Netizens Laugh As South Africa Ranked as One of the Best Countries Globally
- South Africa and neighbouring Botswana have been ranked as two of the best countries in the world
- Readers of an international publication voted South Africa as one of the top 10 countries to visit in the world
- Ao8uthg Africans strongly disputed the ramings and pointed out that unemployment and the struggling economy
Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.
Source: Getty Images
JOHANNESBURG — South Africans disputed an international publication ranking South Africa as among the top ten countries to visit in the world.
According to The South African, the country was ranked fourth in the 2025 Telegraph Travel Awards. The awards are an annual survey-based ranking where UK-based readers rank their favourite countries in categories like the best airline, hotel group, country, city, and tour operator.
Botswana also ranked
Botswana was ranked the 10th best country in the world as one of the best travel destinations. Botswana has not moved up the ranks and has remained in that position consistently for some years.
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South Africans ranked in the past
- Telegraph Travel Awards named Cape Town as the greatest city on earth 2023 for eight years running
- South Africa was also ranked among the top three African passports by Henley & Partners in July 2024
- Rand Merchant Bank ranked South Africa as the fourth most attractive investment destination in Africa
- Cape Town beat London, Melbourne, and New York when it was ranked the World's Best City by Time Out magazine in January 2025
- Cape Town was ranked as the best city in the world again in July 2025
What sid South Africans say?'
Netizens on Facebook disagreed wth the rankings and some believed that the country's unemployment rate should have ranked it lower.
Bernie Vasn Arkel said:
"Botswana, yes. SA no."
Sandy B said:
"South Africans will never see that. I always say it, but we are like a virus that's eating the beautiful country up."
Braam Filmalter said:
"What are you smoking? Botswana is Ivy League. We are community college level."
Chantell & Quinn said:
"Yes, beast unemployment rate."
Khosi Matakanya said:
"South Africa was, until the great invasion by all and sundry."
Errol Stroud said:
"Ranked by swho? They don't live in either of these countries."
Karen Ric-Hansen said:
"South Africa is fabulous, and the more I travel inside and outside the country, the more convinced I am of this. The climate, the natural beauty, and the warmth and ingenuity of South African people are not easy to top."
Cape Town outranks Dubai
In a related article, Briefly News reported that Cape Town was ranked the Ultimate Long-Haul City Break destination for British travellers in 2025. It outranked cities like Dubai and Los Angeles.
A Which? survey showed that over 1,500 responders voted Cape Town as the best in terms of destination, good, culture, and accommodation. Many South Africans were proud.
Source: Briefly News
