Southern Africa Overland: Canoes & Camp-Outs — Self-Launched
15 days · Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa)
G Adventures charges £1,930
No-markup version: ~£945 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 15-day loop from Victoria Falls through Botswana and South Africa, replicating G Adventures' "Canoes & Camp-Outs" route using public transport, shuttles and self-booked camps/lodges. You'll cross into Botswana at Kazungula, explore Mapungubwe and Kruger in South Africa, break the journey in Johannesburg and Soweto, then head north via Khama Rhino Sanctuary to Maun for a mokoro (dugout canoe) trip into the Okavango Delta, finishing with Nata's elephant-visited waterhole, a Chobe River cruise from Kasane and the thundering Smoke That Thunders back in Victoria Falls. Expect long travel days, budget campsites and rest camps, self-drive or shuttle safaris, and full control over your optional extras (rafting, flights, bungee) — roughly a third of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) — self-arranged transfer or shuttle (~£10-15). Settle into a budget lodge or campsite in Victoria Falls town, then walk to the falls themselves in the late afternoon when light is best (entry ~US$30, ~£24; bring USD cash or a card, both now widely accepted). Evening: sunset drinks at a local bar and stock up on Pula/Rand-ready supplies.
🚌Shuttle from VFA airport (~£10-15), or shared taxi
🛏Explorers Village-style campsite or budget lodge dorm/twin, Victoria Falls (~£12-18)
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk (US$30)
- →Sunset over the Zambezi
- →Town orientation walk
Victoria Falls to Francistown, Botswana
Francistown, Botswana
Cross the Kazungula border into Botswana. Public options: shuttle/taxi to Kasane then a Botswana-bound bus or shared combi toward Francistown (total ~6-8 hours). Budget-friendly alternative is a Kampala-style overland bus (e.g. Shalom/Chobe buses) or pre-book a cross-border shuttle via your hostel. Overnight at a lodge/campsite in Francistown, self-cater dinner.
🚌Shuttle + shared bus, ~£15-20
🛏Woodlands-style stopover lodge/campsite, Francistown (~£12-18)
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Botswana town wander
Francistown to Mapungubwe area, South Africa
Mapungubwe / Musina area, South Africa
Cross into South Africa (Pontdrift/Grobler's Bridge near Musina). Public buses run Francistown–Johannesburg via the border; request a drop near Musina/Pontdrift. From there a local taxi or pre-booked transfer (~ZAR 300-500) reaches Mapesu Private Game Reserve or a nearby budget lodge. Afternoon guided bush walk on a private reserve (~ZAR 350-450, book direct).
🚌Intercity bus + local transfer, ~£20-25
🛏Mapesu-area lodge/campsite or Musina guesthouse (~£20-25)
- →Botswana–South Africa border crossing
- →Guided bush walk on private reserve
Mapungubwe National Park
Mapungubwe National Park, South Africa
Full day in Mapungubwe — UNESCO-listed Iron Age kingdom. Self-drive hire (cheapest shared 4x4 from Musina ~£30-40/day split) or join a small-group day tour. Visit the Interpretation Centre and museum, take a picnic at the Limpopo River confluence viewpoint, and do a self-drive or guided game drive (~ZAR 400-600). Optional night drive (ZAR 350-450).
🚌Self-drive/rental or guided transfer (~£15-25)
🛏Mapesu-area lodge/campsite (~£20-25)
- →Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre & museum (ZAR 200 entry)
- →Wildlife safari drive in the park
- →Limpopo River viewpoints
- →Optional night drive
Mapungubwe to Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park (Satara), South Africa
Drive or take a shuttle north to Kruger's Orpen/Satara gate area (~3 hours). Book SANParks rest camp camping direct on sanparks.org (~ZAR 400-500 pitch). Afternoon self-drive or guided game drive inside Kruger — the Satara plains are famous for big cats and the S100 road. Keep a cooler stocked; camp shops are decent value.
🚌Rental car/shuttle, ~£15-20
🛏Satara Rest Camp campsite, Kruger (~£8-12 pp shared)
- →Self-drive or guided Kruger game drive
- →Satara plains wildlife watching
Kruger full day
Kruger / Greater Kruger, South Africa
Early morning game drive out of Satara, then transfer or drive south to the Numbi/Hazyview gate area. Optional full-day guided Kruger drive from Hazyview (~ZAR 750, book via GetYourGuide or locally). Evening: a traditional dinner and drumming show at a local cultural village (~ZAR 400-500) or a braai at camp.
🚌Self-drive (~£15-20)
🛏Hotel Numbi-style camping/lodge, Hazyview (~£12-18)
- →Dawn game drive
- →Optional full-day guided safari (ZAR 750)
- →Traditional dinner & local dancing
Greater Kruger to Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Shuttle or bus from Hazyview/Nelspruit to Johannesburg (~4-5 hours; budget shuttles ~ZAR 500-700, or Greyhound/CityBug to Joburg and a Gautrain/metro link). Check into a budget hotel or backpackers in Sandton/Braamfontein (~£20-25). Simple dinner in Maboneng or Melville.
