Self-Launched Highlights of Botswana & Zimbabwe

Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA). Arrange your own transfer — shared shuttle taxis from the airport into town cost around £5-8. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the Victoria Falls town centre. Spend the evening exploring the main strip, grabbing a meal, and soaking up the atmosphere. The roar of the falls can be heard from town.

🚌Fly into Victoria Falls Airport; shared shuttle or taxi to town (~£5-8)

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£15-20/night)

• →Arrive and settle in at a budget hostel or guesthouse (e.g. Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers, ~£15-20/night)
• →Walk the Victoria Falls town centre and grab dinner at a local restaurant

Start the morning with a self-booked guided tour of Victoria Falls — one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Entry to the falls costs around £20-25 and guided rainforest walks can be booked directly at the gate or via GetYourGuide. In the afternoon, visit the Painted Dog Conservation centre near Hwange independently — it's free to visit with a small donation encouraged. Travel onwards to Hwange by shared minibus or pre-booked shuttle (~£15-20).

🚌Shared shuttle or minibus from Victoria Falls to Hwange (~£15-20)

🛏Hwange Main Camp Rest Camp (Zimbabwe Parks) or Siyabona Guesthouse (~£20-30/night)

• →Victoria Falls guided rainforest tour — book directly at the gate or via GetYourGuide (~£25-30 including entry)
• →Visit Painted Dog Conservation centre (free/donation)
• →Travel to Hwange by shared shuttle or minibus (~£15-20)

Spend a full day exploring Hwange National Park, one of Africa's great elephant sanctuaries. Book a shared safari day trip through your guesthouse or a local operator in town — these typically run in open 4x4 vehicles and cover the park's grasslands and watering holes. Look out for elephant herds, buffalo, giraffe, lion, and zebra. In the evening, relax on the lodge deck overlooking the watering hole.

🚌Included in safari vehicle

🛏Hwange Main Camp Rest Camp or Siyabona Guesthouse (~£20-30/night)

• →Full-day shared 4x4 safari in Hwange National Park — book via local operator or guesthouse (~£60-80 per person)
• →Sundowner drinks at the lodge watering hole (self-arranged)

Travel north from Hwange toward the Botswana border. Take a shared shuttle or local bus to Kasane (~£20-25), crossing the border on foot (ensure you have your visa — Botswana is free for many nationalities; Zimbabwe visa ~£30 if not already obtained on arrival). Kasane is the gateway to Chobe National Park. After checking in, book an afternoon boat safari along the Chobe River directly through your accommodation or a local operator — these shared boat trips offer spectacular wildlife viewing including hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and extraordinary birdlife.

🚌Shared shuttle from Hwange to Kasane including border crossing (~£20-25)

🛏Old House Guesthouse or Chobe Backpackers, Kasane (~£20-28/night)

• →Travel from Hwange to Kasane by shared shuttle/local bus with border crossing (~£20-25)
• →Chobe River afternoon boat safari — book locally (~£25-35 per person)
• →Sundowner from the boat deck (often included)

Book a morning shared 4x4 open-vehicle game drive through Chobe National Park — one of Africa's most wildlife-dense parks. Chobe is famous for its enormous elephant herds and the diversity of predators. Most guesthouses and local operators in Kasane offer half-day and full-day drives at competitive rates. Alternatively, combine a morning drive with an afternoon boat safari for maximum sightings. Spend the evening unwinding in Kasane.

🚌Safari vehicle (included in tour)

🛏Old House Guesthouse or Chobe Backpackers, Kasane (~£20-28/night)

• →Morning shared open-vehicle game drive in Chobe National Park (~£40-60 per person, book locally or via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: afternoon boat safari combo (~£25-35 extra)
• →Explore Kasane town in the evening

Travel from Kasane to Maun, the jumping-off point for the Okavango Delta. The most cost-effective option is the Batho Bus or a shared minibus via Nata (~£20-30, journey approx. 5-6 hours). Alternatively, budget airlines like Air Botswana or Fly Airlink operate flights (~£80-120 one-way) if you want to save time. Check into a hostel or budget camp in Maun and arrange your Okavango Delta excursion for the following days — book directly with local operators such as Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp for the best rates.

🚌Shared bus/minibus Kasane to Maun via Nata (~£20-30) or budget flight (~£80-120)

🛏Audi Camp or Old Bridge Backpackers, Maun (~£15-25/night)

• →Travel from Kasane to Maun by shared bus/minibus via Nata (~£20-30) or budget flight (~£80-120)
• →Check into accommodation and book Okavango Delta mokoro excursion directly with local operator

This is the highlight of the trip. Take a light aircraft or boat transfer from Maun into the Okavango Delta — book directly with local operators like Audi Camp, Crocodile Camp, or Delta Rain Camp for the best independent rates. Glide through the lily-pad channels in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) poled by a local guide, spotting kingfishers, herons, hippos, and elephants. A motorised boat excursion covers more ground. Overnight in a basic delta bush camp — a truly unforgettable experience under the stars.

🚌Light aircraft or boat transfer from Maun into the delta (~£80-120 return)

🛏Delta bush camp (basic but memorable, ~£40-60/night including meals)

• →Transfer into the Okavango Delta by light aircraft or boat (~£80-120 per person return)
• →Traditional mokoro canoe excursion through the delta channels (~£30-50, included in most camp packages)
• →Motorised boat game viewing excursion
• →Bush walk with local guide
• →Overnight in delta bush camp (~£40-60 per person)

Spend a second full day in the delta, joining morning and evening bush walks led by local guides to track lion, giraffe, zebra, and the extraordinary birdlife of the delta. The pace is slow and rewarding — this is genuine wilderness immersion. Most bush camp packages include guided walks, meals, and mokoro trips in their daily rate, making costs predictable. Transfer back to Maun in the late afternoon.

🚌Return light aircraft or boat transfer back to Maun (included in return transfer booked on Day 7)

🛏Return to Audi Camp or Old Bridge Backpackers, Maun (~£15-25/night)

• →Morning guided bush walk tracking wildlife (included in camp package)
• →Afternoon mokoro or boat excursion
• →Evening transfer back to Maun

Spend the day exploring Maun at your own pace. Visit the Nhabe Museum to learn about the Okavango ecosystem and local Batswana culture. Browse local craft markets for authentic souvenirs. If budget allows, consider a scenic helicopter or microlight flight over the delta — a spectacular perspective bookable locally (~£80-120 for 15 minutes). Enjoy a final sundowner dinner at one of Maun's riverside restaurants.

🚌Walking / local taxis within Maun (~£3-5)

🛏Audi Camp or Old Bridge Backpackers, Maun (~£15-25/night)

• →Visit Nhabe Museum, Maun (small entry fee ~£2-3)
• →Browse local craft markets for souvenirs
• →Optional: scenic microlight or helicopter flight over the delta (~£80-120)
• →Sundowner dinner at a riverside restaurant in Maun (~£12-18)

Your adventure ends in Maun. Maun Airport (MUB) has connections to Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo) with Air Botswana and Airlink, from where you can connect to international flights home. Allow plenty of time as Maun is a small airport. Grab a final breakfast at your accommodation before heading to the airport.

🚌Local taxi to Maun Airport (~£5-8)

• →Final breakfast at accommodation
• →Transfer to Maun Airport (MUB) by local taxi (~£5-8)
• →Fly Maun to Johannesburg and connect home