Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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Nudger
Absolutely right wings23. There is nothing to hit bar a camp HF aerial. Sounds like our Pal Vuka might be polishing more than his airplane!!! I hope it wasn't him they were referring to in the Ngami Tmes as the last of the great donkey tapper!! How's Delta Air getting on? Great company!!
Last edited by bump; 12th Aug 2011 at 14:47.
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Please give me your opinion
Last year I finaly acomplish the dream of becoming a pilot. I’ve a CPL (ATPL frozen) SEP and MEP with IR and a little more than 220TT.
I always wanted to fly in Africa and I’ve been following up diferent sites/blogs about Maun. I was planing on going there in January 2012 to try to get a job, but I read that nowadays it’s difficult for a non national of Botswana, with low hours, to get a job there. I’m not a rich guy so I had to get some loans to finish my training. To go there I'll have to quit my job. It's going to be an adventure and a huge economical effort.
Please give me your opinion, should I go there in January?
Thank you for your time.
I always wanted to fly in Africa and I’ve been following up diferent sites/blogs about Maun. I was planing on going there in January 2012 to try to get a job, but I read that nowadays it’s difficult for a non national of Botswana, with low hours, to get a job there. I’m not a rich guy so I had to get some loans to finish my training. To go there I'll have to quit my job. It's going to be an adventure and a huge economical effort.
Please give me your opinion, should I go there in January?
Thank you for your time.
Join Date: Aug 2011
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I've heard of Maun being described as a "drinking town with a safari problem." Are there sporting facilities in town? Cricket, tennis, rugby, squash or even road running clubs?
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Maun Sports Complex
I found this in my research about Maun "http://www.mysc.gov.bw/dsr/index.php/sports-facilities". I'll go to Maun in January to try my luck. Portuguese speaking pilots have any advantage there?
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Maun, Botswana
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Its been in the guiness book of world records for highest booze consumption per capita..... twice.
There is action cricket (indoor cricket played outdoors on a tennis court) once a week for a few months down at the local sports club. There is a squash court there as well.
They used to have a cricket field but thats under water now.
Rugby? Its a bit hard to play it on sand but there is a set of sticks down at the local high school. Pleanty of soccer goals around as well.
Theres a gym with a few classes run each day which is pretty popular.
Most of the guys are happy to do sport or exercise if someone can be bothered to organise it.
There is action cricket (indoor cricket played outdoors on a tennis court) once a week for a few months down at the local sports club. There is a squash court there as well.
They used to have a cricket field but thats under water now.
Rugby? Its a bit hard to play it on sand but there is a set of sticks down at the local high school. Pleanty of soccer goals around as well.
Theres a gym with a few classes run each day which is pretty popular.
Most of the guys are happy to do sport or exercise if someone can be bothered to organise it.
Está servira para distraerle.
Seven a side onanastics is pretty popular in the winter months. During the summer there is quite an active pistol shooting group. Usually meets before brunch on Sundays. Drive out to the NNE on the Lekawane Drift road until you come to the second or third pull over place on the left hand side. There's a large tree there which gives some decent shade. You can park underneath and walk five paces or so due north. There's a large leafed plant there with a yellow ribbon around it. If you relieve yourself on it, scoring a direct hit, a rare act of marksmanship given the alcohol consumption and the heat waves, it'll grow for you. It's really thrilling to watch. Then you can drive back to town.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nowhere nice
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Good man!
You have made the first step by intending to go, here is the big step, do it.
It has been a long time since I was involved there but my advice would be forget Jan and go before xmas, set up camp (save money - to live there for three months is cheaper then going a few weeks with savings in Euro/North America/Aus/NZ etc) though make sure you budget yourself, make yourself known to those that matter and go for it, just be nice and approachable without being annoying, counts for anyones first job regardless of where they are.
Others here are more up to speed though (take what I say honestly with a grain of salt, what worked a while ago is different to now).
You said your older so if anything sell yourself better than others, despite what people may think charter operators know what pilots look for in them just as much as what they look for in pilots.
Remember bad names spread so be good but otherwise have fun and go for it.
If you will actually take the step - go for it!
