Safaris From Maun - Compare 264 Tours

4.8/5 – 424 Botswana Safari Reviews

Sitting right alongside the Okavango Delta, Maun is Botswana’s premier safari gateway. A flight of just an hour or so can take you deep into the Delta, or even further afield to Chobe National Park or the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. For those traveling by road, destinations in the Delta – including Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Concession and more – are all easily accessible within a couple of hours’ drive. In fact, it’s all so close at hand that Maun, with its almost endless supply of enticing safari possibilities, ranks as one of Africa’s best places to begin a safari.

1-20 of 264 results. Rankings are based on performance, relevance and payment. Learn more

6 Questions About Safaris From Maun

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Botswana & Namibia’ and ‘Southern Africa’. He covers Botswana for SafariBookings.com and writes about Botswana and the wider region for magazines and newspapers worldwide. He is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’, part of which is set in Botswana.
› More about Anthony

Is Maun a good starting point for going on safari?

“Maun is one of the best places to begin a safari anywhere in Africa. It’s also the main safari gateway for northern Botswana, thanks to both its good plane connections with destinations elsewhere in southern Africa, and its proximity to some of the best safari parks in the region. Maun is located right alongside the Okavango Delta, and most safaris that begin in Maun head in this direction, either by road or by air. Maun Airport is where most flights into the airstrips of the Okavango Delta begin. It’s also possible to fly from Maun into Chobe (although most Chobe flights begin in Kasane) and even into the Central Kalahari GR. Maun is also the home base for many (perhaps even most) of Botswana’s safari tour operators.”

Which animals will I see on a trip from Maun?

“It depends where your safari goes and how long it lasts. But assuming you travel for part of your safari from Maun into the Okavango Delta, there’s a good chance that you’ll see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile and all even all three of the big cats (lion, leopard and cheetah). African wild dog and spotted hyena are also possibilities. There are rhinos in the Delta, too, but they’re very rarely seen. And the Okavango Delta also has a large selection of antelope species, including the red lechwe. The sight of red lechwe running through the water on a misty morning is a Delta classic. The birdlife of the Delta is also exceptional. Many of the same animals are also possible to see in Chobe and elsewhere.”

Is it possible to visit the Okavango Delta on a safari from Maun?

“Yes, the Okavango Delta is actually the most popular place to go on safari from Maun. In fact, Maun is known as the gateway to the Delta. Most safaris into the Okavango Delta begin with a flight in a small plane from Maun Airport into one of the remote airstrips of the Delta, where you’ll be met with a vehicle from your lodge or tented camp. It is then possible to hop from one camp or concession to the next by plane. It is also possible to drive from Maun to the Delta, and this is a popular way to travel among those on a self-drive safari. Most safaris of this kind begin in the southern sections of the Delta, including Moremi GR and the Khwai Concession.”

Can I combine a trip from Maun with Victoria Falls?

“Yes, it’s possible to combine a tour from Maun with Victoria Falls, although it is more common to combine Victoria Falls with a safari from Kasane. Depending on prevailing flight schedules, it may be possible to fly directly between Maun and Victoria Falls (in Livingstone, Zimbabwe), and this makes it very easy to combine the two. If you wish to combine Victoria Falls and Maun as part of a driving safari, it would need to be a longer safari that takes in the Delta and Chobe NP before heading to Victoria Falls. Ask your tour operator what may be possible.”

What is the best time of year for a safari from Maun?

“The best time to visit the Okavango Delta is the Dry season, which runs from April to October. Unlike elsewhere, the Dry season is actually when water levels in the Delta are at their highest, which is best for wildlife viewing. The high water levels also make possible activities such as mokoro (traditional wooden dugout canoe) trips through the waterways of the Delta. Remember that July to October is the high season in the Delta: this is the busiest (and most expensive) time of year to visit. These months are also similar to the best time for visiting Chobe NP. If, however, you’re heading to Central Kalahari GR from Maun, the best time to visit is actually from December to March.”

Is there anything to see in Maun itself?

“Maun doesn’t have many things to do in the town itself. You could take a scenic flight out over the Okavango Delta, although if you’re planning to fly into the Delta as part of an air transfer for your safari, a scenic flight is probably unnecessary. A visit to the Okavango Craft Brewery (proceeds of which go to help Delta communities living with elephants) is also excellent. Consider a sunset cruise along the Thamalakane River, close to town, though low water levels in recent years mean that this may not be possible. Other things you could do close to Maun include visiting the Shorobe Basket Co-operative or spending time with elephant orphans at Elephant Havens. Maun also has good places to eat, shop and stay.”

Botswana Safari Reviews

4.8/5 424 Reviews

Expert

Gemma Pitcher –

Gemma authored several Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

The First-Class Airline Cabin of the Safari Scene

5/5

Botswana is the first-class airline cabin of the African safari scene: expensive (for the most part), exclusive – and absolutely worth it. The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s most spectacular wild places, and a bucket list...

Full Review

Expert

Stuart Butler –

Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including 'Kenya', 'Rwanda' and 'Tanzania'.

Africa at Its Best

5/5

First a confession. I love Kenya. It’s by far and away my favourite African country and I refuse to accept that there might be an even better African safari destination. But then I went to Botswana and nothing could wipe the smile off my...

Full Review

Estefania –

Reviewed: May 17, 2026

Once in a lifetime trip, we've been changed forever and loved everything

5/5

Botswana completely broke my sense of scale and I mean that in the best way. The wildlife, the landscapes, the people, the conservation story, all of it is just extraordinary. I came not knowing what to expect and left forever changed and...

Full Review

Carol L Clark –

Reviewed: May 13, 2026

Spiritually transformative and a great deal of fun!

5/5

Botswana has just the right bush to animal ratio, by which I mean there is enough open land to see a lot of animals and enough bush to keep them close to the road. Every time we turned around, there were elephants. The river trip allowed us...

Full Review

Denzil B –

Reviewed: Apr 15, 2026

Just go...

5/5

Okavango Delta is a world apart from anything else we have experienced. Kwando Splash and Lagoon Camps were beyond expectations. The sightings, and the closeness of the animals, were breathtaking. Of our many travels, this is a trip we...

Full Review

Andrew Cooper –

Reviewed: Apr 7, 2026

Must-do experience for anyone who enjoy the bush and its wildlife

5/5

The Okavango Delta is truly amazing and seeing it from a boat, safari vehicle or the air is a stunning experience. The untamed landscape is teeming with wildlife and it’s unfenced so you can see wildlife on the main roads as well as the...

Full Review

All 424 Botswana Safari Reviews

Your Safari

Tour Length

Rates in USD $ – Change Currency

Starting From

Comfort Level

Private or Shared Tour

Safari Type

Operator Rating

Specialized Tours

Other Tour Features

Filter by Operator

Filter by Accommodation

Operators From

Safaris From Maun - Compare 264 Tours

2-Day Botswana Saguni Safari Lodge

9-Day Botswana Luxury Tour

7-Day Okavango Delta, Khwai and Chobe Wildlife Safari

7-Day Luxury Botswana Honeymoon

2-Day Okavango Delta Explorer Mokoro Trip

7-Day Adventure Spirit Safari

10-Day Best of Botswana - Kalahari to Delta Fly-in Safari

3-Day Okavango Delta- Khwai Concession

5-Day Moremi Hippo Tented Safari

7-Day Central Kalahari and Okavango Delta Safari

7-Day Ultimate Fly-in Okavango Delta Experience

14-Day Savannah Vista

3-Day Explore the Okavango Mokoro Tour

3-Day Okavango Mokoro Stargazing Escape

7-Day Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai

2-Day Overnight Mokoro Trip

7-Day Exceed Your Expectations About Nature

7-Day Botswana - Delta and Makgadikgadi Pans Safari

7-Day Khwai Moremi Trail

1-Day Moremi Express Full-Day Safari from Maun

Related Searches

6 Questions About Safaris From Maun

Answered by

Anthony Ham

6 Questions About Safaris From Maun

Is Maun a good starting point for going on safari?

Which animals will I see on a trip from Maun?

Is it possible to visit the Okavango Delta on a safari from Maun?

Can I combine a trip from Maun with Victoria Falls?

What is the best time of year for a safari from Maun?

Is there anything to see in Maun itself?

Botswana Safari Reviews

The First-Class Airline Cabin of the Safari Scene

Africa at Its Best

Once in a lifetime trip, we've been changed forever and loved everything

Spiritually transformative and a great deal of fun!

Just go...

Must-do experience for anyone who enjoy the bush and its wildlife