🚌Intercity shuttle/bus ~£25
🛏Budget hotel/backpackers, Sandton or Braamfontein (~£20-25)
- →Panorama Route detour (optional, Blyde River Canyon)
- →Johannesburg arrival walkabout
Johannesburg & Soweto
Johannesburg, South Africa
Morning at the Apartheid Museum (ZAR 180). Afternoon: self-guided or small-group Soweto bicycle tour (ZAR 1,300-1,950 via GetYourGuide — or rent a bike and do the Vilakazi Street / Mandela House loop yourself for ~ZAR 300). Optional Maboneng street-art walk. Evening braai.
🚌Uber/Gautrain, ~£8-12
🛏Budget hotel/backpackers, Johannesburg (~£20-25)
- →Apartheid Museum (ZAR 180)
- →Soweto bike tour or self-guided Vilakazi Street walk
- →Mandela House
Johannesburg to Serowe, Botswana
Serowe / Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana
Very long travel day. Options: overnight Intercape/Greyhound bus Joburg–Gaborone (~£20-30), then combi Gaborone–Serowe (~5 hours, ~£8). Alternatively an overland coach. Camp at Khama Rhino Sanctuary (book direct, ~£10-15 pp) — one of the best-value rhino spots in Botswana.
🚌Bus + combi, ~£30-40
🛏Khama Rhino Sanctuary campsite (~£10-15)
- →South Africa–Botswana border crossing
- →Arrival at Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Serowe to Maun
Maun, Botswana
Morning sundowner or dawn game drive in Khama Rhino Sanctuary (~US$35-45 pp, book at reception). Then combi/bus Serowe–Maun (~6 hours, often via Palapye/Francistown, ~£12-18). Maun is the gateway to the Okavango — book tomorrow's mokoro trip direct with a community trust (Old Bridge, Boro or Sankuyo operators, ~US$180-220 for 2 days/1 night) or via GetYourGuide.
🚌Bus/combi ~£15-20
🛏Maun campsite/backpackers (Sedia-style, ~£12-18)
- →Khama Rhino Sanctuary game drive
- →Maun riverside evening
Maun to Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Full-day mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) excursion with a local poler-guide and a guided bush walk on an island. Most operators include park fees and camping gear for an overnight bush camp on the delta islands. Optional scenic flight over the delta (~US$120, ~£95; 45 min) — worth it if budget allows. Bush camp under the stars.
🚌4x4 transfer to mokoro station (usually included)
🛏Okavango Delta bush camp (included in mokoro package)
- →Mokoro canoe excursion (US$180-220 incl. overnight)
- →Guided wildlife walk on delta islands
- →Optional scenic flight over the Okavango
Okavango Delta to Nata
Nata, Botswana
Return to Maun by late morning, then bus/shuttle north to Nata (~4 hours, ~£10-15; coaches on the Francistown–Kasane corridor). Overnight at a lodge with a floodlit waterhole — elephants often wander right up to the bar (Elephant Sands-style, ~£15-20 pp camping).
🚌Bus/shuttle ~£12-15
🛏Nata lodge campsite (~£12-18)
- →Delta return & transfer
- →Elephant waterhole viewing at camp
Nata to Kasane
Kasane, Botswana
Morning transfer Kasane–Nata road (~3-4 hours, ~£8-12 by combi/shuttle). Afternoon: book a Chobe River sunset cruise direct at the Kasane jetty (US$50, ~£40) — huge elephant herds come to drink. Optional evening photography cruise (US$130). Camp along the Chobe River.
🚌Shuttle/combi ~£10
🛏Thebe River Safaris-style campsite, Kasane (~£12-18)
- →Chobe River sunset boat cruise (US$50)
- →Optional photographic cruise (US$130)
- →Chobe waterfront wildlife spotting
Kasane to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Cross back into Zimbabwe at Kazungula (~1 hour with border formalities; shared taxi + shuttle ~US$15-20). Lunch at the Lusumpuko Women's Club in the Victoria Falls suburbs (community-run, ~US$12-15; book ahead for groups). Afternoon: optional white-water rafting (US$120), bungee (US$168) or a falls visit if you skipped it Day 1. Camp back at Explorers Village.
🚌Shared taxi + shuttle ~£15
🛏Explorers Village-style campsite, Victoria Falls (~£12-18)
- →Kazungula border crossing (Botswana to Zimbabwe)
- →Lusumpuko Women's Club community lunch
- →Optional rafting/bungee/helicopter
Depart Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Breakfast, final wander to the falls or a craft market, and transfer to VFA airport for your onward flight (arrange yourself or via hostel, ~£10-15).
🚌Shuttle to VFA (~£10-15)
🛏—
- →Craft market shopping
- →Airport departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£945 | £1,930 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £985 per person (51%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£945
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 Southern Africa Overland: Canoes & Camp-Outs — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £945 per person for 15 days in Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa). 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 £1,930 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £945 — a saving of roughly £985 (51%) per person.
How long is the Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa) trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa).
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, backpacker trip through Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa), 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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