Tour Operator
Safari Essence
Safari Essence is our exciting new Destination Management Company. We are based in Maun, Botswana, selling tailor made tours and safaris throughout Africa.
Safari Essence is our exciting new Destination Management Company. We are based in Maun, Botswana, selling tailor made tours and safaris throughout Africa.
Safari Stays is owned and operated by Martin, Twaine & Ryan Kays with a background and history that spans over 5 generations in Botswana’s wilderness areas.
We invite you to share in our story, our Africa, in the magic of sitting around the campfire, listening to the far-off roar of a solitary lion and the soft incessant call of a Scops Owl.
Helicopter Horizons are based in Maun, the gateway to Botswana’s Okavango Delta. As the only helicopter charter company in the region, they are in a unique position to provide travellers with unforgettable scenic flights, excursions and private transfers that only a helicopter can afford.
Barclay Stenner Safaris provides a high level of privacy, comfort and plenty of welcomed surprises.
Taxi services
A vehicle is a necessity for getting around, but taxis can be hailed from the street if you do not have one. If you want to pre-book a taxi for a specific reason, you will need to phone to order one in advance.
Minibuses also drive up and down the main road all day, costing very little (about P10) and are very easily accessible!
Does the town have an airport?
Yes! The airport in Maun is located on the north side of town and is easily accessible by taxis and shuttle buses. This airport is well connected, with scheduled Air Botswana flights from Gaborone, Johannesburg, and Kasane. Maun airport may be a small airport, but it is one of the busiest in Southern Africa when considering the number of arrivals and departures per hour. Much of the air traffic is associated with ferrying travellers to the many lodges in the area.
Banks
Most places in town accept credit cards; some will even accept travellers cheques. Most banks in Maun have ATM’s where travellers can draw money using international cards, including Visa and MasterCard, which is usually the easiest, quickest, and cheapest way to get Pula. If this is not an option, you may visit Barclays Banks or Standard Chartered Bank and cash travellers cheques – this will mean spending time in queues.
There are a few Bureau de Change around town – Sunny’s Bureau de Change, located above Steers Restaurant, being the most obvious one.
Currency
The currency in Botswana is the Pula (BWP). Travellers can draw Pula out of ATM’s dotted around Maun; they can swipe using their bank cards or exchange foreign cash and travellers cheques for Pula at the banks or the airport. The US Dollar is also widely accepted.
Shops
Maun has large shopping centres, garages, banks, bars, camping shops, and so much more! Regular provisions of almost everything can be bought in Maun. These shops are perfect for the 4×4 self-drivers and are suppliers for the surrounding hotels, lodges, campsites and tour operators.
Maun’s main supermarket is the giant Shoprite on Tsheko Tsheko Road and the two newer and well-stocked Spar shops. The local market is on Tsaro Street and has a variety of small stalls and local sellers and is worth visiting if shoppers want to find some good fruit and vegetables. You can also find more unique foods such as Mopani worms!
Curio shops are not hard to come by in Maun, but some of the better ones to visit would be: The General Trading Company, Bushman Curio Shop, The Craft Centre, and African Arts & Images.
Hours of Business
Most businesses’ working hours are from 08:00 – 17:00 on weekdays. Supermarkets are open from 08:00 – 19:00 on weekdays, 08:00 – 17:00 on Saturdays and 08:00 – 13:00 on Sundays.
Botswana is both a malaria area and a yellow fever area, which your doctor should explain. You will need to take precautionary measures against both, which, again, your doctor will guide you through.
We have listed a few (but not all) facilities that travellers can visit if they feel the need to whilst they are in Maun: