Self-Launched Africa: Cape Town to the Okavango Delta

Fly into Cape Town International Airport and check in to your guesthouse in the vibrant De Waterkant or Gardens neighbourhood. Spend the evening exploring the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap or grabbing dinner at one of the Long Street restaurants. A great spot to meet fellow travellers.

🚌Airport to city centre: MyCiti Bus Route 100A (~£1.50) or shared Uber (~£8)

🛏Once in Cape Town Guesthouse or Ashanti Lodge (budget guesthouse ~£25-35/night)

• →Check in to budget guesthouse or hostel in Gardens/De Waterkant
• →Explore Bo-Kaap's colourful streets on foot
• →Dinner on Long Street — try local Cape Malay cuisine

Take the iconic Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to the summit for sweeping views over the Cape Peninsula. Spend the morning hiking the trails on top before riding back down. In the afternoon, explore the V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay beach, or book an optional township tour to Langa or Khayelitsha via GetYourGuide.

🚌Uber or MyCiti bus to Table Mountain lower cable station (~£5 return)

🛏Once in Cape Town Guesthouse or Ashanti Lodge

• →Table Mountain Cableway return ticket (self-book online ~£20)
• →Hiking trails on the Table Mountain plateau
• →Optional: Cape Point & Peninsula day tour via GetYourGuide (~£35)
• →Sundowners at Camps Bay beach

Catch a morning domestic flight from Cape Town (CPT) to Johannesburg (JNB). FlySafair and Kulula offer budget fares — book ahead for the best prices. Check in to a guesthouse in the Maboneng Precinct or Sandton area. Spend the afternoon visiting Constitution Hill or the Apartheid Museum (self-book tickets online).

🚌Domestic flight CPT–JNB (~£60-90). Gautrain from OR Tambo airport to Sandton (~£4)

🛏Curiocity Backpackers Johannesburg or similar guesthouse (~£20-30/night)

• →Fly Cape Town to Johannesburg — FlySafair or Kulula (~£60-90 if booked ahead)
• →Apartheid Museum self-guided visit (~£8)
• →Explore Maboneng Precinct arts district
• →Dinner at a local restaurant in Maboneng

Hire a car or arrange a shared shuttle from Johannesburg to the Greater Kruger area (approx. 5-6 hours drive). Self-driving to Kruger is very manageable and gives you huge flexibility. Stop for lunch en route at a roadside café. Arrive at your bush lodge or guesthouse near the Kruger gates in the late afternoon.

🚌Car hire from Johannesburg (~£30-40/day all-in) or shared shuttle (~£25pp). Fuel cost ~£20 for the drive.

🛏Kruger Park Backpackers (Hazyview) or Hippo Hollow Country Estate budget rooms (~£30-45/night)

• →Scenic drive from Johannesburg to Kruger (~5-6 hrs)
• →Stop at a local roadside farm stall for lunch
• →Check in to bush lodge and orientation walk on property
• →Braai (BBQ) dinner at lodge

Enter Kruger at sunrise for maximum wildlife activity. Self-drive safaris in Kruger are excellent — lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards are regularly spotted on the main tar and gravel roads. Pack a picnic lunch from the lodge. Return for an afternoon rest, then head back into the park for the golden-hour game drive. End the day with a traditional braai dinner.

🚌Self-drive in hired car within Kruger

🛏Kruger Park Backpackers or budget lodge (~£30-45/night)

• →Self-drive morning game drive in Kruger (park entry ~£20pp/day)
• →Picnic lunch at one of Kruger's rest camps (Skukuza or Satara)
• →Afternoon self-drive game drive
• →Braai dinner at lodge

Spend a full day inside Kruger on a self-drive safari, maximising your chances of spotting all of the Big Five. Pack snacks and water and plan a route between the major waterholes and rest camps. Kruger's self-drive experience is world-class — you set your own pace and can linger as long as you like at sightings.

🚌Self-drive in hired car

🛏Kruger Park Backpackers or budget lodge (~£30-45/night)

• →Full-day self-drive safari in Kruger National Park
• →Lunch at Olifants or Lower Sabie rest camp restaurant
• →Wildlife photography from your vehicle
• →Dinner at lodge — local South African dishes

Today, venture onto Kruger's wilderness trails or book a guided open-vehicle game drive through the lodge or via GetYourGuide for a more intimate safari experience. These shared guided drives depart at dawn and are significantly cheaper than private tours. Finish the day with dinner and stories around the campfire.

🚌Guided vehicle or self-drive

🛏Kruger Park Backpackers or budget lodge (~£30-45/night)

• →Book a shared open-vehicle guided safari drive via lodge or GetYourGuide (~£40-55pp)
• →Explore Kruger's less-trafficked S-roads by self-drive in the afternoon
• →Optional: night game drive (book via rest camp ~£20pp)
• →Campfire dinner at lodge

Take a full-day trip along the spectacular Panorama Route — one of South Africa's most scenic drives. Visit God's Window for jaw-dropping views over the lowveld, walk to Bourke's Luck Potholes, and stop at the Three Rondavels viewpoint over the Blyde River Canyon. This is a self-drive highlight easily done in a day from Kruger.

🚌Self-drive hire car along Panorama Route (~£5 fuel for day trip)

🛏Kruger Park Backpackers or budget lodge (~£30-45/night)

• →Self-drive Panorama Route (~full day)
• →God's Window viewpoint (free)
• →Bourke's Luck Potholes (~£4pp entry)
• →Three Rondavels at Blyde River Canyon viewpoint (free)
• →Optional: Mac Mac Falls stop (free)

Drive back to Johannesburg (or drop off hire car at Hoedspruit/Nelspruit) and catch an afternoon flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. FlySafair, SA Express, or Fastjet offer this route. Check in to a guesthouse near the falls and enjoy your first glimpse of the famous mist on the horizon.

🚌Drive/shuttle to airport + domestic/regional flight to VFA (~£90-130)

🛏Victoria Falls Backpackers or Shoestrings Guesthouse (~£20-30/night)

• →Drive or shuttle back to Johannesburg/Hoedspruit
• →Fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (~£90-130pp if booked ahead)
• →Check in to Victoria Falls Backpackers or Shoestrings (~£20-30/night)
• →Evening stroll to watch the sunset — Victoria Falls Bridge viewpoint (free)

Spend the morning at Victoria Falls — one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Entry to the falls on the Zimbabwe side gives access to a series of viewpoints with incredible spray and roar. In the afternoon, explore the town, craft markets, or book an optional activity like a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.

🚌Walking distance from accommodation to falls

🛏Victoria Falls Backpackers or Shoestrings (~£20-30/night)

• →Victoria Falls entry ticket (~£25pp — Zimbabwe side)
• →Walk all viewpoints along the falls (included in entry)
• →Craft village and local market visit (free to browse)
• →Optional: Zambezi sunset cruise via GetYourGuide (~£30pp)
• →Optional: Bungee jump from Victoria Falls Bridge (~£100pp)

Visit a local community project in the Victoria Falls area — many are self-bookable or arranged via guesthouse (e.g. Elephant's Walk craft collective, or Chikuni Community Project). In the afternoon, take a short transfer to the 4 Corners area where Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia meet. The Deluxe Bridge Tour is bookable directly (~£50-60).

🚌Local taxi or shuttle to 4 Corners (~£5-10pp)

🛏Victoria Falls Backpackers or Shoestrings (~£20-30/night)

• →Morning visit to a local community craft project
• →4 Corners Africa Bridge Tour (book direct or via GetYourGuide ~£50-60pp)
• →Optional: White-water rafting on the Zambezi (~£90pp via local operators)
• →Dinner at a local restaurant in Vic Falls town

Take a shared shuttle or local transfer from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park (approx. 1.5 hrs). Hwange is Zimbabwe's largest national park and is famous for its huge elephant herds. Book a shared game drive through your lodge — this is far cheaper than private guiding. Spend the afternoon on another drive.

🚌Shared shuttle from Victoria Falls (~£15pp)

🛏Hwange Safari Lodge budget rooms or Sable Sands (~£35-50/night)

• →Shared shuttle Victoria Falls to Hwange (~£15pp)
• →Morning shared game drive in Hwange (~£30-45pp via lodge)
• →Afternoon game drive or guided bush walk (~£25pp)
• →Look out for Hwange's famous elephant herds, lions, and wild dogs

A full day in Hwange with morning and afternoon game drives. Hwange's waterholes are particularly spectacular in the dry season when thousands of animals congregate. Ask your lodge about self-drive permits within Hwange — some areas allow it and it dramatically cuts the cost of game viewing.

🚌Lodge game drive vehicles

🛏Hwange Safari Lodge budget rooms (~£35-50/night)

• →Morning shared game drive (~£30-45pp)
• →Picnic lunch at Main Camp waterhole
• →Afternoon game drive focusing on predator sightings
• →Sundowner drinks in the bush (lodge-arranged)

Transfer from Hwange to Kasane in Botswana, the gateway to Chobe National Park (approx. 2-3 hrs by shared shuttle or local bus via Kazungula border crossing). Check in to a budget guesthouse in Kasane. Spend the afternoon exploring the town and arranging tomorrow's Chobe activities.

