Best of Botswana & Victoria Falls — Self-Launched
12 days · Botswana & Zimbabwe
On The Go Tours charges £4,230
No-markup version: ~£2,315 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on On The Go Tours' 12-day 'Best of Botswana & Victoria Falls' loop, starting and finishing at Victoria Falls. Instead of a guided 4x4 expedition truck you'll string together local buses, shared shuttles, minibuses and the odd charter flight to hit the same headline experiences: the Falls themselves, the Makgadikgadi salt pans at Nata, self-drive or shared game drives in Moremi, a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta, a mokoro trip and island bush walk in the Delta panhandle, and Chobe's elephants by land and river. Costs are backpacker-to-midrange estimates and assume shared accommodation, public/shared transport and self-booked activities — realistically expect to spend roughly £2,100–2,500, versus around £4,200 for the operator's tour (US$5,105 + US$300 local payment).
Day-by-day
Arrive Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) and take a shared shuttle or local taxi (~£8-10) into town. Settle into a budget lodge or backpackers in Victoria Falls village, sort out your USD cash (Zimbabwe runs on US dollars alongside a new local currency, so bring plenty of small notes) and pick up a local SIM. Spend the afternoon on the Zimbabwe side of the falls if you arrive early — the Rainforest Walk entrance is about US$50 for international visitors and takes 2-3 hours.
🚌Airport shuttle or taxi, ~£8-10
🛏Backpackers/budget lodge in Victoria Falls village (dorm ~£15-20, private ~£35)
- →Rainforest Walk at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side, ~US$50 entry)
- →Sundowner at a local bar on the Zambezi
Falls, helicopter and river cruise day
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Full day at the falls. Do the classic walking circuit in the morning, then choose your splurge: a 12-15 minute helicopter flip over the falls is around US$150-180 booked direct with operators like Wild Horizons or Zambezi Helicopter Co (or via GetYourGuide), and a standard sunset cruise on the Zambezi runs ~US$60-80 including drinks. Book both a day ahead at the activity desks in town — no need for an agent. Local taxi transfers between town and the falls are ~US$5 each way.
🚌Local taxis, ~£12 total
🛏Backpackers/budget lodge in Victoria Falls village
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk
- →Helicopter flight over the falls (~US$165)
- →Sunset cruise on the Zambezi (~US$70)
Cross into Botswana — Victoria Falls to Nata
Nata, Botswana
Take a shared shuttle/combie from Victoria Falls to Kasane (~US$15-20, 2 hours), cross the border at Kazungula (easy, visa-free for most nationalities, no visa fee for Botswana for UK/EU passports), then pick up a bus or shared minibus down to Nata (~US$15-20, 3-4 hours). Alternatively book a through-shuttle from Vic Falls to Nata with a local operator for ~US$45. Check into a Nata lodge or campsite, then arrange an afternoon/evening trip to Nata Sanctuary / Makgadikgadi Salt Pans directly with your lodge (~US$30-40 including guide, or US$15 self-drive entry) for the sunset over the pans.
🚌Shared shuttle + minibus, ~£35-40
🛏Nata Lodge or similar budget lodge/campsite (dorm ~£15, private ~£35)
- →Border crossing at Kazungula
- →Sunset over Makgadikgadi Salt Pans / Nata Sanctuary
Nata to Maun, gateway to the Delta
Maun, Botswana
Long travel day: local bus or shared minibus from Nata to Maun (~US$18-25, 5-6 hours on the A3, departures early morning). Maun is the safari hub of Botswana — use the afternoon to shop for self-catering supplies at the supermarket and book your Moremi game drives and Okavango scenic flight for the coming days with a local operator (options include Moremi Air, Mack Air for flights and smaller Maun-based mobile safari operators for shared game drives). Note: Moremi is best done with a mobile safari operator as a 2-day shared camping trip — expect US$270-320 per person for a shared 2-day/1-night mobile camping safari with game drives included.
🚌Local bus/shared minibus Nata-Maun, ~£18-22
🛏Backpackers/campsite in Maun (dorm ~£15-18)
- →Maun town and riverfront
- →Book Moremi shared mobile safari
Moremi Game Reserve — morning and afternoon game drives
Moremi Game Reserve
Head into Moremi on a shared mobile camping safari booked locally in Maun — this is the self-launched equivalent of the operator's 2 days of guided 4x4 drives in open vehicles. You'll drive the Khwai and Third Bridge areas with an armed guide, tracking wild dog, lion, elephant and the reserve's famous leopard population, with a morning and afternoon drive around camp. Budget US$270-320 total for the overnight trip including meals, park fees and camping; bring your own drinks.
🚌Open 4x4 safari vehicle (included in safari price)
🛏Mobile camping safari tent in Moremi (included in safari price)
- →Moroko/Moremi morning game drive
- →Afternoon game drive in open 4x4
- →Bush camping under the stars
Moremi back to Maun — Okavango scenic flight
Maun, Botswana
Morning game drive out of Moremi and back to Maun. In the afternoon take the one-hour scenic flight over the Okavango Delta — book directly with Mack Air or Moremi Air at Maun airport, around US$190-230 per person for the 60-minute Delta circuit (shared flight, so you may wait for seats to fill). It's the best-value aerial view you'll get in Botswana and shows you the whole Delta system before you go into it on the ground. Evening at a Maun guesthouse, self-catering or a local restaurant.
