Eswatini

A self-launched 10-day wildlife route through KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini and Greater Kruger — cruising the St Lucia Estuary with hippos and crocs, hiking iSimangaliso's sand forest, tracking white rhino on foot in Hlane Royal National Park, and finishing with telemetry tracking and a wild sleep-out under the stars in a private Kruger reserve. Uses Baz Bus/shuttle hops, budget lodges and backpacker-friendly camps, and self-bookable game activities instead of a guided group departure.

Travel Crew

~£1,020

A self-launched version of Contiki's 14-day Cape Town to Kruger safari, built for independent travellers who want the same loop — Garden Route, Addo elephants, Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Table Mountain, Durban, St Lucia hippos, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, Eswatini and Kruger — without the tour bus price tag. You'll use Baz Bus / Intercape coaches and budget flights instead of a private coach, book shared game drives on arrival, and sleep in hostels, backpackers and budget guesthouses. Costs are approximate per person in GBP, based on 2025 backpacker rates; game drives and park fees are the single biggest variable.

Travel Crew

~£1,235

A 13-day self-launched route from Johannesburg through Eswatini's wildlife sanctuaries, down Mozambique's Indian Ocean coast (Maputo, Tofo, Vilanculos/Bazaruto), and back via Xai-Xai and Kruger National Park. Using intercity buses, chapa minibuses and self-booked dhow trips instead of a private tour vehicle, this hits the same parks, beaches and game drives for roughly half the guided-tour price. Best done as a gap-year/backpacker leg with a bit of patience for border crossings and long travel days.

Travel Crew

~£737

Explore the wild heart of southern Africa independently — from the dramatic cliffs of the Panorama Route and multiple days on safari in Kruger National Park, to mountain hikes in the Drakensberg, a cross-border adventure in Eswatini, and a beach day on the Indian Ocean coast. This self-launched version follows the same incredible route as the Exodus guided tour, replacing group transport with a hired car or shared shuttles, guided lodge packages with budget lodges and SANParks camps, and pre-packaged activities with direct and GetYourGuide bookings. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,075