023 Read the Article
CNT has included Cottar’s Safaris in their 25 Travel Deals to Book Before Summer is Over. August 2023 Read the Article
Coverage on the new tents at Cottar’s 1920s Camp on L’Officiel Arabia online August 2023 Read the Article
Calvin’s interview on The Best Address online magazine July 2023 Read the Article
Telegraph Herald (US) July 2023 Read the Article
Cottar’s new tents have been exclusively featured in Travel Weekly (US) July 2023 Read the Article
Condé Nast Traveler’s July 2023 Read the Article
Hotels Above Par July 2023 Read the Article
Travel Agent Central July 2023 Read the Article
Forbes.com July 2023 Read the Article
Travel Pulse July 2023 Read the Article
Conde Nast online July 2023 Read the Article
Conde Nast online June 2023 Read the Article
Travel Curator’s roundup of World’s Top Luxury Eco Retreats June 2023 Read the Article
Luxury Travel Magazine May 2023 Read the Article
Seasonal Cravings May 2023 Read the Article
Wealth of Geeks May 2023 Read the Article
Tullahoma News May 2023 Read the Article
Chronicle Tribune May 2023 Read the Article
The Facts May 2023 Read the Article
Hastings Tribune May 2023 Read the Article
FTimes May 2023 Read the Article
Ultimate Encounters May 2023 Read the Article
CNT online April 2023 Read the Article
Vogue Turkey April 2023 Read the Article
Signature Media April 2023 Read the Article
Cottar’s Safaris entomology safari in TTG Luxury Green Notes (page 16) spring issue. April 2023 Read the Article
The Times online March 2023 Read the Article
In the Home section of The Sunday Times today
Meet the British entrepreneurs who built African eco-lodges
March 2023 Read the Article
The new entomology experience in the Spring issue (also The Adventure Issue) of Elite Traveler. March 2023 Read the Article
The Daily Mail Online – Cottar’s 1920s Camp has been included in their roundup of seven hotels around the world that transport guests back in time. February 2023 Read the Article
Veranda.com February 2023 Read the Article
Cottar’s Safaris new entomology safari in the inspiration news pages of Travel Africa magazine. February 2023 Read the Article
Editorialist.com is a US-based fashion website February 2023 Read the Article
HerWorld.com featuring Cottars. Her World is a female fashion magazine based in Singapore and Malaysia. February 2023 Read the Article
Sustainable Travel Destinations for 2023 for MSN.com January 2023 Read the Article
USA Today January 2023 Read the Article
The Sunday Times January 2023 Read the Article
on MSN.com featuring Cottar’s Safaris as one of best eco-focused hotels in the world (Cottar’s Safaris is #20)! January 2023 Read the Article
Bleu Magazine January 2023 Read the Article
Red Savannah – The Telegraph January 2023 Read the Article

2022

Town & Country Magazine (US). Where to Travel in 2023 roundup piece, your next trip should be Africa in a private villa… December 2022 Read the Article
Preferred by Nature Article – Ecosystem Restoration November 2022 Read the Article
Cottar’s in Bleu Magazine November 2022 Read the Article
Selling Travel Magazine. Cottar’s Safaris Budding Conservationist experience has been included in their African travel trend feature about safari experience that support local communities and conservation. October 2022 Read the Article
In The Telegraph from 1st October. Cottar’s Bush Villa has been included in their roundup feature of the best holiday destinations to gather for big celebrations. October 2022 Read the Article
Cottar’s 1920s Camp features at no.22 in the rest of Africa list, in The best resorts in the world: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
October 2022 Read the Article
October issue of Wedding & Honeymoon Magazine October 2022 Read the Article
Cottar’s Safaris Budding Conservationist included in TTG’s roundup of Eco Trips in the September issue. TTG is one of the UK’s leading trade publications September 2022 Read the Article
Coverage in Travel Weekly – Cottar’s Safaris has been included in their roundup feature of new experiences and properties connecting guests to the local community. August 2022 Read the Article
Cottar’s Safaris mention in Holly Tuppen’s piece on Wanderlust online on how to protect nature when travelling August 2022 Read the Article
Honeymoon guide of the July / August issue of Rock n Roll Bride July/August 2022 Read the Article
August issue of The Field Magazine August 2022 Read the Article
Budding Conservationist programme in The Week Online’s fortnightly travel newsletter July 2022 Read the Article
washingtonpost.com July 2022 Read the Article
A Luxury Travel Blog June 2022 Read the Article
Tatler Magazine June 2022 Read the Article
CNN article May 2022 Read the Article
coverage in the May issue of Luxe Magazine May 2022 Read the Article
Conde Nast Traveler April 2022 Read the Article
New World Wealth Africa Wealth Report for 2022 with Henley & Partners April 2022 Read the Article
Aardvark Safaris Blog April 2022 Read the Article
Forbes Mexico April 2022 Read the Article
Conde Nast Traveller March 2022 Read the Article
Robb Report Mexico March 2022 Read the Article
Luxury Travel Magazine February 2022 Read the Article
Asiana Wedding Magazine February 2022 Read the Article
Conde Nast Traveler By Juliet Kinsman January 2022 Read the Article
World of Wonderlust January 2022 Read the Article

2021

About Safari Life in East Sub Saharan Africa – featured in an important newspaper in Denmark November 2021
We are featured in the November Issue of Travel + Leisure (hard copy), Jacqui is the Editor in Cheif and stayed with us in July. November 2021
TATLER: The destinations we are most excited to travel to now October 2021 Read the Article
LUX Responsible Culture October 2021 Read the Article
Conde Nast Traveller October 2021 Read the Article
Brilliant Africa October 2021 Read the Article
Conde Nast Traveler – Readers Choice Awards 2021 October 2021 Read the Article
Carrier UK September 2021 Read the Article
Based on a true story September 2021 Read the Article
Diplomat magazine – Cottar’s features as their ‘Window on the World’ August Issue
Paradise Collective July 2021 Read the Article
Forbes July 2021 Read the Article
Town & Country July 2021 Read the Article
Sarah Marshall for The Telegraph July 2021 Read the Article
Independent May 2021 Read the Article
CNTraveller May 2021 Read the Article
Wanderlust March 2021 Read the Article
Kartagener Associates Inc. March 2021 Read the Article
Reforma March 2021 Read the Article

2020

Aardvark: November issue of Wanderlust Travel Magazine. November 2020
The Cottar’s September blog is now live on A Luxury Travel Blog September 2020 Read the Article
The national magazine of the Sierra Club August 2020 Read the Article
Aardvark Safaris blog February 2020 Read the Article

2019

Featured on BBC World Service

Calvin interviewed around the ‘business of conservation’ and featured on BBC uk

December 2019

Washing Post Sunday Paper

the tree-planting piece was published in print in the Sunday paper. It has also been picked up by several additional outlets including The San Francisco Chronicle and NZ Herald.

December 2019
Washington Post Online December 2019 Read the Article
Also from News Ghana (received from the Xin Hua News Agency) October 2019 Read the Article
Nomad Magazine (this is a soft copy of this month’s issue, page 50 – 51) October 2019 Read the Article
Love Exploring April 2019 Read the Article
Adventure Travel News March 2019 Read the Article

2018

Conde Nast Traveler – Facebook Post August 2018 Read the Article
Air Magazine, Dubai July 2018 Read the Article
Timbuktu Travel June 2018 Read the Article
Destination Weddings Magazine July / August 2018 Read the Article
Tatler.com May 2018 Read the Article
Tailormade Africa April 2018 Read the Article
Luxury Travel Diary April 2018 Read the Article
Mood of Living Read the Article
Luxury Travel Diary April 2018 Read the Article
Luxury Travel Diary March 2018 Read the Article
www.tripstodiscover.com March 2018 Read the Article
Luxury Travel Diary January 2018 Read the Article

2017

Luxury Travel Diary November 2017 Read the Article
positiveluxury.com November 2017 Read the Article
Spears page 104 November 2017 Read the Article
 International Year for sustainable tourism for Development 2017 Read the Article
CNN – The world’s best boutique hotels of 2017 November 2017 Read the Article
Stuart Butler – Ndege News October 2017 Read the Article
Conde Nast Traveler October 2017 Read the Article
The Standard August 2017 Read the Article
The World Pursuit August 2017 Read the Article
The World Pursuit August 2017 Read the Article
Oracle Time Magazine July 2017 Read the Article
Maptia.com May 2017 Read the Article
The World Pursuit May 2017 Read the Article
Signature Luxury Travel & Style magazine.Australia January 2017 Read the Article
Luxe Getaways January 2017 Read the Article

