Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari — Self-Launched
14 days · Botswana & Zimbabwe
Exodus Adventure Travels charges £5,760
No-markup version: ~£1,560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Exodus's 14-day Botswana & Zimbabwe lodge safari: Victoria Falls, Chobe, the Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi salt pans, Matobo Hills and Hwange — done with local buses, shared taxis and self-booked lodges/camps instead of a guided group truck. You'll book game drives and mokoro trips directly with operators in Kasane, Maun and Hwange, and use intercity coaches (or a shared minibus transfer) to link the circuit. Costs are backpacker-to-mid-range estimates in GBP and assume shared twin/dorm rooms or camping where it keeps things cheap; park entrance fees are the single biggest variable.
Day-by-day
Arrive Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) → cross to Kasane, Botswana
Victoria Falls / Kasane
Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) or arrive overland. If you're coming from the Zimbabwe side, get your Zimbabwe visa on arrival (£45–55 for most Western passports, KAZA Univisa ~£40 covers Zim+Zambia). Take a shared taxi from the airport to Victoria Falls town (~£8–10), then a shared minibus or taxi across the Kazungula border to Kasane (~£15–20 per person, 1.5 hrs; border formalities at the one-stop post are simple). Check into a Kasane guesthouse, buy Pula at an ATM (Barclays/Stanbic take UK cards), and eat a cheap dinner at a local spot or your lodge.
🚌Shared taxi + minibus across Kazungula border, ~£25 total
🛏Kasane guesthouse or backpacker lodge (e.g. dorm/twin, ~£20/night)
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Kasane town orientation
- →Sunset over the Chobe River from the riverside
Chobe National Park — game drive + river safari
Kasane
Book a self-drive-free day of two activities directly with a Kasane operator the day before (Chobe Safari Lodge activities desk, Kalahari Tours or similar). Morning 3-hour 4x4 game drive in Chobe (~£55–70 including park fees), afternoon 3-hour boat safari on the Chobe River (~£35–45). Chobe has the densest elephant population on earth — expect herds of 100+. Book as a combined day for a discount; group departures leave ~06:00 and ~14:30.
🚌Walk/local lift to activity pick-up
🛏Kasane guesthouse or backpacker lodge
- →Chobe 4x4 game drive (~£60)
- →Chobe River boat safari (~£40)
- →Optional sunset cruise
Kasane → Maun (long travel day)
Maun
There's no train; the reliable budget route is the daily intercity bus/minibus from Kasane to Maun via Nata and Francistown (~8–9 hrs, ~£15–20). Alternatively, check for shared 4x4 transfers (more expensive, ~£60). Leave early. You'll pass the edge of Makgadikgadi and the gateway to the Delta. Arrive Maun, walk to a guesthouse in the Old Mall area (the backpacker hub), book your Delta trip for next day, grab dinner at a local restaurant.
🚌Intercity bus Kasane–Maun, ~£18
🛏Maun guesthouse/backpackers (e.g. Old Bridge Backpackers area, ~£18/night)
- →Road journey through eastern Botswana
- →Book Okavango Delta mokoro trip in Maun
Into the Okavango Delta — mokoro & bush camp
Okavango Delta
Book a 2-night/3-day mokoro camping trip directly with a Maun operator (Old Bridge Backpackers, Delta Rain, or a community-run poler association). Prices ~£170–230pp for 2 nights including all food, transfers to the mokoro station, two polers and a guide. Leave Maun at 08:00 by open 4x4 to the water station, then pole out into the channels. Afternoon walking safari on one of the islands — no big-game views, but elephants, zebra and birdlife are common. Camp on an island; food cooked over fire; bucket shower and long-drop toilet.
