The Grand Southern Safari — Self-Launched: Cape Town to Victoria Falls
20 days · Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe
Encounters Travel charges £4,410
No-markup version: ~£1,340 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 20-day overland adventure retracing Encounters Travel's "Grand Southern Safari" — Cape Town to Victoria Falls — independently. Instead of a fully guided 25-seat expedition truck, you ride the same route using Intercape/Greyhound coaches, shared 4x4 shuttles, and local minibus transfers, joining budget-friendly day tours and self-drive 4x4 excursions for the headline experiences (Sossusvlei and Deadvlei at sunrise, the dunes of Namib-Naukluft, Swakopmund's adventure scene, Etosha game drives, the Okavango Delta, Chobe boat safaris and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls). You sleep in hostels, guesthouses, budget lodges and camp sites — all bookable directly or via Hostelworld, GetYourGuide, Klook or local operators. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and assume shared/dorm accommodation and self-catering where practical. Note that some legs (especially Namibia's gravel roads and remote Botswana stretches) are best done with a small self-drive 4x4 group or a shared local tour to keep both cost and safety sensible.
Day-by-day
Cape Town to Cederberg
Cape Town / Cederberg
Start in Cape Town. Rent a car with 2-3 other travellers (or take an Intercape/Greyhound coach north to Clanwilliam) and head up the N7 into the Cederberg mountains. Settle into a budget guesthouse or campsite near Clanwilliam. Enjoy a first braai (BBQ) dinner under the stars — the operator's own Day 1 pattern of a drive-and-dinner.
🚌Shared rental car from Cape Town (~£40/person/day split 4 ways incl. fuel) or Intercape coach Cape Town–Clanwilliam (~£12)
🛏Clanwilliam guesthouse or Cederberg campsite (~£15-20/night)
- →Scenic drive up the N7
- →Cederberg wine tasting
- →Sunset braai
Citrusdal to Orange River
Namaqualand / Orange River
Drive north through Citrusdal into Namaqualand. If travelling July–September, stop for the famous wildflower bloom around Garies and Kamieskroon (the operator's included spring wildflowers). Cross into Namibia at Vioolsdrif and overnight at a budget lodge or camp on the Orange River near Noordoewer.
🚌Shared rental car; Vioolsdrif border crossing (Namibia entry)
🛏Orange River campsite/lodge (~£15-25/night)
- →Namaqualand wildflowers (Jul-Sep)
- →Vioolsdrif border crossing
- →Orange River sunset
Orange River to Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon
Optional early canoe on the Orange River (self-book ~£25), then drive to Fish River Canyon, the world's second-largest canyon. Walk the rim viewpoints on your own — the operator's 'scenic rim walk' is free and self-guided. Overnight at the NWR Hobas campsite or a nearby budget lodge.
🚌Shared rental car
🛏Hobas campsite or Ai-Ais budget lodge (~£10-20/night)
- →Orange River canoe (optional, ~£25)
- →Fish River Canyon rim viewpoints
- →Sunset at the main viewpoint
Keetmanshoop to Namib-Naukluft
Keetmanshoop / Namib-Naukluft
Drive north to Keetmanshoop to see the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant's Playground — both small self-guided fee-based sites (~£5 each). Continue to the Namib-Naukluft area near Sesriem and overnight at a camp or budget lodge outside the park.
🚌Shared rental car on gravel roads
🛏Sesriem-area campsite or guesthouse (~£15-25/night)
- →Quiver Tree Forest
- →Giant's Playground
- →Gravel-road driving through the Namib
Namib-Naukluft National Park (Sossusvlei & Deadvlei)
Sossusvlei / Deadvlei
The trip's iconic day. Get up before dawn and self-drive (4x4 required) or join a shared 4x4 shuttle from Sesriem gate to Sossusvlei, then walk the last stretch to Deadvlei. Climb Dune 45 at sunrise for the classic panorama. Visit Sesriem Canyon on the way back. Park entry and the 4x4 shuttle are self-bookable.
🚌Self-drive 4x4 through Sesriem gate or shared 4x4 shuttle (~£30)
🛏Sesriem-area campsite or guesthouse (~£15-25/night)
- →Sunrise at Dune 45
- →4x4 shuttle to Sossusvlei/Deadvlei
- →Sesriem Canyon
Namib-Naukluft to Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Drive west to the coast via Solitaire and the Tropic of Capricorn sign (a quick photo stop). Arrive in Swakopmund. A local desert walk (optional, ~£20) replaces the operator's guided desert expert. Check into a backpackers' hostel — Swakopmund has several well-known ones.
🚌Shared rental car
🛏Swakopmund hostel/backpackers (~£15-20/night)
- →Tropic of Capricorn stop
- →Self-guided desert walk (optional local guide ~£20)
- →Swakopmund seafront
Swakopmund (free day)
Swakopmund
Full free day for the town's adventure scene — book any of it via GetYourGuide or Klook or a local operator: dolphin/Walvis Bay cruise (~£60), tandem skydiving (~£200), sandboarding (~£40), quad biking (~£45). Or simply wander the German-colonial streets, museum and beach for free.
🚌On foot / local taxi
🛏Swakopmund hostel/backpackers (~£15-20/night)
- →Dolphin cruise (optional ~£60)
- →Sandboarding (optional ~£40)
- →Quad biking (optional ~£45)
- →Skydiving (optional ~£200)
Swakopmund to Brandberg
Brandberg / Damaraland
Drive north past Walvis Bay and the coastal lichen fields, then inland to Brandberg. Hike in the Brandberg massif and, if you wish, arrange a local guide at the White Lady rock-art site (day permit ~£12). Overnight at a budget lodge or camp in Damaraland.
🚌Shared rental car
🛏Brandberg campsite/budget lodge (~£15-25/night)
- →Walvis Bay / lichen fields
- →Brandberg hike
- →White Lady rock art (guided ~£15)
Brandberg to Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park
Drive to Etosha and enter the park. Camp inside at a NWR camp (Okaukuejo, Halali or Namutoni) — the cheapest way to experience Etosha and the way to enjoy the floodlit waterhole at night. Self-drive game viewing is the norm here.
🚌Shared rental car; Etosha park entry (~£10/day)
🛏NWR camp inside Etosha (~£15-25/night camping)
- →Game viewing from the border road
- →Night waterhole at Etosha camp
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park
Full day of self-drive game drives — the operator's 'afternoon game drive in truck' is replaced by a morning and afternoon drive in your own 4x4, which is far cheaper and gives you freedom of pace. Look for lion, elephant, rhino and the Etosha Pan's endless plains.
🚌Self-drive 4x4 game drives
🛏NWR camp inside Etosha (~£15-25/night camping)
- →Morning game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Waterhole watching
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park
Second full day in Etosha. Move camp or explore the eastern section toward Namutoni with its restored fort. Keep your petrol topped up at the camp pumps — options further on are limited.
🚌Self-drive 4x4
🛏NWR camp inside Etosha (~£15-25/night camping)
- →Game drive to Namutoni
- →Fort Namutoni visit
- →Birding
Etosha to Divundu (Kavango)
Divundu / Kavango River
Exit Etosha and drive north into the Kavango/Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, crossing the veterinary fence into the greener Caprivi Strip. Overnight at a budget riverside lodge or camp on the Kavango River at Divundu.
🚌Shared rental car north via Rundu
🛏Kavango River campsite/lodge (~£15-25/night)
- →Caprivi Strip drive
- →Kavango-Zambezi TFCA
- →Riverside sunset
Divundu
Divundu / Mahango
Morning boat cruise on the Kavango River (self-book ~£30), watching hippos and birdlife. Optional afternoon game drive into Mahango National Park in your 4x4 (park fee ~£8) — the operator's optional activity, but done independently.
🚌Self-drive 4x4; Divundu–Mahango
🛏Kavango River campsite/lodge (~£15-25/night)
- →Morning boat cruise (~£30)
- →Mahango National Park game drive (optional ~£8)
Divundu to Maun
Maun
Long driving day south through the Okavango Panhandle to Maun, gateway to the Delta. Cross into Botswana at Mohembo/Gomare border. Overnight at a Maun backpackers' hostel — the town has a good cluster of cheap guesthouses.
🚌Shared rental car; Botswana border crossing
🛏Maun hostel/guesthouse (~£10-18/night)
- →Drive through the Okavango Panhandle
- →Maun town evening
Maun to Khwai Conservation Area
Khwai / Okavango Delta edge
Drive to the Khwai Conservation Area on the edge of the Delta. Optional Okavango Delta scenic flight over the Delta (~£130, self-book via a Maun air operator) — one of the trip's highlight add-ons. Overnight at a community camp or budget lodge at Khwai.
🚌Shared rental car; Khwai gravel roads
🛏Khwai community camp/budget lodge (~£20-30/night)
- →Okavango Delta scenic flight (optional ~£130)
- →Khwai Conservation Area
Khwai / Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi Game Reserve
Full-day game drive into Moremi Game Reserve in your 4x4 (park fees ~£10). Alternatively, book a mokoro (dugout canoe) trip and a guided Delta walk locally — a classic Okavango experience (~£35). If you prefer the operator's model, a local Khwai guide for the day is the affordable equivalent.
🚌Self-drive 4x4 in Moremi
🛏Khwai community camp/budget lodge (~£20-30/night)
- →Full-day Moremi game drive
- →Mokoro Delta trip (optional ~£35)
- →Guided Delta walk
Khwai to Nata
Nata / Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Drive south-east to Nata, stopping at a salt-pans viewpoint (seasonal access — worth checking with locals given rains). Overnight at a Nata campsite or budget guesthouse. The Makgadikgadi pans offer flamingo-viewing in the wet season.
🚌Shared rental car on the main A3 road
🛏Nata campsite/guesthouse (~£10-18/night)
- →Makgadikgadi salt pans viewpoint (seasonal)
- →Nata bird sanctuary (optional ~£5)
Nata to Kasane (Chobe)
Kasane / Chobe National Park
Drive north to Kasane on the Chobe River. Take a late-afternoon Chobe boat cruise (self-book ~£30) — the operator's included Chobe boat cruise, done independently, to see huge elephant herds and hippos from the water. Overnight at a Kasane backpackers'.
🚌Shared rental car
🛏Kasane hostel/guesthouse (~£12-20/night)
- →Chobe National Park boat cruise (~£30)
- →Elephant viewing on the Chobe River
- →Kasane sunset
Kasane to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Optional early Chobe game drive (~£40) before crossing the Kazungula border into Zimbabwe. Arrive in Victoria Falls town and overnight at a backpackers'. Optional dinner at a local restaurant (e.g. The Boma, ~£25). Sort out your Zimbabwe visa (or KAZA uni-visa) at the border.
🚌Shared rental car; Kazungula border crossing into Zimbabwe
🛏Victoria Falls backpackers (~£15-25/night)
- →Chobe game drive (optional ~£40)
- →Victoria Falls town
- →Local dinner (optional ~£25)
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Final day in Victoria Falls. Visit the falls themselves (~£25 entry) — the operator's signature optional. Add a Zambezi sunset cruise (~£45), or adrenaline options like bungee jump (~£120), helicopter flight (~£130) or white-water rafting (~£110), all bookable on arrival or via GetYourGuide. Fly out from Victoria Falls airport to end the trip.
🚌On foot / local taxi; Victoria Falls airport transfer (~£10)
🛏Victoria Falls backpackers (~£15-25/night, or depart)
- →Victoria Falls visit (~£25)
- →Zambezi sunset cruise (optional ~£45)
- →Bungee jump (optional ~£120)
- →Helicopter flight (optional ~£130)
- →White-water rafting (optional ~£110)
Self-launched vs. Encounters Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Encounters Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,340 | £4,410 |
| Duration | 20 days | 20 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,070 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Encounters Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,340
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 The Grand Southern Safari — Self-Launched: Cape Town to Victoria Falls cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,340 per person for 20 days in Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, 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 Encounters Travel?+
Yes — Encounters Travel charges around £4,410 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,340 — a saving of roughly £3,070 (70%) per person.
How long is the Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 20 days, covering 20 day-by-day stops through Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, 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, road-trip trip through Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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