Maun Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Maun airport is Botswana's second busiest, because almost all the small planes to the Okavango Delta camps leave from here: the village centre is just 2-3 km away, a few minutes by taxi from the terminal. Those who stay overnight almost always do so waiting for a flight into the bush or just back from a safari, not to stay in town. The proper, bookable-like-any-hotel properties are in the village or along the Thamalakane River to the north, on the edge of the delta; the more remote tented camps deeper in the Delta are almost always booked as part of a safari package and are not covered by this guide.

Maun Village, centre

City centre · The Cresta Riley's is in the village, about 2 km and a 3-minute drive from the terminal, with an airport shuttle.

Best for: Travellers who want the option closest to the terminal, convenient for short stopovers before or after a flight to the Delta.

Pros

A few minutes from the terminal, the closest option in all of Maun
Shops, banks and the village market close at hand

Cons

The village has little nightlife outside the hotels
Those seeking contact with the river and the bush need to head north

Recommended hotels in this area

Cresta Riley's Hotel: The only Cresta group hotel in the village of Maun, a thatched-roof property dating from 1928 on the banks of the Thamalakane; 2 km and 3 minutes from the terminal, with an airport shuttle.

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On the Thamalakane River, north of town

Nearby town · The properties are 10 km north of the centre, on the banks of the Thamalakane: 15-20 minutes from the terminal by taxi or with a transfer arranged by the property on request, no free shuttle.

Best for: Travellers who already want a taste of delta atmosphere - river, birds, silence - without booking a package safari camp.

Pros

Riverside gardens and silence, already close to the atmosphere of the Delta
An indoor pool and restaurant, useful since there's nothing else nearby

Cons

Without a transfer arranged in advance, at night you're relying on a taxi alone
Scores and review counts vary widely between properties: check each one individually

Recommended hotels in this area

Cresta Maun Hotel: The newer and more refined of Maun's two Cresta hotels, 10 km north of the centre on the banks of the Thamalakane, with a pool and the Tswii restaurant; 15 minutes from the terminal.
Island Safari Lodge: A historic lodge dating from 1973 on a private reserve of about 120 hectares on the banks of the Thamalakane, 10 km and about 19 minutes from the terminal; it can be booked as a standalone stay, not only as a package.
Discovery Bed and Breakfast: A family-run B&B in a quiet residential area on the Thamalakane, about 20 minutes from the terminal: nine rooms split between chalets and rondavels in traditional Botswana style.

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