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Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.

African Aviation Regional issues that affect the numerous pilots who work in this area of the world.

Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.

Old 31st Aug 2011, 09:51
  #141 (permalink)  
 
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Hello guys, I'm thinking in going down to Maun at the end of January.
Can I ask you for a couple of stupid question?

How much you paid for the return tickets from Europe to Johannesburgh?
Wich airlines are the cheapest?

And also, do I need the english proficiency level on my licence?

The cheapest I've found is Ethiopian Airlines from Milano but I can't book the tickets yet for the dates I want.

Last edited by josemarb; 31st Aug 2011 at 10:40.
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Old 31st Aug 2011, 11:36
  #142 (permalink)  
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How much you paid for the return tickets from Europe to Johannesburgh?
Which airlines are the cheapest?
I haven't checked for you but have you looked at Emirates? They are the cheapest from Athens. About 500€ return. You may have to go from Rome.

Your next problem cost wise is JNB-Maun. This is expensive. If you can stand it there is a luxury bus run which is a 1/10 the cost of flying.
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Old 31st Aug 2011, 12:27
  #143 (permalink)  
 
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honestly, what difference does it make what price someone got for an airline ticket? I mean, if you try an hour later, you'll get different prices most days. And depending on what airports you choose to go from/to, you can get different prices. Whatever price you see, that's what you can get AT THAT INSTANT if someone else doesn't press "I'll take it" before you do.

And as for the trip from Johannesburg to Maun, if you're actually thinking that the bus is something you have to be able to "stand", you're not going to be happy in Maun. Read a bit, Maun is not like most any city you've ever been to. Transportation in Africa - even Africa for beginners - is not like it is in Europe. There are some parts of Asia where it's similar, but for the rest of the world, it's quite unique. Even central america has "luxury" taxi's and combi's and mini-buses and buses compared to Africa. Learn to hitch-hike and ride in the back with the cow.

Don't trust the water - anywhere. And ask your doctor about Hepatitis E - it's only in Botswana.

If you still want to come, then by all means do so, and have the time of your life, and good luck finding work.
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Old 31st Aug 2011, 12:45
  #144 (permalink)  
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if you try an hour later, you'll get different prices most days
Not with Emirates and they are usually the cheapest from Athens at least. We have already booked with them for November. A delay will just make availability more difficult - no price difference.

Let me put it this way, I would not go by bus but I was pointing out that this is a much cheaper option and acceptable.

Only trying to help.

And, yes Josemarb all the best in finding a job - it is fantastic flying, a great country and mainly delightful people.

'Doomroomsourse' (sic) is trying to prepare you for Africa it can be a culture shock. I have worked (flying) in over half of the countries on the continent. Bots is the best - in my view.
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Old 31st Aug 2011, 15:59
  #145 (permalink)  
 
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Yes, I'm not trying to discourage, just prepare you. I took, the bus from JHB to WHK, but when I went from Maun to JHB (after having been there for a while) I hitch hiked. Nothing like sleeping in a tent in the Kalahari, wondering if you'll get a ride the next day, or where you'll find water. But after having pushed taxi's out of the way in order to get from one place to the next, or been the only one on the bus with tools (trusty leatherman) to fix a broken hose on the engine... and and and, you look at "le metro" differently.
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Old 31st Aug 2011, 16:09
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Sorry but info to get to Bots is very, VERY available, though if you do not want to try a forum then look to tourist sites can help you get there, honestly though if you worry about getting there then you should look elsewhere.

Remember you aren't a tourist, so you cannot afford to be too fussy, take what your given and suck it up. Guys have been fired for wanting AirCon/Double bed etc just roll with what your given. Be polite and nice to those that work there.

Enjoy.

Related; I like to give advice to people going where I have been but it DOES take a degree of self reliance. If that is not for you - look elsewhere.
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 07:01
  #147 (permalink)  
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Express! Bus to Maun from JNB

I had to find this for a friend and it wasn't easy. Their poster is a little way down this page: Maun Self Drive 4x4 Miscellaneous Page of Essential Information - Maun Self Drive 4x4
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 07:17
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@ lilflyboy

Hows the number of job hunters in Maun so far? Are you guys expecting as many (if not more) than last season? The permit saga will prove to be an ever interesting fight as usual

Don't worry I wont be one of them (I was and never again will be), just interested
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 07:18
  #149 (permalink)  
 
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Note that the bus runs twice a week in each direction.
Honestly, you'll have much more fun if you take a combi to Gaberone, then a bus from there to Maun, and it will cost 1/3 of the bus from Jo'berg to Maun.
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 07:37
  #150 (permalink)  
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.....it will cost 1/3 of the bus from Jo'berg to Maun.
How cheap can you get it's a 1/10 of the airfare?

