Nokaneng

Nokaneng is a village in the North-West District of Botswana, in the Okavango Panhandle roughly 150–200 km from Maun (reachable via a mostly 4x4 track). The population was 2,510 at the 2021 census. The village is inhabited mainly by Bayei people, alongside Basarwa (San) and Baherero communities, with growing numbers of Bahambukushu settlers in recent decades. Nokaneng has genuine historical weight: it was formerly the capital of Ngamiland, after the Batawana relocated their seat there from Toteng, before the capital later moved on to Maun. The village has a school, a clinic, a police station, churches, and shops, plus its own airstrip (Nokaneng Airport); fuel is more reliably available at Gumare or Maun. The surrounding landscape is mopane woodland and seasonal floodplain typical of the Okavango Panhandle.

By Plane

Maun International Airport (MUB) is the nearest sizeable airport, south-east of Nokaneng; Nokaneng also has its own airstrip (Nokaneng Airport) for charter flights.

By Car / Road

Nokaneng is accessible via a mostly unpaved track off the Maun–Shakawe road. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended, especially in the wet season.

Walkable within the village. A vehicle is needed to travel further.

• Okavango floodplain landscape — seasonal wetlands and mopane woodland characteristic of the western Panhandle.

Limited basic shops in the village. Maun and Gumare have fuller shopping.

• Gumare — a short drive east, with more services.
• Maun — south-east, the region's tourism hub and nearest major airport.
• Shakawe — north, further up the Okavango Panhandle.