2016

Conde Nast Traveler December 2016 Read the Article
Africa Geographic September 2016 Read the Article
Center for Responsible Travel October 2016 Read the Article
Charity Buzz October 2016 Read the Article
The Safari Awards Finalist 2017 October 2016
Geographical Expeditions Magazine Autumn 2016
CNN story: 8 extravagant safari experiences in Kenya October 2016 Read the Article
The Luxury Travel Expert September 2016 Read the Article
Ker & Downey Safaris August 2016 Read the Article
Travel Weekly August 2016 Read the Article
BY CAPITAL LIFESTYLE August 2016 Read the Article
Conde Nast Traveler July 2016 Read the Article
Shermans Travel July 2016 Read the Article
National Geographic Traveller 2016 July 2016 Read the Article
VOA – Voice of America on How do we value wildlife June 2016 Read the Article
The Wall Street Journal March 2016 Read the Article
Outside Go – Calvin March 2016 Read the Article
Outside Go – the Camp March 2016 Read the Article
Travel & Leisure March 2016 Read the Article

“Cottar’s 1920s Camp, in the Mara, Africa’s great landscape, is quintessentially safari-romantic, with oodles of style. The twenties furniture and gramophone, the Vuitton trunks and the hotties may all sound a bit kitsch but, strangely, it’s not. This is the most authentic combination of the traditional colonial safari and modern comfort. The alchemy of safari and sophistication is masterminded by Calvin Cottar, tall, handsome, a thirty something fifth-generation Kenyan who’s a god: think the fashion clout of Calvin Klein combined with the ability to save your life if charged by a buffalo. Cottar’s attention to every detail – from the food to the tracking, to the hefty sundowners (there’s no such thing as a ‘small’ drink here), to the kilims in the sitting room, to the rhythm of Africa – makes this camp so special.”

Winner of the Tatler Awards for Best Tented Camp

“The Cottar clan is referred to in the book as the First Family of the safari business. If you want to track the safari bloodline, you go to Cottar’s”

Travel + Leisure: World’s best awardsFollow The Leaders

“For those who find themselves hooked on Africa, there comes a time when the want something different, …not every guide can take you there. Some do not have the taste for it and some do not have the know-how, but Calvin Cottar and his 1920s safaris come with the kind of pedigree and promise that is hard to resist.”

Financial TimesRomance full of pedigree and promise

“One very special place, however, aims to give its visitors a unique encounter with Africa. Cottars 1920s Camp harmoniously fuses the elements that make for a stylish, comfortable, one-of-a-kind safari adventure”

Architectural DigestEVOKING THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE EAST AFRICAN ADVENTURE

“Over the years, Cottars has guided royalty, sports figures, assorted tycoons, and scores of more down-to-earth types on safaris completely tailored to meet their needs and desires”

BloombergTrekking Into Africa

“If you ask old Africa hands to name the best guides, Cottars appears at the top of every list”

Conde Nast TravelerInto the Bush with the best

“Cottar’s Safari Camp is sublime: pure Out of Africa. The golden age of safari is recreated in a heady cocktail of marquee tents, antique furnishings and liveried staff”

Harpers AbroadTHE 150 BEST PLACES ON EARTH – Winner ‘Best Tented Camp in the World’, 2003

“Take White Hunters from the bookcase in the lounge of Cottar’s 1920s Camp and open it to the chapter “Trailblazers of the Twenties.” There you’ll find a photo of a hunting party, among whom is Calvin Cottar’s grandfather Mike. The hat he is wearing now sits on top of the bookcase. The Cottar clan is referred to in the book as the First Family of the safari business. If you want to track the safari bloodline, you go to Cottar’s.”

Travel + LeisureFollow The Leaders

“Within Kenya, Cottar’s and their 1920’s Camp and Villa keep a very low profile, but globally – this small family-run, purpose-driven company punches way above its weight.”

Conde Nast TravelerTravel + Leisure 2019

“To the south, set right next to the Maasai Mara reserve, Cottar’s 1920s Camp (from $800 per person per night) has “great traditional interiors and great family heritage,” Briggs says. “They’ve been doing safaris here almost a hundred years.” The tents are laden with campaign and colonial antiques, the floors lined with kilims and cotton dhurries. Some of the largely Maasai staff and guides have been with the Cottars for decades. The food is superb, the whole vibe is classic ‘Old Africa’—it’s fantastically stylish," says Briggs.”

Editors' PicksThe Best Safari Lodges and Camps in Africa 2015

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