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Travelling from Maun to Cape Town is the norm for Botswana safari travellers once they have finished exploring Botswana. However, international travellers find it difficult to find the relevant information to plan their trip seamlessly.
As a traveller, you will be doing all the research you can to plan the perfect trip. So, as someone who grew up in Botswana and has travelled between these two countries, I share everything you need to know about travelling from Maun to Cape Town for a smooth, fun trip.
In this post, you are going to learn about Maun to Cape Town flights, Maun to Cape Town, Airlink, Google Flights and more.
After reading this post, you will have all the relevant information to make your trip planning to Cape Town, South Africa, as seamless as possible.
This post is all about travelling from Maun to Cape Town
Maun To Cape Town
Maun to Cape Town distance
As you are getting ready to embark on a new adventure from Botswana safaris to the breathtaking beaches of Cape Town, you might wonder how far apart these destinations are. Well, the distance between Maun and Cape Town is around 1650 km, while the road distance is obviously much longer, around 2200 km.
Trip duration
If you are travelling by road, you will spend just over 24 hours on the road. On the other hand, the flight duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes, a staggering difference, right? This is slightly longer compared to travelling from Gaborone to Cape Town.
How to get to Maun Airport
Getting to Maun airport is pretty straightforward. Since most travellers from Maun to Cape town are people who had just completed their safari trip in Botswana, the safari camps and lodges have direct flights to Maun airport. Additionally you can drive to the airport from your respective camps.
If you are travelling from Gaborone to Maun, there are direct flights, and you can travel by road as well. Furthermore, there are direct flights from Kasane to Maun.
Different ways you can travel
Air: Maun to Cape Town flights
After a wonderful and tiring Botswana safari, you will be pleased to know that there are direct flights from Maun to Cape Town. Airlink is the leading airline on this route, and it offers direct flights.
However, if you have to take a non-direct flight, you can use Air Botswana or CemAir, but you will have to connect in Gaborone or Johannesburg.
I have noticed something about Maun to Cape Town flight time, it is always in the afternoon. I have yet to find a morning flight.
Self drive
Despite the distance between these two destinations, you can self-drive. This is usually preferred by travellers exploring Southern Africa by road. Additionally, this trip can be done over a few days, especially since there are lots of places to explore along the way.
Some of the commonly used route by self-drivers is Maun>Ghanzi>Sekoma> Upington>Cape Town, while other traveller prefers to travel via Namibia
Maun to Cape Town by bus
As you can imagine, this will be a very long journey. To add insult to injury, there are no direct buses. However, the trip is still doable. You can travel by bus via Gaborone and Johannesburg, taking around 34 hours.
Best ways to book flights
Google flights
I highly recommend trying out Google Flights if you are looking for cheap flights from Maun to Cape Town. Although Google flights does not sell flight tickets itself, it does a more extensive search, tracking, and comparison, making sure you get the best price.
Oh, they have last-minute deals. If your itinerary is flexible, you can take advantage of that.
Direct booking with the airline
One of the best ways to book flights is to book directly with your chosen airline. This is great as you’ll get better customer support if things go wrong. Furthermore, refunds are processed much more quickly if needed.
Safari travellers from Maun to Cape Town almost always use Airlink as their go-to airline.
Skyscanner
We all know Skyscanner, it’s familiar, and it’s a global platform, and you can find any flights you are looking for here. I have used Skyscanner a few times with no issues, so I highly recommend it if you are not sure about direct booking with the airlines.
Maun to Cape Town costs
Travelling by bus is the cheapest; you can expect to pay around USD 100. On the other hand, travelling by air is the most expensive option, with a direct flight costing around USD 450
If you are self-driving, you can expect to pay around USD 500, including mid-range accommodation for 2 nights, fuel, food and tolls.
Best way to travel
Travelling by plane is the fastest and best option, whereas travelling by bus will be the most uncomfortable given the distance and changeovers. However, flight will be the most expensive while bus will be the cheapest option.
Travelling tips
1. If you are driving, start the journey very early to dodge the morning traffic. This will save you so much time on the road.
2. Watch out for domestic animals as you drive in small villages. Believe me, you will come across cattle, donkeys, goats, and more
3. As a Motswana, trust me when I say speed traps are way more common than you’ll think, so obey the speed limit to avoid charges.
4. Book your flight early because Maun Airport can get really busy. The majority of travellers are those who have just finished their safari trip in the Okavango Delta and are now heading to Cape Town.
5. Have your documents in order. If driving, make sure you have your vehicle documents, insurance, clearance certificate and driver’s licence.
6. Self-drivers, ensure you have adequate rest along the way because it will be an incredibly long journey. I highly recommend you travel over three to four days.
7. If self-driving, always top up your supplies; there will be long stretches of driving where there will be no shops
