Johannesburg to Victoria Falls: Self-Launched Overland Safari
8 days · South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe
G Adventures charges £730
No-markup version: ~£530 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched version of G Adventures' "Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Overland Safari & Participation Camping" — same route through South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, but booked and travelled independently. Trade the tour truck for intercity buses and shared shuttles, the guided camp kitchen for your own tent and supermarket runs, and the group CEO for directly-booked local guides. You'll still sleep under big African skies, glide through the Okavango Delta in a mokoro, see the elephants of Chobe and stand at the thundering edge of Victoria Falls — for a fraction of the group tour price. All costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg — Maboneng & Apartheid Museum
Johannesburg, South Africa
Land at OR Tambo and take the Gautrain (approx £10) or an airport shuttle to a hostel in Maboneng or Braamfontein. Spend the afternoon at the Apartheid Museum (about £9 / 180 ZAR) and wander the Maboneng precinct for street art and dinner. Cash up on rand today and grab a local SIM — you'll want data for bus bookings. Sort your Botswana and Zimbabwe border paperwork and passport copies tonight.
🚌Gautrain or shared airport shuttle into the city (approx £10)
🛏Hostel dorm in Maboneng/Braamfontein (approx £14)
- →Apartheid Museum (approx £9)
- →Maboneng street art walk
- →Hostel briefing on border logistics and cash
Johannesburg to Serowe — Border Crossing into Botswana
Serowe, Botswana
Take an early intercity bus or shared shuttle from Johannesburg to Gaborone (roughly £18-25, 5-6 hrs), then a local bus or shared minibus on to Serowe (about £7, 3 hrs). Alternatively, several Johannesburg-based shuttle operators run direct transfers to Serowe/Khama Rhino Sanctuary — worth booking 1-2 days ahead. Cross at Tlokweng or Groblersbrug/Martins Drift, pay the Botswana tourism levy (USD 30) and pick up pula at an ATM in Gaborone. Camp at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary campsite (approx £10 pp) and cook over the fire.
🚌Intercity bus/shuttle Johannesburg–Gaborone (approx £22), shared minibus to Serowe (approx £7)
🛏Khama Rhino Sanctuary campsite — own tent (approx £10)
- →Border crossing at Tlokweng or Martins Drift
- →Sunset at Khama Rhino Sanctuary campsite
- →Self-catered braai under the stars
Khama Rhino Sanctuary Game Drive, then Maun
Maun, Botswana
Book a self-drive or guided game drive in Khama Rhino Sanctuary at the gate (approx £22 pp for a 2-3 hr drive) — this community-run reserve is one of the best-value white rhino sightings in southern Africa. Afterwards, take a bus or shared combi from Serowe to Maun (approx £14, 5-6 hrs). Check into a Maun backpackers (dorm approx £12) and book your Okavango Delta mokoro trip for tomorrow directly with a local poler/community trust — this is cheaper and more direct than going through an agency.
🚌Shared combi Serowe–Maun (approx £14)
🛏Backpackers dorm in Maun (approx £12)
- →Khama Rhino Sanctuary game drive (approx £22)
- →Book Okavango mokoro trip direct with local poler
Okavango Delta — Mokoro & Bush Camp
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Head out early with your poler on a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) into the Delta channels (approx £55-70 pp for a full day plus overnight bush camp, including meals — negotiate directly or via a community trust). Do a guided bush walk and learn animal tracking, then set up a basic fly camp on an island. Spend the evening around the fire and listen for hippo and elephants moving through the reeds. No facilities out here — bring water, a torch and a good sleeping bag.
🚌Mokoro (dugout canoe) plus 4x4 transfer to the channel head
🛏Bush camp in the Okavango Delta — own tent, no facilities
- →Mokoro canoe excursion (approx £60)
- →Guided bush walk and animal tracking
- →Bush camping on a Delta island
Delta Sunrise, Back to Maun, then Gweta
Gweta, Botswana
Wake for sunrise over the Delta and paddle back out through the channels. Back in Maun, shower and grab lunch, then catch the afternoon bus or shared combi towards Gweta (approx £12, 3-4 hrs) — often you'll need to change in Nata, so ask your poler or hostel to confirm the connection the day before. Tonight camp among the giant baobabs at a community campsite outside Gweta (approx £10 pp).
🚌Mokoro and 4x4 back to Maun, then bus/combi Maun–Gweta (approx £12)
🛏Community campsite near Gweta — own tent (approx £10)
- →Sunrise over the Okavango Delta
- →Afternoon journey to Gweta
- →Baobab camping
Gweta to Kasane — Chobe National Park
Kasane, Botswana
Continue overland to Kasane via Nata (approx £15, 4-5 hrs total with a change). Check into a Kasane backpackers or campsite (dorm/camp approx £13). In the afternoon, book a Chobe River sunset cruise or a Chobe game drive directly at the gate or through your hostel (approx £35-45 each) — Kasane has the largest elephant population in southern Africa and the river cruises get remarkably close to herds drinking at the water's edge.
🚌Bus/combi Gweta–Kasane via Nata (approx £15)
🛏Kasane backpackers dorm or campsite (approx £13)
- →Overland to Kasane
- →Optional Chobe River sunset cruise (approx £40)
- →Optional Chobe game drive (approx £40)
Kasane to Victoria Falls — Kazungula Border
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Cross the Kazungula border into Zimbabwe (use the shared border-crossing taxis, approx £5-8) and continue to Victoria Falls town by combi or shared taxi (approx £6). Check into a hostel in Victoria Falls (dorm approx £14). Book your Victoria Falls National Park entry at the gate (about USD 50 / £39) and walk the rainforest trail past the thundering viewpoints. Ask your hostel to point you towards the Lusumpuko Women's Club for a traditional lunch (the community project G Adventures supports; approx £8), and consider the Zambezi sunset cruise or a stroll along the bridge.
🚌Shared border taxi across Kazungula (approx £8) plus combi to Victoria Falls town (approx £6)
🛏Hostel dorm in Victoria Falls (approx £14)
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Victoria Falls National Park entry (approx £39)
- →Lunch at Lusumpuko Women's Club (approx £8)
- →Optional sunset cruise on the Zambezi
Victoria Falls — Optional Adrenaline & Departure
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Spend the morning on whichever optional activity appeals: whitewater rafting on the Zambezi (approx £95), the gorge swing or zipline (approx £35-130), a microlight flight over the falls (approx £285), or the Devil's Pool swim on Livingstone Island if you extend to the Zambian side. Pre-book via GetYourGuide or directly with the operators in town. Then fly out of Victoria Falls International (VFA), or cross to Livingstone (LVI) for cheaper onward fares. Extending? Ask your hostel about the bus to Bulawayo or Hwange National Park.
🚌Airport shuttle or taxi to Victoria Falls International (approx £10)
🛏—
- →Optional Zambezi whitewater rafting (approx £95)
- →Optional gorge swing or zipline
- →Optional microlight flight over the falls
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£530 | £730 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £200 per person (27%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£530
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Johannesburg to Victoria Falls: Self-Launched Overland Safari cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £530 per person for 8 days in South Africa, 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £730 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £530 — a saving of roughly £200 (27%) per person.
How long is the South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through South Africa, 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 South Africa, 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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