Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
» Ask the booking agency if you're expected to provide food for the poler (usually you're not, but polers appreci-
ate any leftover cooked or uncooked food).
» Bring good walking shoes and long trousers for hiking, a hat, and plenty of sunscreen and water.
» Water from the delta (despite its unpleasant colour) can be drunk if boiled or purified.
» Most campsites are natural, so take out all litter and burn toilet paper.
» Bring warm clothes for the evening between about May and September.
» Wildlife can be dangerous, so make sure to never swim anywhere without checking with the poler first.
Tours
Maun is brimful of travel agencies and safari companies, which can be a little daunting at
first. If you take your time and keep a few simple rules in mind, you shouldn't have too
many problems.
First of all, it helps to know that most delta lodges are affiliated with specific agencies,
so it pays to shop around and talk to a few different tour operators. Second, if you're plan-
ning an extended trip into the delta or intend to stay at a luxury lodge, contact one or more
recommended agencies or operators
before
you arrive if possible. While the cheaper
lodges can usually accommodate guests at the drop of a hat, don't come to Maun and ex-
pect to jump on a plane to a safari lodge or embark on an overland safari the next day.
An excellent place to start (and perhaps even finish) is at
Travel Wild
Offline map
Google map
( 686 0822;
www.travelwildbotswana.com
;
Mathiba I St)
, opposite the air-
port, which serves as a central booking and information office for lodges, safaris and other
adventures. It can't provide you with direct bookings, but it also has great contacts with
all local safari providers.
All of the Lonely Planet-reviewed operators can organise safaris into the delta and bey-
ond.
African Animal Adventures
( 7230 1054;
www.africananimaladventures.com
)
A highly recommended outfit that
does horse safaris into the delta and the salt pans of Makgadikgadi. Can also be contacted
through the Old Bridge Backpackers (
Click here
)
and Gweta Lodge (
Click here
)
.
TOUR
African Secrets
TOUR
