Self-Launched Victoria Falls, Hwange & Chobe Safari

Land at Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), take a shared shuttle or local taxi into town (~£8-10) and check into a backpackers or budget lodge in Victoria Falls town, 10-15 min walk from the falls entrance. Afternoon: book a standard shared sunset cruise on the Zambezi (book direct with operators like Ra-Ikane, Zambezi Explorer or via GetYourGuide, ~£40-50 including snacks and drinks) — the same experience as the tour's included cruise, just booked yourself. Evening: eat at a local restaurant in town (~£8-12) and sort cash: bring USD notes, ATMs are unreliable.

🚌Shared airport shuttle or taxi (~£8-10)

🛏Backpackers/budget lodge in Victoria Falls town (dorm or private room, ~£15-20)

• →Zambezi River sunset cruise with snacks and drinks (~£45)
• →Walk around Victoria Falls town, cash and SIM setup

Morning transfer to Hwange (about 2.5-3 hours by road). Cheapest reliable option: shared shuttle/kombi transfer booked through your Victoria Falls hostel or a local operator (~£25-35 per person), or join a seat-in-vehicle transfer with a safari lodge. Check into a budget safari lodge or rest camp near the park boundary (Hwange Main Camp rest camp or a community-run lodge, ~£25-35). Afternoon: join a shared game drive in an open 4x4 with a licensed guide (~£35-45, 3-4 hours), returning at sunset. Lunch on arrival and dinner at the lodge (~£15).

🚌Shared road transfer Victoria Falls–Hwange (~£30)

🛏Budget safari lodge or rest camp near Hwange (~£30)

• →Afternoon open-vehicle game drive in Hwange (~£40)

Full-day shared game drive with a packed lunch, leaving at dawn and visiting the pumped waterholes (Nyamandhlovu, Guvalala, Domi pans) where elephant herds gather in the dry season. Book through your lodge or a Hwange-based operator the day before (~£60-75 including park fees of ~£15-20 and lunch). Carry plenty of water and a hat. Evening back at camp, dinner and an early night — tomorrow is another dawn start.

🚌Included in game drive vehicle

🛏Same budget safari lodge/rest camp near Hwange (~£30)

• →Full-day game drive with lunch (~£70 incl. park fees)

Drive/bus from Hwange to Victoria Falls (~£25 shared transfer), then a shared cross-border transfer or local bus to Kasane via the Kazungula border post (~£20-30, allow 4-5 hours total). Zimbabwe visa tip: get a double-entry or KAZA visa so you can re-enter. Check into a guesthouse or B&B in Kasane — the town is small and walkable (~£25-30). Afternoon: join a Chobe River sunset cruise (~£30-40, 3 hours, drinks included) — the wildlife-watching is superb for hippo, elephant and buffalo. Dinner in town (~£12).

🚌Shared transfer Hwange–Vic Falls–Kasane via Kazungula (~£50)

🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Kasane (~£28)

• →Chobe River sunset cruise (~£35)
• →Border crossing Kazungula

Book a local Chobe operator (there are many in Kasane — Chobe Safari Lodge, Kalahari Tours, etc., book direct or via GetYourGuide) for a combo day: 3-hour morning boat cruise along the Chobe River followed by a buffet lunch and a 3-hour afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park in an open 4x4. Shared combo packages run ~£75-95 including park fees and lunch. This is the classic Chobe day and can be done solo without a group tour. Evening: sundowners at a riverside bar (~£6-10).

🚌Operator pickup from guesthouse (included in package)

🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Kasane (~£28)

• →Morning Chobe River cruise (~included in combo)
• →Afternoon Chobe game drive (~included in combo)
• →Buffet lunch (~included)
• →Chobe combo day package ~£85

Morning transfer back across the Kazungula border to Victoria Falls (~£25-30 shared shuttle). Check back into your Victoria Falls hostel. Afternoon free: optional extra activities you can book yourself — a helicopter flip over the falls (~£130), white-water rafting on the Zambezi (~£100), bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge (~£120), or the standard guided walking tour if you'd rather do it today. Otherwise explore the craft market or relax by the pool. Dinner in town (~£10-15).

🚌Shared transfer Kasane–Victoria Falls (~£28)

🛏Backpackers/budget lodge in Victoria Falls (~£18)

• →Optional: helicopter flight, rafting, bungee, or craft market browsing

Morning self-guided or small-group walk of the Victoria Falls Rainforest (entrance ~£25-30 park fee paid at gate; hire a local guide at the gate for ~£10-15 per group for the 1.5-hour route through all 16 viewpoints). Bring a rain poncho in high-water months — you will get soaked. Optional lunch overlooking a waterhole at a lodge such as Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (~£20-25 at own cost). Afternoon at leisure: sunset drinks by the river, or a second visit to the falls at sunset for the light change. Farewell dinner (~£15).

🚌Local taxi or walk to falls entrance (~£3-5)

🛏Backpackers/budget lodge in Victoria Falls (~£18)

• →Victoria Falls Rainforest walk, 16 viewpoints, park fee + local guide (~£40)

Breakfast at the hostel, last souvenir shopping at the Elephant's Walk craft village or the town market (~£10-20 budget), then shared shuttle to VFA airport for your onward flight. If your flight is late, a morning visit to the falls again is easy — the entrance fee covers re-entry within 24 hours in some periods, so check at the gate.

🚌Shared shuttle to airport (~£8-10)

🛏—

• →Souvenir shopping
• →Optional final falls visit