Maun is Botswana's tourist capital and the gateway to the Okavango Delta — the main attraction in the region. A small airport handles daily flights from Gaborone, Victoria Falls, South Africa, and Namibia, making it the starting point for most safari itineraries in northern Botswana. Within a few hours of travel from Maun, you can reach the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, and the Chobe–Zambezi area.
Over the past few years Maun has developed rapidly from a rural frontier town, spreading along the wide Thamalakane River. It now has good shopping centres, hotels, lodges, and 4WD hire. But it still retains a rural atmosphere — local tribesmen bring their cattle here to sell, and you might see antelope grazing the riverbanks. The Nhabe Museum covers the history of the BaTawana people and is worth a quick visit before heading into the bush.
The best time to go is during the winter months from May to October, when there is little or no rainfall and the days are warm and cloudless. Nights can be cold, so bring a jacket. November to April can be very hot, with most of the rainfall between December and February.