🚌Safari vehicle return + light aircraft flight (fuel cost included in price)
🛏Backpackers/campsite in Maun
- →Scenic hour-long flight over Okavango Delta (~US$210)
- →Maun riverfront sunset
Maun to Okavango panhandle
Okavango Panhandle / Sepopa
Take a shared minibus or local bus west along the panhandle to Sepopa/Shakawe (~US$15-20, 4-5 hours) — the same scenic stretch the operator drives. Base yourself at a budget river camp near Sepopa or on the panhandle (Swamp Stop-style river camps run ~£20-30 in a chalet, ~£10 camping). Arrange a mokoro excursion and boat trip directly with the camp for the next morning.
🚌Shared minibus Maun-Sepopa, ~£15-18
🛏Riverside camp/chalet on the panhandle (~£20-28)
- →Panhandle river drive and sunset
- →Arrange mokoro trip with camp
Mokoro and island bush walk in the Delta
Okavango Delta (panhandle)
Full day in the Delta channels: a return boat trip to the mokoro station, then a 30-minute boat ride and a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) excursion into the channels with a local poler, plus a guided game walk on one of the islands. Book direct at the camp — expect ~US$45-70 per person for the mokoro and boat trip and ~US$20 for the guided island walk, or the equivalent of the operator's full Delta day at about £75-90 all in. Bring plenty of water and a hat — there's no shade out on the water.
🚌Boat and mokoro, included in the day's activity price
🛏Riverside camp/chalet on the panhandle
- →Mokoro excursion up Delta channels
- →Boat trip on the panhandle
- →Guided bush walk on a Delta island
Panhandle to the Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Caprivi Strip (Katima Mulilo / Kongola)
Cross into Namibia's Caprivi Strip via Mohembo/Katima Mulilo (straightforward border, most nationalities visa-free or visa-on-arrival). Take a shared taxi/minibus from Sepopa or Shakawe to Katima Mulilo (~US$10-15), then onward travel or a short taxi to a Zambezi riverside lodge near Kongola (~US$10-20). The Zambezi Mubala-style lodges are pricier; budget options and campsites along the river run ~£15-30. Afternoon at leisure on the Zambezi — this is the operator's rest day between the Delta and Chobe.
🚌Shared taxi/minibus + border crossing, ~£20-25
🛏Zambezi riverside lodge or campsite, Caprivi (camping ~£12, chalet ~£30)
- →Zambezi River sunset
- →Caprivi riverside rest day
Caprivi to Kasane — Chobe afternoon game drive
Kasane, Botswana
Travel from the Caprivi back to Kasane (~US$20-25 shared minibus/shuttle, 4-5 hours via Ngoma border) and check into a budget lodge or campsite in Kasane. That afternoon, book an afternoon game drive into Chobe National Park directly with a Kasane operator (Chobe Safari Lodge activity desk, Kalahari Tours, or via GetYourGuide) — ~US$50-65 for a 3-hour shared 4x4 drive. Chobe has the highest elephant density in Africa, with herds of 100+ around the Chobe River in the dry season.
🚌Shared minibus/shuttle Caprivi-Kasane, ~£22
🛏Kasane budget lodge or campsite (~£18-30)
- →Afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park (~US$60)
Chobe morning game drive and river cruise
Kasane, Botswana
Big wildlife day: a morning game drive in an open 4x4 into Chobe (~US$55-65) and a sunset game-viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River in the late afternoon (~US$45-55, includes drinks). Book both direct in Kasane the day before, or together via GetYourGuide/Klook for ~US$100-110 — much cheaper than a packaged tour and exactly the same drives. Elephants, hippo, buffalo, crocs and the occasional lion pride on the riverbank.
🚌Local 4x4 and boat transfers included in activity prices
🛏Kasane budget lodge or campsite
- →Morning game drive in Chobe National Park
- →Sunset game-viewing cruise on the Chobe River
Kasane to Victoria Falls — fly out
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Take a shared taxi or shuttle from Kasane back over the Kazungula border to Victoria Falls (~US$15-20, 1.5-2 hours), or fly directly out of Kasane International Airport if your routing allows. Allow at least 3 hours for the border on the way back — Kazungula land crossings can be slow. Depart from Victoria Falls Airport. If you have a late flight, add a final brunch in town and one more look at the falls.
🚌Shared taxi/shuttle Kasane-Victoria Falls, ~£15
🛏Departure day
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Last look at Victoria Falls
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,315 | £4,230 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,915 per person (45%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,315
estimated per person
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Botswana & Victoria Falls — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,315 per person for 12 days in Botswana & Zimbabwe. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £4,230 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,315 — a saving of roughly £1,915 (45%) per person.
How long is the Botswana & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Botswana & Zimbabwe.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a wildlife, adventure, backpacker trip through Botswana & Zimbabwe, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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