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Botswana tops Lonely Planet's list of best places to visit in 2016

The African country came top of the Best in Travel list

Tuesday 27 October 2015 18:47 GMT

Botswana has topped Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 list this year, closely followed by Japan and the USA.

The land-locked African country, which will celebrate 50 years of independence next year, is known for its rare combination of desert and delta, as well as its vast array of wildlife. A total of 17 per cent of the country is dedicated to national parks and in 2014 the Okavango Delta became Unesco’s 1,000th World Heritage Site.

Number two on the list, Japan offers stunning landscapes and futuristic cities, while third-place USA is celebrating 100 years of its National Park Service in 2016.

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Show all 10

1/10Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Botswana

Botswana celebrates fifty years of independence next year and is known for its array of wildlife. No longer the reserve of the rich, Botswana offers budget options such as community projects like Tsabong Camel Park and Moremi Gorge.

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Japan

The Japanese Yen is weak at the moment, making trips to this island nation more affordable. Japan’s cities might feel like something from the future but its countryside offers otherworldly landscapes, combining mountainous peaks with shimmering beaches.

Lottie Davies © Lonely Planet Images

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

USA

The National Park Service, which looks after America’s 59 national parks, is turning 100 next year. The government body maintains parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.

Mark Read © Lonely Planet Images

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Palau

Made up of more than 200 unspoilt limestone and volcanic islands covered in mangrove forests and surrounded by clear blue water, countries don't get much more idyllic than Palau. In 2014 its president, President Remengesau, was named a “Champion of the Earth” by the United Nations for his environmental work.

Ippei Naoi © Getty Images

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Latvia

Celebrating 25 years of independence, little Latvia is set to take centre stage next year. Head to the countryside to explore crumbling medieval castles tucked away in the forests.

Filip Fuxa © Shutterstock

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Australia

Always a popular destination but with imminent, and transformative, changes coming to beloved wilderness areas such as the Great Barrier Reef and the forests of Tasmania, now is the time to go.

Catherine Sutherland © Lonely Planet Images

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Poland

The historic city of Wroclaw is next year’s European Capital of Culture and wildlife tourism is on the rise in Poland’s forests. New BA flights from London to Kraków have put the country on people's radar.

Guy Vanderelst © Getty Images/ Flickr

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Uruguay

Dubbed the Switzerland of America, Uruguay offers great architecture and a growing foodie culture. For more bohemian vibes head to one of the fishing villages on the coast, where you’ll find empty beaches and great waves.

Elojotorpe © Getty Images

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Greenland

Almost 80% ice-covered, Greenland has the world’s lowest population density and famously poor cellular coverage, making it an ideal destination for anyone wanted to escape the hubbub of modern life. If you’re lucky you might catch the Northern Lights too.

Lottie Davies © Lonely Planet Images

Lonely Planet's best countries to visit in 2016

Fiji

A remote island perfect for a tropical getaway. The long-awaited expansion of the Nadi International Airport next year will make the island more accessible.

© Jongcheol Park/Eyeem/Getty Images

The top 10 list was compiled by a team of experts, who took into account special events going on next year, recent developments in each country, and new things for travellers to see or do.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 named Manchester as one of the world’s top 10 cities to visit in 2016. Dublin also made it onto the top 10 cities list, which was topped by Kotor in Montenegro.

Click here to view the Victoria Falls, Botswana Safari & Cape Town Tour, with Independent Holidays.

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