PO Box 1, Maun; tel: 6860204 or 6860320; fax: 6860580; email: reservations@cresta.co.bw or rileys@info.bw
Riley's has always been more of an institution than a hotel. It was founded when Harry Riley arrived in Maun, in 1910. Initially he simply built an extra rondavel next to his own, suitable for one visitor. It had no bed, just reed matting on the floor. A few years later he joined the two rondavels together, building a simple dining room between them, and soon he was running Maun's first hotel. In his book The Lost World of the Kalahari, Laurens van der Post described Riley's in the 1950s as a:'... remarkable little hotel which he [Harry Riley] had founded for the odd, intrepid traveller who had been determined enough to cross the desert, as well as for the score or so of Europeans patient and courageous enough to make Maun the unique outpost of life that it is today.'

Now those first buildings form part of the manager's house, and Riley's is a luxury hotel owned by Cresta, a group who run excellent hotels and lodges across the subcontinent.

For the visitor, Riley's has a very central location, on the eastern side of the main street, and the added benefits of a good restaurant, bar, lovely outdoor swimming pool, well-appointed rooms and, for business-people, good communications. Almost every time that I've tried to 'drop in' here, it's been full; so if you want to stay I'd recommend that you reserve your space in advance.