Reality Brief: Maun

Current alerts

No official alerts recorded for this region.

Essentials before you arrive

• Passport: France, United Kingdom

  No visa is needed for French and British nationals for up to 90 days; the length granted is at the officer's discretion: check the stamp. Work, study or volunteering require a visa or permit.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: entry requirementsGuide: Entry and residence

• Passport valid for at least 6 months after entry, with 3 blank pages according to the UK.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: entry requirementsGuide: Entry and residence

• Police 999, ambulance 997, fire 998; these numbers do not always answer. Private rescue: MRI 992, Rescue One 993, Okavango Air Rescue 995.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, useful contactsGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: getting helpGuide: Health

• Many accidents (animals, pedestrians): do not drive at night. Off the main roads, carry GPS, a satellite phone, 5 litres of water per person, a second spare wheel and enough fuel; travel in convoy in very remote areas.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• In parks, use an experienced guide and do not leave the vehicle without permission. Avoid swimming in lakes and rivers (bacteria, animals). Water cuts are common in Gaborone.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• The currency is the pula (BWP).

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: BotswanaGuide: Money and banking

Living in Maun

• In parks, use an experienced guide and do not leave the vehicle without permission. Avoid swimming in lakes and rivers (bacteria, animals). Water cuts are common in Gaborone.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Many accidents (animals, pedestrians): do not drive at night. Off the main roads, carry GPS, a satellite phone, 5 litres of water per person, a second spare wheel and enough fuel; travel in convoy in very remote areas.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• The whole country is under heightened vigilance; incidents are few but snatch thefts have occurred in Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. Do not carry valuables, leave your papers in a safe, drive with windows closed.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (6), clinics (3), hospitals (4). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

• Tip

  Where to shop for food

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): supermarkets (14). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

• Tip

  Banks, cash machines and exchange

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (7), cash machines (9), currency exchange (3). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

• Tip

  A shop for your SIM card

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (2). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  A furnished flat for the first weeks

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (6). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

• Emergency numbers

  Police 999, ambulance 997, fire 998.

  999997998

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: getting helpFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Maun police

  Police.

  +267 686 02 23

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026