Lonely Planet on the best place to visit in 2016
Looking for an adventure in the new year?
Head to Botswana.
Lonely Planet, a guidebook publisher, has named the southern African country the best place to visit in 2016.
Tom Hall, Lonely Planet's editorial director, joined MPR News' Kerri Miller to talk about the allure of Botswana. Lonely Planet, he said, often picks places that are off the beaten path, and enjoys "putting those places in the spotlight."
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"Botswana is Africa's unsung success," Hall said. "There's a lot to shout about: It's not just the longest continuous multi-party democracy on the continent, it's also one of the richest wildlife destinations in Africa. ... It's an excellent introduction for anyone who's thinking of visiting the continent for the first time."
Seventeen percent of the country, Hall said, is dedicated to national parks. Hall himself experienced the draw of the country's natural beauty when he biked across southern Africa; his path took him through Botswana's Okavango Delta. He said it was "like no other time I've spent anywhere else on earth. An incredibly natural paradise, an inland delta, a wetland full of wildlife, flowers, colors."
Further reading
For those who are only armchair travelers, Kerri Miller added her Roaming and Reading book pick for those curious about Botswana. She recommended "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series by Alexander McCall Smith. The books center on the fictional Mma Ramotswe, Botswana's leading — and only — female private detective.
To hear the full discussion about the beauties of Botswana with Tom Hall, use the audio player above.