Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River in Maun, Botswana, our bespoke guest house studios are set under a riverine tree canopy in a secure, private garden teeming with birdlife.
I had a two night stay here in early May and it was wonderfully tranquil. The perfect place to decompress if that is what you want to do.
The manager/owner of Maun Studios, Sarah, collected me from the airport and also arranged lifts to nearby restaurants for dinner. They provide breakfast and a bar, but don’t offer dinner at the Studios. There is a small charge for the airport and restaurant runs, but very reasonable. As I was travelling solo, on both nights of my stay I collected food from the local restaurants and ate it back at my accommodation. The accommodation here is spread across the property, in beautiful gardens on the banks of the Thamalakane River. There are a couple of brick built rooms but I stayed in the Meru tent about 20m from the main house.
It was well furnished with an en-suite shower and toilet, decent wifi, tea making facilities, and a camping fridge which is plugged in, in which are cold drinks you can buy as well as cold water and milk for the teas and coffees. The furnishings are beautiful and it is completely protected from mosquitos and other bugs inside the tent. The bed was very comfortable
There is a verandah if you want to sit out, with a cool breeze coming up from the river. When I visited the river was quite low but the gardens and river banks were still green and lush. The gardens are beautiful, and many different types of colourful birds inhabit it. Breakfast is served on a decked / thatched area in the garden, next to a small swimming pool and bar. There was fresh fruit and the option of a full breakfast although I just had toast and eggs.
I believe they would also be able to arrange safaris and game drives if you contact them before going as there are independent guides with vehicles in Maun. Sarah, Margaret and Rocky were incredibly helpful and made sure my stay was as wonderful as it was and I will be sure to stay there again if/when I return to Maun.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sarah Palmer, Owner at The Maun Studios
Responded May 26, 2022
Dear Linda, thanks ever so much for your generous review - we so enjoyed hosting you! Trust that you traveled home safely & hope to see you in Maun again one day. Take Care
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We have really enjoyed our few days at Maun Studios. Having just climbed off a long series of flights, and feeling totally shattered, Sarah, Margaret and Rocky gave us an incredibly warm welcome and we felt as if nothing was too much trouble for our stay. We stayed in a super clean and comfy self contained garden room surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens with fabulous riverside walks and incredible bird life. They also helped us out with airport pickup, sorting out bookings with local restaurants and plenty of advice and cups of tea/beers as well as a great breakfast. This really feels like a home from home and I would recommend staying here to any traveller coming to Maun.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sarah Palmer, Owner at The Maun Studios
Responded May 26, 2022
Dear Angie & Joe, we so enjoyed hosting you both! Hoping that you traveled home safely (& uneventfully!). Thanks ever so much for your generous review. Looking forward to planning the next Landrover/chicken trip in the next few years :) Take Care
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was lucky enough to spend a longer time at Maun Studios this visit and stayed in the Palm Studio, which is a self catering cottage. It is every bit as good as it was last year, in fact maybe better as I felt as if I was staying at old friends. The cottage is large and spacious and even though it was incredible hot (October is very hot in Maun), The cottage was cool with a fan in both rooms and even aircon if you need it. It is so safe that you can sleep with the doors open so the evening air was very pleasant. There are screens on all the windows to keep the mossies at bay.
The garden is the most restful space to be so if you need to unwind for a day your two, this is your spot. The bird noise is just wonderful and the variety of birds is such that you can spend hours identifying birds without having to move.
Breakfast each morning is excellent and the use of the pool for a quick cool down was very welcome. The owner, Sarah and her family cannot do too much for you and are always around to offer advice.
I cannot wait to return.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sarah Palmer, Owner at The Maun Studios
Responded Jan 17, 2023
Thank you for your kind & generous words - Come back soon, Barbs!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A true home away from home and the perfect stop for 2 nights between safaris in the delta.
From the second you arrive in Maun you are picked up and driven to your studio which is very clean and surrounded by a lush established garden which is a slice of paradise and far away from the noise of the busy Main Street in town.
The breakfasts are AMAZING and the host Sarah and her family are very welcoming, friendly and accommodating.
Rocky is on hand for any trips into Town and for lunch and dinner and I highly recommend the Okavango Brewery for a great meal.
All in all I can’t express enough how great a stay here is between safaris to reset, relax and recharge and will be my go to stay in Maun from here on
Read more
Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Prepare to relax
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I were on our way back to the US after a wonderful holiday in Botswana. We stayed at Maun Studios the night before our flight back to Cape Town. We reserved the King River Studio and thought that the room was very comfortable and well appointed with a kitchenette and a small area with sofa and chairs. The glass doors across the front of the room, gave us a nice view of the grounds and river. The breakfast was very good and prepared and served by Sarah. I communicated with her in booking our room. She would respond quickly given the 9 hour time difference , which was appreciated. For a small fee we were dropped at the Maun airport (12 minutes away) by her father. On the way to the airport, he gave us a very interesting summary of their family history when we asked about how they had settled Maun. A very enjoyable experience!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In May 2024 myself, my husband, my brother, uncle and aunt and friends all stayed at Maun Studios. In total we stayed for four nights and I can't say enough what an incredible time we had.
