Maun
Visited in July 2019
At a glance
- Country
- Botswana
- Region
- North-West District
- Population
- 85,293
- Best time to go
- May to October
- Main airport
- Maun (MUB)
- Coordinates
- 19.97°S, 23.45°E
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Overview
Maun is a dusty, sprawling frontier town on the Thamalakane River, and the jumping-off point for the Okavango Delta. Light aircraft buzz in and out of its airport all day, carrying travellers to remote safari camps.
The town itself is not pretty, but it has a friendly, outdoorsy feel, with donkeys and goats wandering the roads and safari trucks parked outside the cafés. Stay a night or two by the river before or after heading into one of Africa's great wildernesses.
Things to see
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Photo: Joachim Huber, CC BY-SA 2.0 Okavango Delta
A vast inland delta of channels, lagoons and islands where the Okavango River spreads into the Kalahari, teeming with wildlife.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Ian Sewell, CC BY-SA 2.5 Moremi Game Reserve
The protected heart of the eastern Delta, with lions, leopards, wild dogs and huge herds, a few hours' drive from town.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Staff, CC0 Thamalakane River
The river running through Maun, lined with lodges where you can watch hippos and birds from the bank.
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Nhabe Museum
A small museum and gallery in a historic building, with local art, crafts and Delta history.
Things to do
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Photo: JackyR, CC BY-SA 2.5 Mokoro trip
Glide silently through papyrus channels in a traditional dugout canoe, poled by a local guide.
Find tours -
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 Scenic flight over the Delta
A short flight in a light aircraft or helicopter reveals the Delta's patterns of water and the animals moving below.
Find tours -
Photo: Ralf Ellerich, CC BY-SA 3.0 Nxai Pan and the Makgadikgadi
Head east to the salt pans and the famous baobabs known as Baines' Baobabs.
Find tours
Where to stay
Thamalakane riverside
Lodges and campsites along the river, the most relaxed place to stay.
Hotels in Thamalakane riversideNear the airport
Handy for early flights, with cafés and supermarkets close by.
Hotels in Near the airport
Getting around
Taxis and combis run around town, but most visitors travel with their lodge or safari operator. A 4x4 is essential for self-drives into the reserves.
Maun airport is in town and has flights from Johannesburg, Gaborone and other regional hubs; a taxi to riverside lodges takes around 15 minutes.
When to go
May to October is the dry season, when the Delta's floods peak and animals gather near water. The green season from November to April brings rain, lush landscapes and migrant birds.
Plan your trip to Maun
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.