How to Get to the Okavango Delta

Gateway: Maun, Botswana (MUB airport). No direct US flights. Fly to Johannesburg (JNB) on an international carrier, then a 2-hour regional hop to Maun with Airlink or another carrier. Maun is a normal town with hotels, restaurants, and an international airport. Day tours pick up from your Maun hotel.

International gatewayJohannesburg (JNB)

Regional hopJohannesburg to Maun, ~2 hours, daily flights

Maun airportMUB — Maun International

AirlinesAirlink, South African Airways regional partners

Visa for US/UK/EU/AU/CANot needed, 90-day visitor permit on arrival

Time to Maun from USRoughly 20–26 hours total (flights + connections)

Hotel base cost$30–150 per night in Maun

Tour pickupFrom your Maun hotel, included on day tours

The flight path

Book an international flight (United, Delta, British Airways, etc.) from your home city to Johannesburg. Airlines fly daily. From JNB, book a connecting flight to Maun; Airlink runs this route multiple times daily. The Johannesburg-to-Maun leg is roughly 2 hours in a regional turboprop. Maun airport is small but efficient. You clear immigration (no visa needed for US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia citizens; 90-day permit issued on arrival), collect your bag, and take a taxi or hotel shuttle to your accommodation.

Maun: your base

Maun is a town of roughly 60,000 people. It has supermarkets, restaurants, bars, a post office, petrol stations, and mobile phone networks. Hotels range from $30 (basic guesthouse) to $150+ (upscale lodge). Most day tours pick up from your hotel around 6–7 a.m. You return by late afternoon. Maun itself has little to see (it is a functional town, not a tourist destination), but it is clean, safe, and has everything you need to wait for your tour or spend extra days.

Alternative: Victoria Falls or Kasane

If you are doing multiple destinations, you might fly Johannesburg to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Kasane (Botswana). From Kasane, Chobe National Park is 1 hour away. From Victoria Falls, Chobe is 2 hours away. To reach Okavango from these places requires an extra internal flight to Maun or a long road drive (4+ hours from Kasane). Most visitors base in Maun.

Internal flights and self-drive

You can rent a 4x4 in Maun and self-drive to Moremi Game Reserve (2–3 hours). The inner Delta (the mokoro channels) has no roads; it is water and air only. Internal flights from Maun to other camps run daily, but day-tour logistics do not typically use them (too expensive). Book a day tour instead; it is cheaper and the operator handles logistics.

Insider tip

Johannesburg to Maun is the standard route (2-hour flight from JNB). Maun is a normal town with hotels and restaurants. Day tours pick up from your hotel. No visa needed for US/UK/EU/AU/CA citizens.

Vaccinations and health precautions

No yellow-fever vaccine required unless you are arriving from a yellow-fever country. Malaria is present; see the health page for travel clinic advice. Tap water in Maun is safe to drink.

Book a day tour from Maun

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on most tours — book now, decide later.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the Okavango Delta?

Fly to Johannesburg, then book a 2-hour connecting flight to Maun (MUB) with Airlink or a regional carrier. Maun is the gateway town. Day tours pick up from your hotel.

Do I need a visa for Botswana?

No. US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders get a 90-day visitor permit on arrival. Bring a passport valid 6 months after travel.

Can I self-drive to the Okavango Delta?

You can drive a 4x4 to Moremi Game Reserve (2–3 hours from Maun). The inner Delta channels have no roads; you must go by mokoro or air. Day tours are cheaper and easier.

How long is the flight to Maun?

Johannesburg to Maun is roughly 2 hours. Total travel time from the US is 20–26 hours including connections and layovers.