Self-Launched Botswana & Victoria Falls Safari

Fly into Maun International Airport (MUB) — well connected via Johannesburg on FlySafair or airlink. Arrange a shared taxi or shuttle from the airport to your guesthouse (~£8). Check in to a budget-friendly guesthouse on or near the Thamalakane River — options like Audi Camp or Maun Rest Camp offer en-suite rooms and camping from around £20–30/night. Spend the afternoon exploring Maun village, picking up snacks and supplies for the days ahead. Head out for dinner at a local restaurant such as Marc's Eatery, a favourite in town with an outdoor garden setting (~£12).

🚌Shared taxi from Maun airport to town (~£8). Most travellers fly into Maun via Johannesburg — book well in advance for best fares.

🛏Audi Camp or Maun Rest Camp (en-suite room ~£25/night)

• →Arrive at Maun International Airport and take a shared taxi to your guesthouse (~£8)
• →Check in and explore Maun village on foot
• →Dinner at Marc's Eatery or similar local restaurant (~£12)

Book a shared 4x4 transfer from Maun toward the Khwai/Mababe area (approximately 3 hours, ~£35–50 per person via operators like Audi Camp or Kalahari Expeditions). The road itself passes through wildlife country, so keep your eyes open. Check in to a budget community campsite or basic tented camp in the Khwai Community Area — options include Khwai River Lodge Budget Camping or Khwai Overflow Camp (~£30–45/night). In the afternoon, join a shared group game drive booked directly through your camp or a local operator (~£30–45). The Khwai area borders Moremi and is renowned for elephants, hippos, wild dogs and lion.

🚌Shared 4x4 shuttle from Maun to Khwai (~£40 per person). Book through your Maun guesthouse or directly with local operators such as Kalahari Expeditions.

🛏Khwai Overflow Camp or Khwai Community Campsite (tented or en-suite ~£35/night)

• →Shared 4x4 transfer from Maun to Khwai/Mababe area (~£40, ~3 hours)
• →Check in to community campsite or budget tented camp
• →Afternoon shared game drive in Khwai Community Area (~£35)

Spend the full day on safari in and around the Khwai Community Area, which borders the northern edge of Moremi Game Reserve. Book a full-day shared game drive through your camp or a local community operator (~£55–70 per person). The Khwai River corridor is exceptional for elephants, buffalo, hippos, giraffes and predators including lion and wild dog. A morning drive and an afternoon drive are typically included with a full-day booking. Meals at camp (breakfast and dinner included in most tented camp packages, lunch can be a packed lunch from camp for ~£5–8).

🚌Game drive vehicle provided as part of the drive booking.

🛏Khwai Overflow Camp or Khwai Community Campsite (tented or en-suite ~£35/night)

• →Morning game drive along the Khwai River (~£35 if booked separately, or included in full-day package)
• →Packed lunch at a scenic spot in the bush
• →Afternoon game drive, staying out until sunset (~£35 if booked separately)

This is a highlight of the trip. Book a mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion directly with a community-based operator in the Okavango Delta — trips depart from Maun's Old Bridge Backpackers or community poling stations. A 2–3 hour mokoro excursion costs approximately £35–55 per person and includes a local poler from a Delta village, supporting community livelihoods. You'll glide silently through papyrus channels watching birds, hippos and lily-pads up close. After the mokoro experience, transfer to a camp near the Boro or Mbudi River area for the elephant hide experience. Ask your camp or local operators about access to community-run elephant hides — some are bookable independently for ~£15–25.

🚌Arrange a shared 4x4 transfer or self-drive (rental available in Maun) between mokoro launch point and your camp (~£20–30). Many camps can arrange this as part of a package.

🛏Elephant Pools or Boro River area budget tented camp (~£35/night)

• →2–3 hour mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion on the Okavango Delta with a community poler (~£45)
• →Picnic lunch in or near the Delta
• →Visit a community-run sunken elephant hide for close-up wildlife viewing (~£20)

Start early (around 6:30am) for a morning game drive through Moremi Game Reserve, one of Africa's most wildlife-rich protected areas. Book a shared game drive with a local operator based in the Khwai or Shorobe area (~£40–55 per person for a half-day drive through Moremi). Moremi is known for exceptional big-five sightings, wild dogs and extraordinary birdlife. Enjoy a packed picnic lunch inside the reserve. In the afternoon, catch your pre-arranged shared 4x4 transfer back to Maun (~£35, approximately 2 hours from the reserve). Arrive in Maun by mid-afternoon — freshen up and enjoy a relaxed dinner.

🚌Shared 4x4 transfer from Moremi area back to Maun (~£35).

