Glancing superficially, Maun may seem to the uninitiated to be full of travel agents. However, many of the companies you see are tour operators who own and run camps and safari companies. However, if you look hard there are a handful of normal travel agents who (generally) know the local safari industry well, and can help you choose a trip. They are especially useful if you arrive in Maun without any arrangements and want to book a budget trip immediately. In such cases, booking through one of these agents will cost you exactly the same as booking directly with the camp or safari company.

The caveats to this are that none are well prepared for booking a range of the top-end lodges at short notice; there's very little demand for this. Secondly, some will have their own favourite camps or operators – so do ask them to be exhaustive about researching the options for you before you make a decision. Also ask them to make very clear if anyone associated with their travel agent has any links with the camps/trips that they're suggesting to you. (This shouldn't necessarily put you off booking – but you ought to know!)

Africa Pride
P Bag BO 46, Boseja, Maun; tel/fax: 6864845; email: africapride@botsnet.bw; web: www.africapridebotswana.com. Based in Maun and run by owners, Edurne Martinez and Carol-Ann Green, Africa Pride is a booking agent/tour operator for lodges throughout southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. They can arrange for Spanish, French, German and Italian interpreters to accompany trips, and note that this company is closely linked with Botswana Safaris & Tours (see Tour operators, above).

Bathusi Travel & Safaris
P Bag 44, Maun; tel/fax: 6860647; email: bathusi@info.bw. Situated immediately next to Riley's garage, the team here seemed friendly and helpful when I last visited. They're probably one of the better agents to walk into if you want to book an immediate short safari or trip into the Delta, and they don't have any direct financial links (of which I'm aware) with any of the operators.

The Booking Company
P Bag 198, Maun; tel: 6860022 or 6860654; fax: 6860037; email: book@info.bw. On the south side of the main Sir Seretse Khama Road, opposite the Nhabi Museum, just west of Airport Road, this small and independent travel agency was started by Derek Flatt in 1990. It is a sister-company of Safari Air though is not directly connected to any of the lodges. Thus it can independently recommend options for you, and is another good choice for helping you to organise a last-minute mokoro trip or safari.

Ensign Services Mophane
Rd, PO Box 66, Maun; tel: 6860351 or 6860978; fax: 6860571; email: ensign@info.bw. Almost opposite the Power Station, Ensign isn't a travel agent, but I've included it here as it's a really useful place to know about. The office here, run by Alison, offers office services including typing, photocopying, email and acts as a Maun base and representative for various companies, including Moremi Safaris, Mack Air and Guma Lagoon.

Merlin Air Services
P Bag 13, Maun; tel: 6860351; fax: 6860571. No guide to Maun would be quite complete without a mention of Merlin Services. Situated on the corner of Mathiba I Road and Airport Road, immediately outside the airport's gates, Merlin acted as a communications hub and booking centre for a few of the area's older, independent camps – when communications meant telex and radios rather than cellphones and satellite phones.

Okavango Tours & Safaris
The Power Station Building, PO Box 39, Maun; tel: 6860220; fax: 6860589; email: okavango@info.bw; web: www.okavangotours@okavango.bw. Found inside the Power Station, on the left side as you enter, OTS is very closely associated with Lodges of Botswana who own Delta Camp and Oddballs (both in NG27B). Both companies are owned by Peter Sandenbergh. That said, OTS also arrange trips to other lodges and on a variety of other safaris, if requested. It's an efficient, professional company that knows its business. Note that it's totally different from the tour operator of the same name in the UK.

Travel Wild
PO Box 236, Mathiba I Road, Maun; tel: 6860822; fax: 6860493; email: t.wild@info.bw. Opposite the airport, a few doors down from Merlin Air Services, Travel Wild is another good, independent travel agent. Talk to them if you want a fairly unbiased view, though be aware that they also act as a communications hub and representatives for the Panhandle's Shakawe Fishing Lodge and the new Motsentsela Tree Lodge, near Maun.