In the last few decades conservationists have reversed the near collapse of this balanced ecosystem due to European and American hunters in the 1900s. Now it's one of the places to see the Big Five of the traditional African safari: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros.

National Geographic Traveler's top tip: To maximize game-viewing opportunities, plan an itinerary including overnights at two or more safari lodges in different parts of the delta.

The full list of National Geographic Traveler's Best Trips 2016:

(In alphabetical order)
Bermuda
Capability Brown’s Gardens, Britain
Côte d’Or, Burgundy, France
Danube River
Eastern Bhutan
Glasgow, Scotland
Greenland
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hokkaido, Japan
Masurian Lakes, Poland
New York City
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Philippines
Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
San Diego/Tijuana
Seychelles
South Georgia Island
Tangier and Smith Islands, Chesapeake Bay
Uruguay
Winnipeg, Canada

Visit nationalgeographic.com for more details on each destination.

Two British places top National Geographic Traveler's best trips of 2016