CLOSED: The National Geographic Traveller Travel Writing Competition 2021 is open for entries
Are you an aspiring travel writer? Submit your 500-word entry before 19 September to be in the running to win an eight-night luxury tour of Kenya, courtesy of Kuoni and Governors’ Camps — plus, the chance to kick-start your travel writing career.
Put pen to paper and tell us about an inspiring travel experience, which could be anything from mountaineering in Patagonia to a hike in Pembrokeshire.
Do you have a way with words? Love to regale your friends and family with tales from your travels? If that’s a yes, then our Travel Writing Competition is just the thing for you. This is your chance to see your name in print — and be in the running for a trip of a lifetime for you and a guest to Kenya with Kuoni and Governors’ Camp Collection.
For your chance to win, simply write no more than 500 words on an inspiring travel experience, which could be anything from mountaineering in Patagonia to a hike in Pembrokeshire.
We want to see flair and finesse with your words — and a written style that captures the essence of the magazine: a strong sense of place, immersive experiences and authentic storytelling. Every year, we receive hundreds of entries, and our aim is simple: to recognise and reward the UK and Ireland’s best new writers. Past winners have gone on to write for the title, often reporting on their winning trip and kick-starting their media careers.
So, what are you waiting for? Enter before 23:59 on Sunday 19 September 2021.
Terms and conditions apply
The winner and their guest will get to head out on game drives to try and spot a range of exciting wildlife.
THE GRAND PRIZE
What better place to inspire travel writing than Kenya? The travel experts at Kuoni are offering the winner of the National Geographic Traveller Travel Writing Competition 2021 an eight-night Governors’ Grand Safari for two people, which includes the Collection’s newest property, Mugie House, in Laikipia. With stays in three very different areas of Kenya — including a deluxe tented stay in a wildlife-rich corner of the Maasai Mara — you’ll really get to know the culture and ecosystems of this incredible country. The winner and their guest will get to head out on an authentic safari experience in Laikipia, getting the chance to look for rare wildlife like the Grévy's zebra and Jackson’s hartebeest in the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve, and see endangered rhino on the shores of Lake Nakuru, before drifting off at night to the sounds of the wild at hilltop hideaway Loldia House.
The winners will be treated to a hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara.
You could be in the running for a trip of a lifetime to Kenya courtesy of Kuoni and Governors’ Camp Collection.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
National Geographic Traveller (UK) is a title synonymous with award-winning travel writing. Every year, our annual Travel Writing Competition attracts hundreds of entrants, receives widespread exposure and features an incredible array of talent. From 8 July 2021, aspiring writers are invited to submit a 500-word ‘snapshot’ account of a travel experience, focused on a trip either here in the UK or abroad. The magazine’s editors are looking for a clear, informative and entertaining narrative, with an enticing beginning and ending, that paints an evocative portrait of your chosen destination via the focused experience you’re relaying.
For examples of previous winning entries, dive into the world of cholita wrestling in Bolivia with Sarah Gillespie (winner, 2019) and explore Thailand’s boisterous Songkran Festival with Doug Loynes (winner, 2020). Or check out National Geographic Traveller’s travel writing tips from the experts.
The travel experts at Kuoni are offering the winner of the National Geographic Traveller Travel Writing Competition 2021 an eight-night Governors’ Grand Safari for two people.
*External link. This competition is organised by APL Media Limited, publishers of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Any personal data submitted will be processed in accordance with APL Media Limited's privacy policy, available here.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By participating in any promotion, you are deemed to accept these rules and the specific directions/terms and conditions applicable to the relevant promotion as well as any terms and conditions of any relevant third party.
The Promoter
The Promoter is APL Media Limited, Highgate Studios, 53-79 Highgate Road, London NW5 1TL.
The Prize
There is one prize for two adults consisting of a Governors’ Grand Safari – Maasai Mara Tours from Kuoni Travel to Kenya.
The prize includes: one night in Nairobi, two nights in Lake Naivasha (Loldia House), two nights in Laikipia (Mugie House) and three nights in Maasai Mara (Governors’ Camp). Includes economy class flights from the UK to Nairobi, domestic road and flight transfers, accommodation as above with all meals on safari (breakfast only in Nairobi), all park and conservation fees. All accommodation is based on two people sharing. Plus, two daily game drives or activities per day at Loldia House, Mugie House and Governors’ Camp, and a hot air balloon safari in the Maasai Mara.
More information about the itinerary can be found here:
https://www.kuoni.co.uk/kenya/maasai-mara/safaris/governors-grand-safari
More information about activities can be found here:
https://www.kuoni.co.uk/kenya/governors-camp-collection
Kuoni’s booking terms & conditions will apply, and can be found here:
https://www.kuoni.co.uk/terms-conditions
More information on Kuoni’s privacy policy can be found here:
https://www.kuoni.co.uk/privacy-policy
The prize excludes: travel insurance; the cost of any passports, visas, or travel documentation required for the prize winner to travel to Kenya; airport transfers between the prize winner’s home and the departure airport; personal spending money; tips; or any food, drink or activities not mentioned in the prize description. Any additional taxes, costs and expenses incurred during the trip will be the responsibility of the prize winner.
The prize is valid for travel between 10 January 2022 to 22 June 2022 or 1 November 2022 to 7 December 2022, subject to availability.
It is the winner’s responsibility to check all visa, passport, travel insurance and health requirements are fulfilled.
The prize must be booked at least 30 days in advance of the intended date of travel.
The prize is subject to availability, non-exchangeable, non-transferable and non-refundable. The prize for this Prize Promotion will be given to the winner as set out in these terms and conditions. The winner must accept the prize in that form. There is no cash alternative. No alternative will be offered.
