Gateways: Maun, Kasane, Gweta & Nata
Few travellers start a Botswana safari in the bush itself — almost every itinerary passes through one of these four towns first, whether for a charter flight, a border crossing or a last night with a hot shower and a shop.
Four gateway towns
4 regionsMaun — the tourism capital
Sitting on the banks of the Thamalakane River, Maun serves as the principal gateway to the Okavango Delta and is where almost every safari into northern Botswana begins. Originally a frontier cattle town, it has developed into southern Africa's premier safari hub, with scenic flights, mokoro excursions, river cruises, shopping, cultural villages and restaurants for travellers passing through.
Kasane — the northern hub
Botswana's northern tourism hub, strategically located where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet — the gateway to Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River and Namibia's Caprivi Strip. Facilities include international-standard hotels, safari operators, an international airport, shopping and restaurants.
Gweta — gateway to the Makgadikgadi
A small settlement functioning as a key gateway to the Makgadikgadi, surrounded by Kalahari woodland, salt pans and enormous baobab trees — closely associated with the Makgadikgadi's distinctive landscapes and cultural experiences, and often woven into journeys between Maun, Nata and the Makgadikgadi.
Nata — wetlands & birdlife
Known for the Nata Bird Sanctuary and the seasonal wetlands of the Nata River, an important access point to the broader Makgadikgadi ecosystem. In the wet season the pans become spectacularly productive for birdlife, with large numbers of flamingo, pelican and other waterbirds gathering.
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See all four ways into Botswana, ready-to-quote itineraries and the rest of the region index.
Botswana overview