Self-Launched Zimbabwe & Botswana Safari: Victoria Falls & The Big Five

Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) — direct flights are available from Johannesburg with FlySafair or Airlink, typically £120–£180 return. Arrange a local taxi or shuttle transfer from the airport to your guesthouse (around £5–£8). Get settled in, grab dinner at a local restaurant on Livingstone Way, and pick up a local SIM card for data.

🚌Fly into Victoria Falls Airport from Johannesburg (FlySafair/Airlink, ~£120–£180 return). Local taxi from airport ~£5–£8.

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers — both well-reviewed, centrally located, with dorm beds from £12/night or private rooms from £25/night

• →Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport and transfer to accommodation
• →Explore the town centre and Livingstone Way restaurant strip
• →Buy a local SIM card for data (Econet or Telecel, ~£3)

Spend a full day exploring one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Enter Victoria Falls National Park (entry ~£30) and walk the rainforest trail with viewpoints along the full length of the Falls. For thrills, book white water rafting or a bungee jump directly with operators like Shearwater Adventures or African Extreme. In the evening, catch the Boma Dinner & Drum Show for a taste of local culture and a buffet dinner (~£45) — a great self-bookable alternative to the Simunye Theatrical Show.

🚌Walk or cycle — everything in town is within easy reach. Bike hire available from ~£5/day.

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers

• →Victoria Falls National Park entry and self-guided rainforest walk (£30)
• →Optional: White water rafting with Shearwater Adventures (~£90)
• →Optional: Bungee jump off Victoria Falls Bridge (~£110)
• →Optional: Victoria Falls helicopter ride 15 mins (~£165) — bookable via GetYourGuide
• →Evening: Boma Dinner & Drum Show (~£45, bookable direct)

Arrange a shared transfer or private shuttle from Victoria Falls to Hwange (approx. 2.5 hours, ~£20–£30 per person with operators like Leopard Tours or through your hostel). En route, stop at the Painted Dog Conservation Centre near Dete — entry is donation-based and guided tours of the facility are free or low-cost. Continue to a lodge or camp near Hwange's Main Camp area. Book an afternoon or night safari drive through operators like Wildlife Encounter Safaris or Touch Africa Safaris (~£35–£50 per person).

🚌Shared shuttle or minibus transfer Victoria Falls to Hwange via Dete, ~£20–£30 per person (book via Leopard Tours or hostel notice board).

🛏Hwange Safari Lodge (budget rooms ~£35–£50/night) or Camp Hwange Tented Camp (~£30–£45/night)

• →Morning shared shuttle from Victoria Falls to Hwange (~£25)
• →Stop at Painted Dog Conservation & Research Centre (free/donation)
• →Check in to lodge near Hwange Main Camp
• →Optional: Afternoon or night safari drive into Hwange NP (~£35–£50)

Rise early for a full morning game drive through Hwange — home to over 100 mammal species and 400 bird species, and Zimbabwe's largest protected wildlife reserve. Book a shared safari drive directly with operators at the park gate or through your accommodation (~£40–£60 per person for a morning drive). Look out for elephants, lions, leopards, painted dogs, and sable antelope. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and spend the afternoon at leisure — the lodge watering hole often attracts spectacular elephant herds at dusk.

🚌Safari vehicle arranged through lodge or local operator — included in drive cost.

🛏Hwange Safari Lodge or Camp Hwange Tented Camp

• →Early morning shared game drive, Hwange NP (~£40–£60 per person)
• →Hwange National Park entry fee (~£15)
• →Afternoon at leisure — watch wildlife at the lodge watering hole
• →Optional: Second afternoon safari drive (~£35–£50)

Catch a morning shared shuttle from Hwange/Dete back to Victoria Falls (~£20–£25), grab lunch at a local café or market stall in Victoria Falls town (~£5–£8), then take a shared taxi or shuttle to the Kazungula border crossing into Botswana (~£10). From Kasane, a local taxi or shuttle drops you at your guesthouse (~£5). Book a Chobe River sunset cruise for the late afternoon directly with Chobe Marina Lodge or Linyanti Expeditions (~£30–£40 per person) — a wonderful introduction to Chobe's extraordinary wildlife.

🚌Shared shuttle Hwange to Vic Falls (~£20). Shared taxi/transfer to Kasane border (~£10). Local taxi in Kasane (~£5).

🛏Old House Guesthouse Kasane or Chobe Backpackers — from £20–£35/night

• →Morning shuttle Hwange to Victoria Falls (~£20–£25)
• →Lunch in Victoria Falls town (~£5–£8)
• →Shared taxi/shuttle to Kazungula border, Zimbabwe–Botswana crossing (~£10)
• →Transfer to Kasane guesthouse (~£5)
• →Chobe River sunset cruise — self-bookable via Chobe Marina Lodge or GetYourGuide (~£35)

Chobe is home to the largest concentration of elephants on Earth — herds of hundreds are a regular sight. Book a morning shared game drive into Chobe National Park through your guesthouse or directly with operators like Chobe Game Lodge Safaris or Pangolin Photo Safaris (~£45–£65 per person including park fees). After lunch (own expense, local cafés in Kasane), enjoy the afternoon at leisure. For a unique optional experience, book the Four Corners River Cruise independently (~£50–£65) — a boat trip where Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana meet.

🚌Safari vehicle included in game drive cost. Local taxis in Kasane ~£3–£5.

🛏Old House Guesthouse Kasane or Chobe Backpackers

• →Morning shared game drive, Chobe NP (~£45–£65 including park fees)
• →Spot elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, buffalo, and more
• →Lunch in Kasane (~£6–£10)
• →Optional: Four Corners of Africa River Cruise (~£50–£65, book direct with local operators)

Enjoy a final breakfast at your guesthouse before checking out. Kasane Airport (BBK) has connections to Johannesburg (Airlink, ~£80–£130) for onward flights. Alternatively, arrange a shared shuttle to Livingstone, Zambia, for connections north. If your flight is in the afternoon, spend the morning on a final stroll along the Chobe Riverfront — free and frequently visited by elephants right on the bank.

🚌Local taxi to Kasane Airport (~£5). Airlink flight Kasane–Johannesburg (~£80–£130).

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast at guesthouse
• →Morning walk along the Chobe Riverfront (free)
• →Transfer to Kasane Airport or onward connection (~£5–£10 taxi)
• →Fly Kasane to Johannesburg (Airlink, ~£80–£130)