Do you have to travel with chickens on your lap and a donkey sitting next to you? - No comments about my wife please She is very attractive (have to put that in because we share this computer

Excuse my ignorance vot is a 'combi'?
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 09:02
  #151 (permalink)  
 
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Question about Maun (I have searched)

I think I might actually have an original question about going to Maun to find a job. It's basically about my fiancee. Can she come with me. The thought of two years (I plan to stay for at least two years) living in two different countries is not what we would call ideal. I know that she wont be allowed to work (or so I have heard from people who have worked in Botswana), but will she be allowed to stay?

If this question has been answered, please excuse me because I have searched and found nothing.
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 09:38
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I stand to be corrected and maybe lilflyboy can confirm my thoughts.

Your fiancee can be granted the same 90 days on entering Botswana so she can most likely be with you for the duration of your job hunting should you want her to be.

Provided you do land a job and sort your work permits out she can come live by you. She will have to apply for a residence permit as a dependant on you. The rest is in the paperwork and holding your breath.

I am not sure if its required that you be married though...that will need to be confirmed. But there are a few pilots there with their girls

I must warn you though that its risky business taking the love of your life to Maun...good luck with that The guys there act like they havent seen a decent woman in years, which they probably havent. She will get ALOT of attention.

Best of luck man
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 10:13
  #153 (permalink)  
 
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lol, the attention I can deal with. I wonder if they can deal with her though. She will drive them crazy and then laugh at them squirming when she leaves with me . At least she will have some entertainment
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 10:28
  #154 (permalink)  
 
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I like your optimism, it was just a warning not to trust anybody when it comes to that! Should you get a job, you will be flying most of the day leaving your fiancee to her own devices! It has happened before But that is a conversation for another time...im sure he thought exactly the same thing you did.

Good luck man
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 10:43
  #155 (permalink)  
 
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I will post a photo if you can organise me a job for next year? I will be coming next year November onwards (Hope I can still get a job then, what with the stuff I have been reading that expats may not be allowed to go fly there with low hours anymore). lol. Anyways, I am used to her getting loads of attention. And thanks for the warning . I will get her a steel chastity belt and lock her up every day when I go flying and take it off when I get back. Will let her know to start working on her bladder control.
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 10:45
  #156 (permalink)  
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Any chance of you posting a photo old boy
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 11:24
  #157 (permalink)  
 
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Klas at this stage i reccommend you do not under any circumstances reveal your real name or information about yourself on this thread! il bet there are a few silent Maun pilots reading this with a sparkle in their beady little eyes ha ha ha ha

No objections to a photo though...it gets very lonely out here especially when my girlfriend is back in S.A. And no I do not work in Maun although I am there rather often.
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 11:42
  #158 (permalink)  
 
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It's getting closer...

Hello, I'm planning on going to Maun in January but I still have some questions that I can't get answer for.

1 - If I stay in Audi Camp and eat, drink and live a "normal" life for someone without a job (saving, saving, saiving...) how much do you think I'm going to spend per month? Should I take €uros? Are the exchange rate fair?

2 -I read that to get a job in Maun all certificates are important (high school, graduation, criminal record,...) but I'll have to translate everything to english, so I wonder if that translation has to be recognized by the embassy or something?

Thanks for any help
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 12:13
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lol, but if I load a photo of her, they will know who she is and then when she gets there, eish, all I can say is EISH!!!

Anyways, I was just joking about the job. I am trying to get through my ppl and com as fast as I can, but when I have it I would rather get a job on my own, not through my fiancee's merrit's
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Old 1st Sep 2011, 15:55
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@Exascot
How cheap? The last trip I made from Maun all the way to Jo'berg was free.
A combi is a Volkswagen Minibus with 15 passengers (sometimes there's 20 or more) including luggage on your lap (unless you get a "local bus" which, if going long distances will have a trailer for luggage)
And I never had to have chickens on my lap, but I did see some people who had them on their laps once.

@Pinante and EVERYONE ELSE
DON'T BRING EUROS OR DOLLARS OR ANY OTHER CURRENCY, except for the small amount you will need to get to where you are going.
There are ATM's everywhere (OK, not in the middle of the Kalahari, but that's not where you're starting) and they don't charge anywhere near as much as the Bureau de Change does. I found that if I went to the Bank and used my ATM to withdraw from my US account, I got charged a total of USD 5.00 MAXIMUM to make the withdrawal, and I got the EXACT exchange rate for that day. When I figured out how much money I could have saved by not bringing cash, I cried... literally... it was HUNDREDS of US dollars.
DO CHECK with your bank to make sure that you can make a withdrawal from the ATM's in whatever country you are going to.

Translating documents, according to my recollection of what I read on the CAA websites for Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Kenya, the translations must be done and certified by someone recognized by the CAA (not the embassy) for the "pilot" documents, and by the immigration department for the non-pilot documents - some documents are required by BOTH the CAA and immigration and might, theoretically, have to be translated twice.
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