Maun
Maun is the usual starting point for trips into the Okavango Delta, where mokoro canoe trips and wildlife safaris depart.
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Maun is a town in northwest Botswana, on the southern edge of the Okavango Delta. The delta is an inland wetland: water from rivers that rise in Angola spreads across the Kalahari sand and never reaches the sea, so the land stays green in a dry region. Trips into the delta and the Moremi Game Reserve usually start here. Most visitors arrive by air or road, then continue to camps by light aircraft, vehicle or boat.
Most trips from Maun are safaris. Expect mokoro (dugout canoe) rides through shallow channels and game drives in Moremi. The dry months, roughly May to October, are the usual choice for wildlife, because animals gather around permanent water and the bush thins out. Allow extra time for light aircraft schedules when you move between camps, and plan a night or two in town before or after a camp stay.
Maun in five
- Book the delta camp transfer by airMost delta camps are reached by light aircraft from Maun Airport, and the flight is usually arranged by the camp. Ask about the soft-bag limit before you pack.Tours and tickets
- Carry pula cash for the deltaMokoro polers and small shops are paid in cash, so withdraw enough pula in town before you head out.Money and costs
- See a travel clinic about malariaThe Okavango Delta is a malaria area, so get advice on prophylaxis before you fly. Use repellent and wear long sleeves after dusk.
- Check reserve fees in your quoteAsk the operator whether your price includes entry to Moremi Game Reserve and other reserves before you pay a deposit.
- Walk only with a licensed guideWalking in the delta and in game reserves is done with a licensed guide, because elephants and buffalo can be dangerous at close range. Ask the camp for its walking rules.
Things to do in Maun
See all attractions in MaunNeed to know
- Currency
- Pula (BWP)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for some passports; check yours
- Emergency
- 999 police, 997 ambulance and fire
- Tipping
- Expected in restaurants and for guides and polers
- Time
- UTC+2, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryHot, rainy
- FebruaryHot, wet
- MarchRains ending
- AprilGreen, wet
- MayDry season starts
- JuneFloods arrive
- JulyPeak floods
- AugustPeak water, dry
- SeptemberHot, dry
- OctoberHot, dry
- NovemberHot, rains start
- DecemberRains begin
Right now in Maun
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 36%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Maun
09:52 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today39°22°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 39°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed40°25°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 40°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu40°25°9%Thursday: Clear. High 40°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Fri40°24°8%Friday: Cloudy. High 40°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat38°25°31%Saturday: Cloudy. High 38°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Sun37°24°20%Sunday: Drizzle. High 37°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Mon36°22°16%Monday: Drizzle. High 36°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 16%.
Updated 07:21 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 14.1 BWP
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Makgadikgadi Pansabout 3 hours by roadVast salt pans, with zebra migrations in the rainy season.
- Nata Bird Sanctuaryabout 2 hours by roadA wetland stop on the road east, known for waterbirds.
- Okavango Delta campsabout 30 to 60 min by light aircraftReached by light aircraft, the delta is the main reason to come to Maun.
Before you go to Maun
Rules for Maun, checked
- Check entry rules and passport validity with the Botswana immigration office before you book flights.
- Walking in the delta and in game reserves is done only with a licensed guide.
- Reserve entry fees are set by the wildlife authority; check current amounts with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
- Check customs rules on meat and dairy products before you carry food into Botswana.
Plan around Maun
Regions, parks, entry and transport for a Botswana trip
Read the guideGetting aroundFlights, roads and transfers from Maun to the delta
Read the guideMoney and costsPula, cash, cards and typical prices
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules by passport before you book flights
Read the guideWhere to stayA town base or a camp in the delta
Read the guideTours and ticketsDelta camps, mokoro trips and park entry
Read the guideMaun FAQ
How do you get to Maun?
Fly into Maun Airport, or drive the long road from Francistown or Nata. Delta camps are reached from Maun by light aircraft, or by road and boat.
Is Maun worth visiting?
Yes, as a base for the Okavango Delta rather than for the town itself. One or two nights in Maun before or after a camp stay is enough.
How many days do you need in Maun?
Plan a night or two in town for the flight in or out. Add nights in a delta camp, since the wildlife there is the main reason to come.
When is the best time to visit Maun?
June to September, the dry season when floods peak in the delta and animals gather near water. November to March is hot and wet, and the rains can make some tracks impassable.
Do you need a 4x4 to reach the delta?
Camps usually arrange air or boat transfers, so a high-clearance vehicle is only needed for self-drive trips into the reserves.
Is there malaria in Maun?
Malaria is present around the Okavango Delta and in northern Botswana. See a travel clinic before you travel and use repellent after dusk.