🛏Audi Camp or Maun Rest Camp, Maun (~£25/night)

• →Early morning game drive through Moremi Game Reserve (~£50)
• →Picnic lunch inside the reserve
• →Shared 4x4 transfer back to Maun (~£35, ~2 hours)

Take a domestic flight from Maun to Kasane Airport (~1 hour). Flights are operated by Mack Air or similar charter operators — book in advance, expect to pay ~£80–130 per person one way (book early for best prices). On arrival in Kasane, take a shared taxi to your guesthouse or budget lodge on the Chobe River (~£10). Check in to a budget lodge such as Chobe Safari Lodge budget rooms or Old House Kasane (~£30–45/night). After lunch, join a shared afternoon game drive into Chobe National Park (~£35–45 per person, 3 hours). Chobe is famous for its enormous elephant herds and excellent predator sightings.

🚌Domestic flight Maun–Kasane with Mack Air or charter (~£100 per person, book well in advance). Shared taxi airport to lodge (~£10).

🛏Old House Kasane or Chobe Safari Lodge budget rooms (~£35/night)

• →Domestic flight from Maun to Kasane (~£100)
• →Shared taxi from Kasane airport to your lodge (~£10)
• →Afternoon shared game drive in Chobe National Park (~£40, 3 hours)

Rise early for a 3-hour morning game drive in Chobe National Park — cooler temperatures mean more active wildlife and better tracking. Book directly with your lodge or a local operator in Kasane (~£35–45). Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and some time to relax by the river. In the afternoon, join a shared sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River (~£25–35 per person, 2–3 hours) — this is one of Africa's most famous wildlife cruises, with elephants swimming across the river, hippos, crocodiles, and exceptional birdlife. Sundowners on board as the sun drops over the floodplain. Dinner at your lodge or a local restaurant.

🚌Game drive vehicle and boat included in respective activity bookings.

🛏Old House Kasane or Chobe Safari Lodge budget rooms (~£35/night)

• →3-hour morning game drive in Chobe National Park (~£40)
• →Relax at lodge and swim
• →Afternoon/sunset shared boat cruise on the Chobe River (~£30, 2–3 hours with sundowner)

Make your way from Kasane to the Kazungula Border Post and cross into Zimbabwe (a straightforward land crossing, ~15 minutes by taxi, ~£8). From the Zimbabwean border, take a shared taxi or shuttle to Victoria Falls town (~30 mins, ~£5–8). A Zimbabwe visa or KAZA Univisa (~£35) is required — the KAZA Univisa is excellent value and covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia. Check in to a budget guesthouse or hostel in Victoria Falls town — options include Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£18–30/night). After lunch at The Lookout Café on the edge of Batoka Gorge (~£12, book a table in advance for the views), head to Victoria Falls National Park for a self-guided or guided walking tour (~£30 park entry + guide). The spray, sound and sheer scale of the falls is genuinely breathtaking.

🚌Shared taxi Kasane to Kazungula border (~£8). Shared taxi/shuttle Zimbabwe border to Vic Falls town (~£8).

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£22/night)

• →Cross Kazungula border from Botswana into Zimbabwe by taxi (~£8)
• →KAZA Univisa or Zimbabwe visa on arrival (~£35)
• →Lunch at The Lookout Café, Batoka Gorge (~£12)
• →Guided walking tour of Victoria Falls National Park (~£30 park entry; guided tours bookable via GetYourGuide ~£25 extra)

Today is yours to fill however you like — Victoria Falls has one of Africa's best menus of optional activities. For adrenaline seekers, white-water rafting on the Zambezi (Grade V rapids, bookable via Shearwater Adventures, ~£90–110) or bungee jumping from Victoria Falls Bridge (~£100) are iconic options. For wildlife lovers, a Zambezi sunset cruise (~£35–45) or a guided wildlife walk in the national park (~£30) are excellent. Cultural travellers can explore the local market and Mukuni Village. Alternatively, return to the falls themselves in the early morning light for a completely different experience. Pre-book popular activities such as rafting or bungee at least a day ahead.

🚌Most activities include pick-up from your accommodation.

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£22/night)

• →Optional: White-water rafting on the Zambezi with Shearwater Adventures (~£100)
• →Optional: Bungee jump from Victoria Falls Bridge (~£100)
• →Optional: Zambezi sunset cruise (~£40)
• →Optional: Guided wildlife walk in Victoria Falls National Park (~£30)
• →Optional: Visit Mukuni Village cultural experience (~£15)
• →Optional: Return to the falls at dawn for a quieter experience (~£30 park re-entry)

Your self-launched adventure draws to a close. Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) is well connected to Johannesburg (South African Airways, ~1.5 hours) for onward international connections. Arrange a shared taxi or shuttle to the airport (~£8–10). If you have time before your flight, grab a final breakfast at your guesthouse and take one last look at the spray rising above the falls. Consider extending into Zambia (KAZA Univisa covers this), Hwange National Park, or continuing south toward Cape Town.

🚌Shared taxi or shuttle to Victoria Falls Airport (~£8). Fly to Johannesburg for international connections.

🛏n/a — departure day

• →Final breakfast at your guesthouse
• →Optional: one last visit to the falls or local craft market
• →Shared taxi or shuttle to Victoria Falls Airport (~£8)