Maun is an important village in Botswana, the "tourism capital" of Botswana, and major gateway to the Okavango Delta. In 2021, it was home to about 85,000 people.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
It has shopping centres, hotels and lodges as well as car hire services, although it retains a rural atmosphere and local tribesmen continue to bring their cattle to Maun to sell. The community is distributed along the wide banks of the Thamalakane where red lechwe can still be seen grazing next to local donkeys, goats and cattle.
The core of Maun, say from Riley's Hotel to the airport, is walkable, but usually hot. Further out than that — and a number of popular camps are to the north-east of town — you will want to get a ride. There is a roundabout just a few hundred metres northeast of Riley's Hotel and the Tourist office. It is a useful reference point. From here, Tesheko Tsheko road runs southwest past Riley's to the bus station and market (at Tsaro St, ~1.5 km). Sekgoma Road runs southeast, crossing the Thamalakane River, past the Maun Education Park, and on to Francistown. Moeti Road runs northwest.
Maun is a prime take-off location for safaris into the Okavango Delta, Parks and Game Reserves. Moremi Game Reserve, a world class game reserve, is 80 km away. It offers undisturbed game viewing in varies woodland plains environments. Mokoro trip. A mokoro trip in a traditional dugout canoe with a poler that pushes you through the waterways of the Okavango delta is combined with an overnight stay, camping or hiking. Any travel agency can arrange this. Depending who you book this with, the price varies.
Bon Arrivee is just across the street from the airport. International breakfasts, lunches, dinner and a full range of refreshments await you. Audi Camp has a great open kitchen, where you can watch your meal being cooked. You eat under one of the largest thatch roofs you may ever see. Try Hilary's Coffee Shop near the airport - cheap and cheerful, a regular lunchtime spot for locals because the menu is full of delicious homemade dishes. The menu shows real imagination.
Trekkers Nightclub - It is popular primarily with the locals. Ex-pats will warn you not to go, but is perfectly safe if you're reasonably cautious. Bar 2000 Wine and Dine. Great way to try a lot of different local dishes at one time! As well as a Mopane worm if you are up for the challenge!
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €281 — book ahead for the popular ones.
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In Aug, Maun typically sees ~29°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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