🚌Operator 4x4 to mokoro station + mokoro
🛏Wild bush camp in the Delta (tent, provided by operator)
- →Mokoro canoe ride (~3 hrs)
- →Island walking safari
- →Bush-camp cooking and stargazing
Full day in the Delta — walking, poling, evening music
Okavango Delta
Wake early for a sunrise walk on the islands, then pole deeper into the delta along channels. Midday siesta in the shade. Afternoon walking safari and a swim in a safe channel (ask the polers — hippo and croc awareness always applies). Many community-based trips include a visit to a BaYei/Hambukushu poler village with singing and dancing; if you're using a community-trust operator (e.g. Okavango Polers Trust), this is included. Evening campfire dinner.
🚌Mokoro and on foot
🛏Wild bush camp in the Delta
- →Sunrise island walk
- →Full-day mokoro exploration
- →Village visit / traditional music (if community operator)
- →Campfire dinner
Delta → Maun, optional scenic flight
Maun
Final mokoro ride back to the station after breakfast, 4x4 transfer to Maun by early afternoon. Optional: a 45-min scenic flight over the Delta from Maun airport (~£130–160, book at Maun airport or via your lodge) — this is genuinely the best way to see the Delta's scale. Otherwise relax at the lodge pool, sort laundry, top up data. Book your bus/flight to Nata or your onward transfer.
🚌Mokoro + 4x4 return (included in trip)
🛏Maun guesthouse/backpackers
- →Final mokoro ride
- →Optional scenic flight over the Okavango (~£145)
- →Rest day in Maun
Maun → Nata, Makgadikgadi / Elephant Sands sundowner
Nata
Take the morning bus or shared minibus Maun–Nata (~3 hrs, ~£8–10). Stay at Nata Lodge or the famous Elephant Sands (budget tents/rooms from ~£25; ~£10 taxi from Nata via the A33). Elephant Sands has a waterhole literally at the bar — elephants walk up to metres away, especially in the dry season. Afternoon sundowner at the waterhole; if you're at Nata Lodge, arrange a trip to the Makgadikgadi salt pans (~£40–60 for a half-day pan drive with quad/4x4).
🚌Bus Maun–Nata ~£9 + taxi ~£10
🛏Elephant Sands chalet/tent or Nata Lodge (~£28)
- →Elephant Sands waterhole sundowner
- →Optional Makgadikgadi pan drive (~£50)
Nata → Bulawayo → Matobo Hills
Matobo National Park
Cross into Zimbabwe at Kazungula or Plumtree. Simplest budget route: bus Nata → Francistown → Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), or bus to Kasane and onward. Realistically this is a full travel day (~10–12 hrs, ~£25). Alternatively fly Maun–Bulawayo via Johannesburg if fares are low; or take a weekly Jo'burg–Bulawayo train from Francistown if the schedule allows. Arrive Bulawayo, take a shared taxi/combine to Matopos/Matobo (~1 hr, ~£8), and check into a lodge or campsite at the park edge (e.g. Matobo Hills Lodge area, or Maleme Rest Camp inside the park from ~£20).
🚌Buses and shared taxi, ~£33
🛏Matobo lodge, campsite or Maleme Rest Camp (~£22)
- →Cross-border travel day
- →Sunset from a granite ridge above Matobo
Matobo National Park — rhino walk, rock art, World's End
Matobo National Park
Book a local guide through your lodge or the Zimbabwe Parks office at Maleme ($10–20 fee) plus park entry (~$15). Morning guided rhino-tracking walk in the Matobo — one of the best places in Africa for white rhino on foot. Afternoon 4x4 or guided drive to World's End (Cecil Rhodes' grave on Malindidzimu hill), the San rock paintings at Nswatugi or Pomongwe caves, and the extraordinary granite whale-back formations. Ask your guide to include a visit to a local Ndebele community craft project.
🚌Local guide vehicle / lodge 4x4
🛏Matobo lodge, campsite or Maleme Rest Camp
- →Rhino-tracking walking safari (~£35 with guide + fees)
- →World's End / Rhodes' Grave
- →San rock art caves (~£10 entry)
Matobo → Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park
Return to Bulawayo, then take the daily bus or shared minibus to Hwange town / Dete (~4–5 hrs, ~£12–15), then a lift to your camp near the park gate (~£10). Budget options: Hwange Main Camp rest huts (from ~$20pp) or Sinamatella/Deteema campsites; mid-range: Hwange Safari Lodge or a small private camp (~£40–60). Stock up on food and water in Hwange town — supplies inside the park are limited. Evening at a camp waterhole.
🚌Bus Bulawayo–Dete ~£13 + local lift ~£10
🛏Hwange Main Camp rest hut or lodge near the gate (~£25)
- →Travel day through Matabeleland
- →Camp waterhole wildlife watching
Hwange National Park — full-day game drive
Hwange National Park
Hwange is Zimbabwe's largest park and its pumped waterholes draw huge elephant herds in the dry season (Aug–Oct). Book a full-day open 4x4 game drive through your camp or the ZimParks office (~£70–110 including park fees and lunch), or self-drive if you've hired a vehicle (park entry ~$20/day + $8 vehicle). Alternatively, a morning drive plus an afternoon hide session at Nyamandlovu or Mandavu pan. Expect lion, painted dog if lucky, sable and hundreds of elephant.
🚌Operator 4x4 game drive
🛏Hwange Main Camp rest hut or lodge near the gate
- →Full-day 4x4 game drive in Hwange (~£85)
- →Optional hide/pan session
- →Night drive (if offered, ~£35)
Hwange → Victoria Falls; the Falls themselves
Victoria Falls
Take the morning bus or shared minibus from Hwange/Deté to Victoria Falls (~2.5 hrs, ~£8–10). Check into a backpackers in Victoria Falls town (Shoestrings or Victoria Falls Backpackers, dorm from ~£15, twin ~£30). Buy your Victoria Falls National Park entry (~$50 for the Zim side, cash USD) and walk the rainforest trail circuit — 16 viewpoints, the knife-edge bridge and the spray. Spend 3–4 hours there. Evening: cheap eats in town or a $10–15 dinner special.
🚌Bus Hwange–Vic Falls ~£9
🛏Victoria Falls backpackers/hostel (~£20)
- →Victoria Falls National Park walk (~£40)
- →Rainforest trail viewpoints
- →Sunset over the Zambezi
Victoria Falls adventure day
Victoria Falls
Pick your thrill: white-water rafting the Batoka Gorge below the Falls (~£110–130 with Shearwater/Wild Horizons, full day, Grade V in high water), a 15-min microlight or helicopter flight over the Falls (~£120–160), a sunset cruise on the Zambezi (~£45–60 with drinks), or cross the border bridge to Zambia to see the Falls from the other side (KAZA visa needed, ~£40). A good budget combo: morning bridge walk + Zambia side, afternoon sunset cruise. Book everything the day before directly with the operator or via GetYourGuide.
🚌On foot / local taxi (~£5)
🛏Victoria Falls backpackers/hostel
- →White-water rafting (~£120) or
- →Scenic flight (~£130) or
- →Sunset cruise (~£50)
- →Zambia-side Falls walk
Depart Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
Last morning: craft market, coffee at a café, or an early swim. Shared shuttle to Victoria Falls Airport (~£10–15 per person, book through your hostel) for your flight out, or bus onward to Bulawayo/Harare if overlanding. If you have a spare day, extend by crossing to Livingstone (Zambia) for the Devil's Pool (seasonal, Aug–Jan) or a Chobe day trip from Kasane.
🚌Shared airport shuttle ~£12
🛏—
- →Craft market shopping
- →Optional Livingstone extension
Self-launched vs. Exodus Adventure Travels
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus Adventure Travels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,560 | £5,760 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £4,200 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus Adventure Travels-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,560
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,560 per person for 14 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 Exodus Adventure Travels?+
Yes — Exodus Adventure Travels charges around £5,760 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,560 — a saving of roughly £4,200 (73%) per person.
How long is the Botswana & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 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 adventure, wildlife, budget 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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