Maun
Botswana's “safari capital” and the gateway town to the Okavango Delta, where the airport, camp offices, supermarkets and riverside lodges are concentrated, and every delta trip passes through it.
Maun lies on the southeastern edge of the delta, on the Thamalakane River. It has a population of about 80,000 and was originally the center of the Batawana tribe. Today it is the hub of Botswana's tourism industry. Almost all trips to the Okavango Delta, Moremi and Makgadikgadi begin here. Maun International Airport has flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Windhoek and Kasane, along with many small charter flights to the camps. The town offers car rentals (4WD vehicles with camping gear), tour operators, supermarkets, banks and gas stations, so it's a good place to stock up before heading out. The riverside lodges and camps are pleasant, and you can watch the sunset from riverside bars, with hippos occasionally visible in the river. Other activities include visiting the Nonnesvic Art Gallery, strolling through the Maun Educational Park, and booking a scenic flight or a one-day mokoro trip. Maun is generally safe, but avoid walking alone at night. It is advisable to spend one night in Maun both before and after your delta trip as a buffer against small-plane schedule changes or baggage restrictions.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Nhabe Museum
- Okavango Delta Scenic Flight
- Maun Educational Park
- Thamalakane River
- Mokoro Channels
- Chief's Island
- Moremi Game Reserve
- Third Bridge (Moremi)