It's one thing to be interested and another to do it, I'm keen to help out on this threat but the best move you can make is to do it.
BD.
PS dont ever tell anyone your PPRUNE name nor mention it. Just advice
You have made the first step by intending to go, here is the big step, do it.
It has been a long time since I was involved there but my advice would be forget Jan and go before xmas, set up camp (save money - to live there for three months is cheaper then going a few weeks with savings in Euro/North America/Aus/NZ etc) though make sure you budget yourself, make yourself known to those that matter and go for it, just be nice and approachable without being annoying, counts for anyones first job regardless of where they are.
Others here are more up to speed though (take what I say honestly with a grain of salt, what worked a while ago is different to now).
You said your older so if anything sell yourself better than others, despite what people may think charter operators know what pilots look for in them just as much as what they look for in pilots.
Remember bad names spread so be good but otherwise have fun and go for it.
If you will actually take the step - go for it!
It's one thing to be interested and another to do it, I'm keen to help out on this threat but the best move you can make is to do it.
BD.
PS dont ever tell anyone your PPRUNE name nor mention it. Just advice
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
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Looking for uk pilots heading to botswana
RDF Television are making a documentary series about pilots flying in Africa. We will be mainly based in Botswana. We know that each year a handful of pilots head out to Botswana hoping to get a job, we’re trying to track down anyone who is planning on heading to Botswana this year, or is thinking about it.
We’re going to be filming in Maun, mainly, from October 2011 until probably March 2012. We want to find anyone who is in the uk now, who is planning to go out there.
If this is you or if you know someone who is doing this, please contact message/call me from the details below or message me your contact details.
Kind regards,
Bush Pilot Team
[email protected]
0117 970 7697
We’re going to be filming in Maun, mainly, from October 2011 until probably March 2012. We want to find anyone who is in the uk now, who is planning to go out there.
If this is you or if you know someone who is doing this, please contact message/call me from the details below or message me your contact details.
Kind regards,
Bush Pilot Team
[email protected]
0117 970 7697
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Botswana & Greece
Age: 68
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Car Purchase
Some advice please. When we get to Maun in Novemeber we need to buy a motor. Our house is 6km off road so advice is a Rav4 and to buy it in Gabs as it hopefully will not have been flogged around off road as most of the ones in Maun have. Also better choice.
The question: Any advantage in arriving with hard cash (GBP/Euro) and doing a cash deal in these currencies? I know that in many African countries this is the best way but I have never bought anything substantial in Bots.
Many thanks, will buy a beer in Nov for the most sensible answer
The question: Any advantage in arriving with hard cash (GBP/Euro) and doing a cash deal in these currencies? I know that in many African countries this is the best way but I have never bought anything substantial in Bots.
Many thanks, will buy a beer in Nov for the most sensible answer
Está servira para distraerle.
Without doubt a Toyota. If the Rav gives you the range you want for its tank capacity and fits all other aspects then it is a good choice. As for the means of payment I cannot comment specifically locally but if you want or need a warranty, either manufacturer or extended, you'll probably need to go through the main dealer. Make sure you don't buy a second hand vehicle that's been imported from the SA coast. That used to be a means of laundering cars with rust problems. Your biggest danger of traveling with cash is that you'll get killed for it and that would be more likely to happen in transit perhaps through JNB or indeed as soon as anyone knows you'll come back tomorrow with the cash. For that timely warning I claim a crate of long life alcohol free beer please.
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Join Date: Dec 2010
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CC, many thanks especially for the SA tip. Well aware of the security aspect. I have had to carry considerable sums of cash around Africa before and probably been lucky! Yes and thanks also for the 'back tomorrow with the cash' tip. I am going to have to get myself into a completely different mind set when we live there. We will be there for 6 months during which time the key to our house here will be in the bowl by the door and the car open with the keys in the ignition.
Está servira para distraerle.
I know a man at the traffic light at Hyde Park Jnb, who'll get me an AK 47 and a thousand rounds for $300. I enjoyed Gaberone and the locals are fine. It's the ex pats you've got to watch out for. They all drink too much, drive and the women fancy themselves as bush types.