From the moment I contacted Maun Studios, Sarah was fantastic. We had quite a few changes to our booking as friends and family worked out if they could join our trip or not and Sarah helped with all these amendments with total professionalism and a wonderfully friendly and helpful manner. She was simply excellent.
Maun Studios itself is a beautiful oasis. The units are spacious and extremely comfortable and we loved the fact that each has its own privacy. The garden is lush and shady with beautiful colourful flowers, and provides a wonderful place to relax after exploring Maun.
Sarah, Rocky and Margret went out of their way for us. They dropped us in town when we wanted to go, did restaurant runs in the evenings, booked our helicopter flight, told us about the area and the various charities they oversee. They made our time in Maun incredibly enjoyable and very memorable.
Their staff also looked after us superbly well serving delicious breakfasts, organising laundry and servicing the units daily.
Thank you to all at Maun Studios for such a wonderful stay in Maun. We will without doubt stay again if we are lucky enough to visit Maun sometime in the future and we would highly recommend Maun Studios to everyone visiting Maun for a few days.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A wonderful small location with a lovely, peaceful studio. Beautiful Garden, the owners superb kind and helpful with whatever you need. The studio has all items one may need (hairdryer, dishes, blankets etc.), you get a very tasty breakfast with relaxing view, fresh milk, coffee, water and minibar are filled up every day. You can go for a walk starting right behind the garden, Sara (Owners’ daughter) has always provided us with lots of informations about activities, places to eat, shop for souvenirs…they were all really great hosts. You walk in there and you feel welcome and somehow like being at home, it was one of my two favourites places to stay at my Afrika Trip. The only one think I didn’t like that much was that I was staying only for 3 nights in this little paradise. Thank you Sarah for making those 3 days something special:-) If I would be back to Maun (or another place nearby) I would definitely stay there again and I can recommend this place to everyone.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sarah Palmer, Owner at The Maun Studios
Responded Jan 17, 2023
Dear Anna, we so enjoyed hosting you both! Hoping that you traveled home safely & that we will host you again one day! Take Care
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A green oasis! The two nights we stayed here before going into the Okavango enabled us to relax wonderfully after the long flight from Europe; the two nights after the Okavango were a welcome luxury. A little paradise hidden away from the dust and traffic where the only sounds were the array of birds at home in the trees and bushes and the occasional animal down where the river should have been (too little rain this year). All the rooms are separated from each other by green expanses and are very comfortable and spacious (we had two different ones on the two stay-overs). Sarah and Rocky and their staff looked after our every need and provided us with tips and information on restaurants and activities and Rocky was always there to take us in the car to the restaurants we'd chosen.
The Maun Sudios proved to be a fatastic kick-off for our Botswana holiday, so we know where we'll be staying next time we fly to Maun!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Undoubtedly the best place to stay in Maun. There’s nowhere that has the ‘home away from home’ feel as much as the Maun Studios. On top of that you’re extremely well looked after and the hospitality and level of care couldn’t feel more welcoming and personal. Beyond it simply being a wonderful place to stay, practically speaking, it’s in an ideal location from the main part of town but without being too far away, and it’s set away from the main road with a great riverfront location in the most beautiful garden setting. Sarah, Margaret and Rocky will ensure you’re very well looked after. I’ve stayed myself, had family stay when visiting me in Maun and honestly wouldn’t have them stay anywhere else (they also love it). If you’re looking for anywhere to stay in Maun this needs to be your top choice, and if you’re contemplating a stop over in Maun, a night in the Maun Studios pre or post safari can be a perfect start or end to your trip.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excellent attention to detail by Sarah. We stayed in the river studio which was spacious and comfortable with a small kitchen (fridge, two hob stove, sink, microwave, toaster) which is useful if you wish to cook for yourself. Hot water in the shower, mosquito net over the bed. Area is quiet so easy to have a good nights sleep. Breakfast was excellent, fruit, yoghurt, granola, eggs cooked to order, bacon/ sausage. Sarah and the team offer airport transfers for a fee which was very useful and had a reliable local taxi to provide transport for local trips. If visiting Maun again we would definitely stay here again.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Charles, thank you for your message. We have a total of 4 units where each unit sleeps a maximum of 2 people.
Please contact us via email so that I can check availability for you.
Appreciated
Sarah
There are more places to choose from in the Maun area.
PRICE RANGE
₱10,478 - ₱10,535 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
BotswanaNorth-West DistrictNgamiland EastMaun
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
