The two faces of Maun

During weekdays mornings in modern Maun, workers, pupils and students can be seen walking along the road. Fishermen are already on course to the riverbank to set their nets. Like soldiers in training, they kick the fine white sand of Maun uniformly like the arms of a machine, to mark the beginning of a long day.

Open safari tour cars busily run up and down transporting tourists from their lodgings to the airport. The Maun airport must be the busiest in the country going by the number of plane landings and arrivals. For the taxi operators, business is booming. They blow their horns incessantly and brake suddenly to pick passengers. Occasionally they curse those who have chosen to walk because they are killing their business. The streets in town are dusty without pavements and windy days can be agonising.