In the event of cancellation by the winner, for whatever reason, no alternative prize will be given.
The prize provider and Promoter retain the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event that the original prize offered is not available.
The Promoter will not be held liable for a prize if it does not reach the winner for reasons beyond its reasonable control.
The winner uses the prize at their own risk.
The Promoter shall not be liable in any way for any failure, liability or breach by any third party in connection with this Prize Promotion or prize and accepts no responsibility for any loss, property damage or personal injury suffered by the winner relating to this Prize Promotion or the prize, except in the case of death or personal injury caused by Promoter’s negligence or fraudulent misrepresentation and, so far as permitted by law, the Promoter its associated companies and agents exclude responsibility and all liabilities arising for reasons beyond its control including any act or default of any third party supplier.
Entrants
Entrants must reside in the UK and be aged 18 or over.
Employees and agents of APL Media Limited (APL) or any company connected with the production or distribution of a promotion or any of their associated companies are not eligible to take part in the applicable promotion, nor are their relatives or members of their families or households.
Entrants can enter the Prize Promotion only as specified in these terms and conditions.
The winner may be required to provide the Promoter with the form of proof of identity as Promoter in its sole discretion requests before receipt of any prize. Failure to produce sufficient evidence as to identity may result in disqualification.
No entries from agents, third parties, organised groups or entries automatically generated by computer will be accepted. No incomplete, illegible or corrupted entries will be accepted. Failure to comply with any of these terms and conditions (including instructions) will disqualify any entrant from taking part in the Prize Promotion and the entry will be invalid. The Promoter retains sole discretion to refuse entrants the right to enter if it feels that these terms and conditions are not being complied with or for any valid and justifiable reason.
The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant and/or winner and/or amend these terms and conditions at any time in its absolute discretion.
Entries and judging
To enter the competition, entrants must submit a 500-word travel piece using the entry form available at: https://aplmedia.typeform.com/to/cyQc9lJJ
The competition closes at 11.59pm BST on 19 September 2021. All entries must be received before this time. Only one entry per named entrant and email address will be accepted.
Entries submitted must be original work and must not have been entered into any other writing competition or been published in any other publication or website. Entrants must own the copyright to any work entered. Entrants will retain copyright to their work. The winner will be revealed in the December 2021 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK), published on 4 November 2021.
The competition will be judged by National Geographic Traveller (UK) editorial director, Maria Pieri, and editor, Pat Riddell. The judges' decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
The winner will be notified by email before 4 November 2021. The winner will be contacted using the email address provided at the time of entry. Once notified, the winner must reply within 10 days.
If the selected winner is unreachable, ineligible, disqualified or fails to claim the prize within 10 days of notification being sent by the Promoter, that winner automatically forfeits the prize.
The Promoter’s decision in this Prize Promotion is final and legally binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
Prize Promotion
No purchase is necessary for entry in the Prize Promotion.
Any entry made giving another person’s (or a false) name or other dishonest information will be disqualified.
Publicity and Personal Data
All personal data submitted by an entrant in connection with this Prize Promotion is submitted voluntarily. All personal data collected from entrants will be used by the Promoter for the purpose of administering the Prize Promotion and by entering this Prize Promotion, entrants’ consent to Promoter using this information to contact them in respect of the prize.
Entrants may consent to receiving National Geographic Traveller (UK) email newsletters containing the latest travel features, events, competitions and offers, by ticking the relevant box on the entry form.
If at a later stage you wish to withdraw your consent to receive such materials please select the “unsubscribe” link which can be found on the National Geographic Traveller (UK) newsletters. Further information about how the information gathered will be held is available from the Promoter’s privacy policy.
Entrants may also consent to receiving direct marketing communications from National Geographic Partners and/or the prize providers by ticking the relevant boxes on the entry form. If you consent to such marketing your information will be processed in accordance with the privacy policies specified with the relevant tick box on the entry form.
You are under no obligation to consent to emails or direct marketing material and this in no way affects your eligibility to still enter the Prize Promotion.
By entering into this Prize Promotion you consent to your personal data being passed outside the EU for the purposes of processing and storing on the Promoter’s servers for the purpose of administering the Prize Promotion.
By entering this Prize Promotion, each of the entrants agree to the use of their name and/or likeness without compensation, for the Promoter’s promotional and marketing purposes.
Entrants agree to permit National Geographic Traveller (UK) to publish the winning and runner-up entries in the magazine, on the National Geographic Traveller (UK) website and on the National Geographic Traveller (UK) social media channels. The winning and runner-up entries may also be used by National Geographic Traveller (UK) and the competition sponsors in promotional material relating to the competition.
Winners must co-operate fully for publicity purposes if so required.
Miscellaneous
Entrants indemnify the Promoter, its agents, employees, representatives, associates, affiliates, parent and subsidiary companies against any and all claim, losses, costs, damages, liability and expenses arising out of the entrant’s breach of any of these terms and conditions.
Each entrant by entering this Prize Promotion expressly releases the Promoter, its affiliates, agents, employees and directors from any claim, action or demand arising out of or in connection with the Prize Promotion or their prize, if any.
The Promoter reserves the right to modify these rules, suspend or discontinue the Prize Promotion at any time, including without limitation where it is necessary to do so due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control or if it cannot be guaranteed that the Prize Promotion can be carried out correctly for technical or legal reasons or if the Promoter suspects that any person has been manipulating the administration of the Prize Promotion or has acted unethically in any other way.
The determination and decision of the Promoter on all matters shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The laws of England and Wales govern these terms and conditions.
Follow us on social media
