Tent thing
 

Just went out to buy one. It was to my surprise that a pretty great one (3 pax) is cheap (was 13 dollars a new one) and it weights 3 kilograms. This isn't a weight that should really cause problems.

thank you waterwings and csanad007.

i dont want to sound dumb but i thought a tent would be around 10kgs or may be even more.my bad.
and wat about other stuff.
1. expenditure on a per day basis.
2. travelling options from johannesburg to maun.
3. and the weather.how is it during dec-jan-and ahead.

yatin.

Traveling options to Maun:

1. Fly with Air Botswana from Johannesburg to Maun direct, every day of the week. This is the fastest and easiest, but also the most expensive.
2. Rent an AVIS rent a car and drive yourself, just make sure you can return the vehicle here in Botswana. I'm not sure what this will cost you.
3. Buy your own car in South Africa and drive yourself here. VERY handy to have your own wheels here, but not a necesity as the local taxi service is very reliable and safe.
4. Jump on a bus from Johannesburg to Gaborone (Botswana capital) then from there catch a bus from Gaborone to Francistown and then onto Maun. This option is the cheapest option but will take you around 18 - 24 hrs to arrive in Maun.

Weather this time of year:

It's HOT and just getting warmer everyday, besides the occasional isolated thundershower in the afternoon, its HOT.

Expenditure on a daily basis:

Not sure, as this depends from person to person. Maybe some of the other chaps can help you with that.

See you all soon!

thank u.
 

thanx a lot nyathi.

reallybappreciate it.

Living expenses and travel
 

Money: What I know from guys in Maun, and i'm calculating with this sum is that the amount of 400-500 US $ per month should do it until you get The Job (in my case living in a tent, living low, but being able to be where things happen). If I'm wrong somebody please correct me.

Travel: we all go from different places. For me the cheapest and fastest is Budapest-Cairo-Joburg-Maun (1000 euro's, 25 hours :rolleyes: )

Cheers

OLVpilot
 

Hey Christopher,

Was wondering if we could speak about Maun. Please send me an email, [email protected].

Thanks
pat

living conditions and travel
 

hey nyathi,

i m looking forward for the last option of yours for travelling from johannesburg to maun by buses just wanna know if they are safe enough.i mean will they be like crowded with no space for the big luggage and all? or normal comfortable ride?

and can we book them online?

and the tents the people live in audi...are they safe?(from thefts!#%)i m worried about the documents i will be taking there.
and if yes or even no(wish i could have another option) can any body tell me the type
or anything specific for the size of the tent or any thing else that could help me while buying it.coz as i said in my previous post i dnt know sh*t about tents and never ever done camping before.

yatin.dua.....The busses are fairly safe, cant help you with where to book but I'm sure you will all information online. Or try some other chaps here (pprune), maybe they can help.
Mate, you will be traveling to and in Africa, buses could be a wee bith crowded but I'm sure it will be fine! Just have expensive cameras, ipods, watches, etc display because you might then attract some unwanted attention. Just relax, the Africans are mostly friendly and just want to have a chat with you. :ok:

Regarding the tent, for one person, get a two or three man tent that should be sufficient for you and your bags. As far as valuebles go, keep only what you need on you and in the tent (ie. passport, CV, etc.) and lock the rest up at Audi camp. They will have a safe to lock things up in.

Audi camp is safe, just dont be careless with valuebles!

Also just thought of posting that there is new pilots arriving in Maun every week now. Oh ja, its HOT here now, over 40 deg C during the day!

:}Damn man! Are you seriously considering taking a bus from jo'burg? I tell you one thing, consider your self lucky if you make it through the bus ride alive...I'm mean with all the big luggage, the chances are near zero!!!!!!! Google "INTERCAPE"....:ok:

WHAT BS!!, you clearly dont know WTF you are talking about. :ugh: Many people has taken the bus from Joburg to Maun. I must agree that it's not the best way, it will be hot, slow and will take at least 24 - 36 hours to get to Maun.

My opinion just bite the 'bullet' and get onto an Air Botswana flight from Johannesburg to Maun. Safest, fastest and best option of travel! You also stand less of a chance of belongings going missing while you traveling.

See you chaps soon!

"just thought of posting that there is new pilots arriving in Maun every week..."
 

Jeez, you scare the :mad: out of me man! I'm still stuck into my office till end of December... By the time I get there in January there'll be no more places for me... :}

About the tent: I think the iglu style one will do it just fine. Mine has two layers and is for 3 persons. This size is really okay. And also very cheap to buy. Easy to carry and can be done quickly.

thanx man..

but i m very sure now that i m gonna take a bus ride there.checked out intercape and seabelo.i dont think its gonna be that much of a trouble as i was thinking before.

and i m thinking to come there in december hope i m not late.
cheers.

thanx csanad007 for information on the tent.

and dont worry mate i will be there in december too.we will get a job.be optimistic.

hope to see u there.

:)
I'm optimistic, if I weren't I'd stay in my neat little office. But I have a massive Maun gotheritis...

gotheritis!!!! should mean real passion right ?

ne way, gud luck.

Well you might simply call it passion...

More chances of Air Botswana losing your bags than the bus service.. Seabelo's always a good one.. takes ages though.. and its definitely hot.. but it'll be an experience.. And its probably much safer than taking a bus London for example..

So far I have recieved replies from Sefofane, Proflight Commuter Services, and Trans Maldivian Airlines. All being negative with them having no work available due economic climate.

Above the requirements for a job with them too.

So I dont think you need to rush out there...

2009 season
 

At the moment the Maun tourism business is in a crisis like most other businesses around the world-I was working as a bush pilot in the Delta myself until I was laid off due to redundancies. All the companies around here are struggling and when you find that probably 75% of the guests were Americans who would spend £2000 per night in a Safari lodge for 4 or 5 nights it's easy to see why the business dried up-I think that Maun may be in for some hard times until at least half way through next year.

There is nothing to stop any pilot getting on a flight to Botswana if you are really persistent to see the place but just remember you have more chance of winning the National Lottery than getting a job in Maun at present-to any pilots talking about buying a tent and heading down there I would say to save your money and have a good Christmas instead.

Sorry to be so negative but I would rather some pilots knew what is going on now than head out to Botswana and be disappointed.

:confused:

can nebody confirm to the last post .

if this english is right then......oh man....f***:(

if theres still ne hope then:ok: