Southern Africa Overland: Canoes & Camp-Outs – Self-Launched

Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA). Check into a budget hostel or guesthouse — options like Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers offer dorm beds from ~£12 or private rooms from £25. Head out in the evening to explore the town, grab a beer at a local bar near Shearwater Village, and meet fellow travellers.

🚌Fly into Victoria Falls Airport; taxi or shuttle from airport to town (~£5)

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£12 dorm / £25 private room per night)

• →Settle in and explore Victoria Falls town on foot
• →Evening drinks at Shearwater Village or a local bar
• →Browse the craft market near the falls entrance

Rise early and take a shared minibus or shuttle from Victoria Falls to the Kazungula border crossing into Botswana (~£10–15). On the Botswana side, pick up onward transport by shared taxi or intercity coach toward Francistown. The drive is long but scenic. Arrive at a basic campsite or budget guesthouse north of Francistown. Prepare a simple meal or eat at a local restaurant.

🚌Shared minibus Victoria Falls to Kazungula border (~£10), shared taxi/coach onward to Francistown area (~£8)

🛏Basic campsite or budget guesthouse near Francistown (~£10–15 per night)

• →Cross the Kazungula border into Botswana
• →Scenic overland drive through Botswana bush
• →Stargazing at camp in the evening

Depart Francistown after breakfast and cross the border into South Africa at Martins Drift. Pre-arrange a shared shuttle or private transfer for this leg (~£20–30). On arrival near Mapungubwe, book a guided bush walk at Mapesu Private Wildlife Reserve directly with the reserve (~£20–30). Look out for elephants, leopards, and abundant birdlife amid forests and towering cliffs.

🚌Shared shuttle or private transfer Francistown to Mapungubwe area (~£25)

🛏Mapesu Private Wildlife Reserve campsite or budget lodge (~£20 camping / £35 chalet)

• →Cross the Martins Drift border into South Africa
• →Guided bush walk at Mapesu Private Wildlife Reserve
• →Look for elephants, leopards, and birdlife

Spend the day exploring Mapungubwe National Park. Pay the SANParks entrance fee (~£8) and visit the Interpretation Centre and Museum for a self-guided experience and short film about the ancient African kingdom whose archaeological treasures — including the famous golden rhino — were uncovered here. Take a self-drive or guided game walk in the afternoon.

🚌Self-drive within park or hire a local guide (~£15 for a guided walk)

🛏SANParks campsite at Mapungubwe (~£15 per person)

• →Visit Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre & Museum (self-guided)
• →Self-drive or guided game walk inside the national park
• →Look for elephants, hippos, and birdlife along the Limpopo River

Make your way south toward Kruger National Park — roughly 3–4 hours by shared shuttle or pre-booked transfer (~£25). Enter via the Pafuri or Punda Maria Gate. Book a shared open-vehicle safari drive with a local operator or directly through a Kruger-based tour company via GetYourGuide (~£40–55 per person). Look out for elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and hippos.

🚌Shared shuttle or transfer to Kruger (~£25); open safari vehicle included in booked game drive

🛏SANParks rest camp at Kruger (e.g. Punda Maria or Shingwedzi, ~£15–20 camping or ~£40 self-catering chalet)

• →Travel to Kruger National Park
• →Shared open-vehicle game drive (book via GetYourGuide or direct with operator)
• →Spot the Big Five — lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, buffalo

A full second day in Kruger — one of Africa's greatest wildlife areas. Book a full-day shared safari drive (~£50–60) with a local operator for maximum animal-spotting time. Dawn and dusk game drives offer the best chances of big cat sightings. Alternatively, hire a vehicle and self-drive the park's extensive road network.

🚌Open safari vehicle (included in guided drive); or self-drive hire

🛏SANParks rest camp at Kruger (~£15–20 camping or £40 chalet)

• →Full-day or two half-day open-vehicle game drives
• →Self-drive option available with hired 4x4 (~£45/day)
• →Sundowner drinks at the rest camp viewpoint

Depart Kruger and make your way to Johannesburg by shared shuttle or Baz Bus (~£20–30). This is a transit day — use it to restock supplies, rest, or explore Jo'burg's vibrant neighbourhoods like Maboneng or the Apartheid Museum if time allows.

🚌Shared shuttle or Baz Bus from Kruger to Johannesburg (~£25)

🛏Budget hostel in Johannesburg (e.g. Neighbourgoods Hostel or Once in Joburg, ~£12 dorm / £28 private)

• →Optional visit to Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg (~£8 entry)
• →Explore Maboneng Precinct for street food and local art
• →Restock supplies and rest

Today is a longer transit day heading back into Botswana. Take a shared shuttle or intercity coach from Johannesburg to Gaborone (~£15), then an onward bus or shuttle north toward Maun — the gateway town to the Okavango Delta (~£20–30). Alternatively, book a direct flight Jo'burg to Maun for ~£80–120 to save travel time.

🚌Shared coach Johannesburg to Gaborone (~£15), onward to Maun (~£25); or direct flight (~£100)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Maun (e.g. Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp, ~£12 camping / £25 room)

• →Overland travel through Botswana's landscapes
• →Stop in Maun for supplies and to arrange Okavango Delta tours
• →Book mokoro and motorised boat excursion for Day 11

Use today to rest, explore Maun, and finalise your Okavango Delta excursion booking. Maun is a lively town with good restaurants, a weekly market, and friendly locals. Book a 2-day Okavango Delta mokoro and boat trip directly with local operators at Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp — typically £60–90 per person for a full day or overnight excursion.

🚌Local taxis within Maun (~£3–5)

🛏Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp, Maun (~£12 camping / £25 dorm)

• →Explore Maun town and local market
• →Book Okavango Delta mokoro excursion directly at Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp
• →Relax at camp and meet fellow travellers

Your Okavango Delta adventure begins. Transfer by 4x4 to the delta poling station (~30 minutes), then climb aboard traditional mokoro dugout canoes guided by local Bayei polers. Glide silently through papyrus-fringed channels, watching for hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species. Set up a bush camp on an island for the night — sleeping under the stars is unforgettable.

🚌4x4 transfer to delta poling station (included in excursion); mokoro canoe

🛏Overnight bush camp in the Okavango Delta (included in excursion package, ~£60–90 total for Days 10–11)

• →Traditional mokoro canoe ride through the Okavango Delta
• →Guided bush walk on a delta island
• →Bush camp overnight under the stars
• →Birdwatching — look for malachite kingfishers, fish eagles, and herons

Continue your Okavango exploration with a motorised boat trip to reach deeper channels and bigger wildlife. Spot elephants drinking at the water's edge, buffalo herds, and pods of hippos. After a final morning on the water, transfer back to Maun by 4x4. This is one of Africa's most iconic wildlife experiences and worth every penny.

🚌Motorised boat (included in excursion); 4x4 return transfer to Maun (included)

🛏Budget guesthouse or campsite in Maun (~£12–25)

• →Morning motorised boat trip through the delta
• →Spot elephants, buffalo, and hippos from the water
• →Return to Maun by 4x4 transfer

Take a shared shuttle or local bus from Maun northeast toward Kasane (~£15–25), the gateway to Chobe National Park — famous for having the world's highest concentration of elephants. Check in at a budget campsite and arrange a Chobe River boat safari for this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Optional: pre-book a Chobe River Sunset Cruise directly with a local operator (~£30–40).

🚌Shared shuttle or local bus Maun to Kasane (~£20)

🛏Chobe Safari Lodge campsite or budget guesthouse in Kasane (~£15 camping / £30 room)

• →Travel to Kasane / Chobe National Park
• →Chobe River boat safari (book directly with local operator, ~£30–40)
• →Spot massive elephant herds swimming across the Chobe River

Cross from Kasane into Zambia at the Kazungula border and take a shared taxi or shuttle to Livingstone (~£10). Alternatively, cross into Zimbabwe and head directly to Victoria Falls town. Use the afternoon to relax or arrange optional Victoria Falls activities — white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and helicopter rides can all be booked directly at Shearwater Adventures.

🚌Shared taxi or shuttle Kasane to Livingstone (~£10)

🛏Livingstone Backpackers or Fawlty Towers, Livingstone (~£12 dorm / £25 private)

• →Cross the Kazungula border to Zambia or Zimbabwe
• →Browse Livingstone's local market
• →Arrange optional Victoria Falls activities: rafting (~£85), bungee (~£95), helicopter (~£120)

The highlight of the whole trip. Visit Victoria Falls — one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Enter from the Zimbabwean side for the classic full frontal view (entrance ~£25) or the Zambian side for Devil's Pool swimming access (seasonal, ~£50 including pool access). The falls stretch nearly 2km wide and thunder with 500 million litres of water per minute — prepare to get drenched. Optional: book a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River (~£35).

🚌Walking or local taxi within Victoria Falls town (~£3)

🛏Shoestrings or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£12 dorm / £25 private)

• →Visit Victoria Falls — Zimbabwe side (entrance ~£25) or Zambia side (~£30)
• →Swim at Devil's Pool on the lip of the falls (seasonal, book directly ~£50)
• →Optional Zambezi River sunset cruise (~£35)
• →Explore the rainforest walk below the falls

Your final morning in Victoria Falls. Grab a last breakfast at a local café, pick up any final souvenirs from the craft market, and head to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight. If you have time before your flight, try the Vic Falls bridge walk for one last adrenaline hit. Safe travels — what a trip!

🚌Taxi from guesthouse to Victoria Falls Airport (~£5)

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Last breakfast at a local café
• →Craft market souvenir shopping
• →Optional Victoria Falls bridge walk or gorge swing (~£20–30)
• →Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport