Senior travel: Maun
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 68 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Main Mall and grocery stopsStep-free: yes · about 60 minLevel mall floors; kerbs and sand in the car park.
- Craft shops and basket sellersStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 45 minFlat shop floors with a step at some doors (check).
- Nhabe MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minSteps at the entrance (check).
- Thamalakane river and the old bridgeStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minSand and uneven ground; the bridge is level.
- Thamalakane riverside birdingStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 90 minSand and gravel paths; a few lodges have level decks and ramps (ask).
- Okavango Delta scenic flightStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 90 minSteps into a small aircraft and tight seats; tell the operator about mobility needs when you book.
Getting around in Maun
Maun is flat, but pavements are patchy, sand covers many shoulders, and light aircraft have steps and narrow cabins. Book a lodge with ground-floor rooms and ask camps about boarding help.
- Pavements:
- Short stretches near the Main Mall; sand and gravel elsewhere.
- Getting around:
- Lodge cars and taxis are the step-free option; minibuses are not.
- Lodges:
- Some have ramped paths and accessible rooms (ask before booking).
- Aircraft:
- Light aircraft need a few steps and a folded frame; tell your operator when you book.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Botswana guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Malaria:
- Present in Ngamiland; take prophylaxis as advised by a travel clinic, use repellent from dusk, and cover up in the evening. The risk is highest from about November to May.
- Yellow fever:
- A vaccination certificate may be required if you arrive from an endemic country; check before you fly.
- Heat and sun:
- Hat, sunscreen, shade every hour, and water; dehydration is a common cause of feeling ill in the dry season.
- Food and water:
- Bottled or filtered water; eat hot, fresh food; wash hands before eating.
- Medical care:
- Basic care in Maun; serious cases mean evacuation to Gaborone or South Africa. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential.
- Bilharzia:
- Some slow-moving fresh water in the region carries bilharzia; do not swim in rivers or pools of unknown status (ask your guide).
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.