🚌Shared shuttle or local bus Hwange–Kasane (~£20-25pp)

🛏Thebe River Safaris Campsite or budget chalet (~£25-40/night)

• →Shared shuttle or local bus Hwange to Kasane (~£20-25pp)
• →Botswana visa on arrival (if applicable, check current requirements)
• →Check in to Thebe River Safaris Camp or Chobe Safari Lodge budget rooms
• →Afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe River to see hippos and crocs (book via guesthouse ~£25pp)

Chobe is renowned for having the highest concentration of elephants on Earth. Book a shared game drive and a Chobe River boat cruise — both available cheaply through local operators in Kasane. The boat cruise in particular is unmissable, putting you metres from elephants crossing the river, hippos, and hundreds of buffalo.

🚌Lodge/operator vehicles for game drives and boat cruise

🛏Thebe River Safaris Campsite or budget chalet (~£25-40/night)

• →Morning game drive in Chobe National Park (~£35pp shared vehicle)
• →Chobe River boat cruise — close encounter with elephants swimming (~£25pp)
• →Lunch at Kasane town restaurant
• →Afternoon optional bush walk with a local guide (~£20pp)

Spend another incredible day in Chobe. Try a different section of the park today — the Savuti region is famous for its predator activity. Many shared day tours from Kasane cover Savuti. In the evening, enjoy a meal at your camp and swap stories with fellow travellers.

🚌Shared day tour vehicle

🛏Thebe River Safaris Campsite or budget chalet (~£25-40/night)

• →Full-day shared game drive to Savuti area (~£55-70pp including park fees)
• →Picnic lunch in the bush provided by operator
• →Look for the famous Savuti lion prides and wild dog packs
• →Sunset at Chobe riverfront (free)

Take an early morning bus or shared taxi from Kasane to Maun (approx. 5-6 hours). Maun is the jumping-off point for the Okavango Delta. Check in to a budget guesthouse and arrange your mokoro trip for the next two days. Book via a local operator in Maun — far cheaper than going through an international tour company.

🚌Shared bus or taxi Kasane–Maun (~£18-25pp)

🛏Audi Camp Maun or Crocodile Camp (~£20-35/night)

• →Bus or shared taxi Kasane to Maun (~£18-25pp)
• →Check in to Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp Maun (~£20-35/night)
• →Book 2-day mokoro trip with a reputable local operator (~£90-120pp for 2 days all-in)
• →Evening stroll along the Thamalakane River

Today you'll be transferred by vehicle and then by motorboat to a remote camp deep in the Okavango Delta. From there, you'll glide through the papyrus channels in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) steered by a skilled local poler. This is one of Africa's most magical experiences. Make camp on a remote island and enjoy a guided bush walk in the afternoon.

🚌Motorboat transfer + mokoro canoe

🛏Tented bush camp on Okavango island (~included in mokoro package ~£90-120pp for 2 nights)

• →Transfer from Maun to Okavango Delta access point (~included in mokoro package)
• →Full day mokoro poling through papyrus channels
• →Guided bush walk on remote island — spot hippos, elephants, and birdlife
• →Bush camp dinner prepared by local guide
• →Night sounds of the delta — incredible stargazing

Wake at sunrise for a final morning mokoro through the lily-covered channels. Enjoy breakfast on the island before the return motorboat transfer to Maun. Arrive back in Maun by early afternoon. Spend the evening celebrating the end of an incredible journey over sundowners at a riverside bar.

🚌Motorboat return transfer to Maun (included in package)

🛏Audi Camp Maun or Crocodile Camp (~£20-35/night)

• →Sunrise mokoro paddle through the delta channels
• →Breakfast on the island
• →Return motorboat transfer to Maun
• →Optional: scenic flight over the Okavango Delta from Maun Airport (~£80-120pp — spectacular!)
• →Celebration dinner at a Maun restaurant

Your adventure concludes in Maun. Fly home from Maun International Airport (MUB) — Air Botswana flies to Johannesburg with connections worldwide. Alternatively, stay an extra night and explore the surroundings. Take a final look across the delta and reflect on 20 days of extraordinary wildlife, landscapes, and memories across three incredible African countries.

🚌Maun Airport (MUB) — Air Botswana to Johannesburg, then international flight home

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Fly Maun to Johannesburg (Air Botswana ~£100-150pp) with onward international connection
• →Optional: last-minute curio shopping at Maun craft market
• →Final coffee at a Maun café before heading to the airport