Where to stay in Maun — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
If you're dreaming of a safari in one of the world's largest inland deltas, almost every trip starts in Maun — the dusty, lively gateway to the Okavango Delta and Botswana's self-styled "tourism capital." This is where it all kicks off: you check into a lodge on the Thamalakane River, then the next morning hop a light aircraft straight into a water camp, glide through reed channels by traditional mokoro canoe, tick off hundreds of bird species, and track big game in Moremi Game Reserve. Maun isn't polished or pretty, but it's real — full of working safari guides, bush pilots, and riverside bars. This guide helps you pick the right area to stay, plan your activities, and eat genuinely Botswanan food.
Why stay in Maun
The one true gateway
Maun International (MUB) is one of the busiest airports in the region. Light aircraft shuttle into delta camps all day, and most remote luxury camps are only reachable from here.
A mokoro like nowhere else
Glide silently through clear channels and reed beds in a traditional dugout canoe, poled by hand — the most intimate way to experience the delta's waterways.
World-class wildlife next door
Moremi and the wider delta deliver the Big Five, African wild dog, big elephant herds, and 400-plus bird species — especially during the May–August flood.
An honest safari town
Maun is a real working town of guides and bush pilots — unpolished but friendly, with riverside bars, a busy market, and easygoing Botswanan hospitality.
Pick an area first — where to stay in Maun
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
MatlapanengLeafy riverside lodge belt on the road toward Moremi — quiet and ideal for a night before or after the delta
Coming soonTown CentreNear the airport, Ngami mall, banks, ATMs and safari offices — convenient for sorting out logistics
Coming soonSedie & BosejaMid-range guesthouse areas close to the market and local restaurants — good value
Coming soonRiverfront / Old BridgeBackpacker camps by the hippo pool — the budget-friendly launch point for mokoro trips
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in Maun
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights
We're rolling out Maun stay reviews — meanwhile search Maun hotels across all 3 sites now
Local dishes to try in Maun
- 1🍖
Seswaa
Beef or goat slow-boiled until tender, then pounded with salt and shredded. Served with thick porridge and leafy greens — Botswana's signature dish.
📍 National dish - 2🥣
Bogobe
A thick porridge of sorghum or millet flour, eaten daily with meat stew or vegetables — a cornerstone of Setswana cooking.
📍 Staple - 3🌽
Pap
A stiff maize-meal porridge similar to polenta, the go-to base across southern Africa for scooping up sauces and stews.
📍 Starch staple - 4🥬
Morogo
Assorted wild leafy greens like wild spinach or pumpkin leaves, cooked down with onion, tomato, and spices — a classic side with seswaa or pap.
📍 Wild greens - 5🐐
Goat stew
Tender slow-cooked goat in a rich gravy, a staple of celebrations and local eateries — hearty and well-spiced, perfect with pap.
📍 Meat dish - 6🛒
Maun Open Market
Browse local produce, fresh fruit, and street snacks for a taste of everyday Maun life and flavours straight from local growers.
📍 Local market
- 1🛶
Mokoro trip on the Okavango Delta
Glide through clear channels and papyrus in a hand-poled dugout canoe — peaceful, photogenic, and the classic delta experience, with frogs, birds, and the odd distant hippo.
📍 Top pick - 2🦁
Moremi Game Reserve
One of Africa's finest reserves, about 90 km from Maun (roughly 2 hours by 4x4). Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and African wild dog all roam here.
📍 Safari - 3✈️
Scenic flight over the delta
Take a light aircraft or helicopter from Maun and look down on winding channels, islands, and scattered herds — a breathtaking way to grasp the delta's scale.
📍 Aerial view - 4🏛️
Nhabe Museum
Housed in a 1939 British-built building, this Ngamiland community museum showcases local crafts, woven baskets, Bayei fishing nets, and regional art and history.
📍 Culture - 5🦓
Maun Educational Park
A small fenced reserve on the Thamalakane in town where you can walk trails and spot zebra, giraffe, ostrich, and impala up close — great for kids.
📍 Family - 6🐊
Crocodile Camp riverside
About 12 km out on the Moremi road, on the Thamalakane River, with rich birdlife, boat and mokoro excursions, and a spa — an easy, breezy half-day.
📍 Relax - 7🦜
Birding along the Thamalakane
Take a guided walk or sunset cruise on the river. The delta and Maun area host 400-plus species, from kingfishers to fish eagles and herons.
📍 Birdwatching - 8🌳
Day trip to Nxai Pan & Makgadikgadi
A roughly one-hour charter flight reaches the Nxai Pan salt flats, home to springbok herds and the famous Baines' Baobabs.
📍 Day trip
Things to do in Maun
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Maun — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Maun hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 9.1Value
★ 8.5ValueSedia Riverside Hotel
Riverside with pool, family & camping friendly
★ 8.2Valueโรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในMaun
ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ
Haven't found the one? Search all 3 sites yourself
Compare real-time room availability for your Maun dates
🚆 Getting around Maun
Maun Airport (MUB)
Maun International is about 5 km from town and one of the busiest airports in the region, with light aircraft running into delta camps all day. Shuttles and taxis wait outside the terminal.
Combis (local minibuses)
Public minibuses (combis) run set routes from the bus station — cheap but awkward with luggage. Route 1 heads toward the airport and camps north of town.
Town taxis
Taxis are available at the airport and around town. Agree the fare before you set off — the easiest option for travellers with bags.
Self-drive 4x4
A 4x4 is mandatory to enter Moremi or the delta. The road from Maun is tarred for the first ~60 km, then becomes sand — carry extra water and fuel.
Pula & paying
The currency is the Pula (BWP) — meaning "rain." ATMs and banks are in town (Ngami Centre, Choppies), but there are none in the camps, so withdraw cash before heading out.
Where to go next near Maun
GaboroneWhere to stay, what to see and what to eat in Gaborone, Botswana's easygoing capital — free national museum, craft markets, and white rhino at Mokolodi.
See this city's guide →
KasaneThe gateway to Chobe National Park and Africa's densest elephant herds. Cruise the river past elephants and hippos, then day-trip to Victoria Falls.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Maun
When is the best time to visit Maun?+
The dry season, May–October, is best. Floodwaters from Angola reach the delta then, peaking around July, so water levels are high and wildlife concentrates along the channels — ideal for both mokoro trips and game viewing. November–March is the hotter, wetter green season.
How do I get into the Okavango Delta from Maun?+
The main way is a light-aircraft flight from Maun Airport into a water camp (most luxury camps are fly-in only). Budget options drive to a poling station for a mokoro trip, or you can self-drive a 4x4 into Moremi, about 90 km away.
Do I need a visa for Botswana?+
It depends on your nationality — many travellers enter visa-free, while others need a visa in advance. Check current rules with a Botswana embassy before you travel. English is an official language, so communication is easy.
Ready to book your Maun stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking