Self-Launched Southern Africa Overland Safari: Victoria Falls to the Okavango
15 days · Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa
G Adventures charges £2,100
No-markup version: ~£1,175 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY, self-launched version of G Adventures' 15-day Zimbabwe–Botswana–South Africa overland camping loop. You'll start and finish at Victoria Falls, cross into Botswana and South Africa, self-drive or hop local shuttles and buses through Francistown, Mapungubwe and Kruger, then head back west via Johannesburg and Serowe to camp under the baobabs at Gweta and pole a mokoro through the Okavango Delta. Wildlife drives, bush walks and Delta excursions are all bookable directly with the parks, camps and community guides at a fraction of the group-tour price. Expect basic camp facilities, long but scenic travel days and unforgettable wildlife. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) and take a shared taxi or shuttle to a budget lodge or hostel in the town centre (~£6-10). Spend the afternoon settling in, then walk to the falls entrance for a first sunset view if you have energy left. Pick up a local SIM (Econet/NetOne, ~£3-5 for data) and USD cash — Zimbabwe runs largely on USD for tourists. Optional group-style dinner at a local restaurant to meet other travellers.
🚌Airport shared shuttle or taxi ~£6-10
🛏Budget lodge/hostel dorm or twin in Victoria Falls (~£15-22 p/n)
- →Victoria Falls town orientation walk
- →Sunset at the falls viewpoint
- →Buy local SIM and USD cash
Victoria Falls to Francistown, Botswana
Francistown, Botswana
A full travel day. Take a morning shuttle or shared taxi from Victoria Falls to the Kazungula border (~£10-15, 1.5 hrs), cross into Botswana on foot, then catch a bus or shared combi from Kasane to Francistown (~£12-18, 6-7 hrs). Alternatively book a through shuttle Victoria Falls–Francistown (~£25-35). Camp or stay in a budget guesthouse just north of Francistown and cook dinner at camp.
🚌Shared shuttle/taxi to Kazungula ~£10-15 + bus Kasane–Francistown ~£12-18
🛏Camp or budget guesthouse near Francistown (~£8-14 p/n)
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Camp dinner under the stars
Francistown to Mapungubwe area, South Africa
Mapesu / Mapungubwe area, South Africa
Cross into South Africa at Martins Drift/Groblersbrug by shared taxi or bus (~£10-15). Base yourself at a bush camp or backpackers near Mapungubwe (Alldays/Musina area). In the late afternoon join a guided bush walk in the Mapesu Private Reserve — book direct with the reserve or your camp (~£15-25) — and learn about tracking and the local ecology.
🚌Shared taxi/bus Francistown–Martins Drift–Alldays ~£10-15
🛏Bush camp or backpackers near Mapungubwe (~£12-18 p/n)
- →Border crossing at Martins Drift
- →Guided bush walk in Mapesu Private Reserve
Mapungubwe National Park
Mapungubwe National Park, South Africa
Enter Mapungubwe National Park (SANParks conservation fee ~£15-18/day for international visitors). Visit the Interpretation Centre and museum — self-guided — to learn about the ancient kingdom and the golden rhino, then take a self-drive or join a reserve game drive (~£20-30) through the park in search of elephant, giraffe and antelope. Return to camp for the evening.
🚌Local transfer or self-drive hire (from ~£30/day shared)
🛏Bush camp or backpackers near Mapungubwe (~£12-18 p/n)
- →Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre & museum
- →Self-drive or guided safari drive
- →Optional night safari drive
Mapungubwe to Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Travel to Kruger (bus/shared transfer to Phalaborwa or Punda Maria gate ~£15-25, or self-drive). Pay the SANParks daily conservation fee (~£20) and spend the afternoon on a self-drive safari along the main roads, stopping at Hippo Pool, the Kruger Tablets and Red Rocks. Alternatively join a sunset/night drive run by SANParks (~£25-35). Camp in one of the park's rest camps (Skukuza, Letaba or Punda Maria) — book well ahead via SANParks.
🚌Shared transfer or self-drive ~£15-25
🛏SANParks rest camp safari tent or camping (~£15-25 p/n)
- →Self-drive safari drive through Kruger
- →Hippo Pool, Kruger Tablets & Red Rocks viewpoints
- →Optional SANParks sunset drive
Full day in Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park, South Africa
A second day chasing the Big Five. If you don't have a vehicle, book a full-day open-vehicle safari with a local operator from the rest camp or a nearby town like Hazyview (~£55-75). Return to camp in the evening and join a braai (barbecue) with other campers, or book a traditional dinner and dance experience at a nearby community lodge (~£15-20).
🚌Open safari vehicle (included in activity)
🛏SANParks rest camp safari tent or camping (~£15-25 p/n)
- →Full-day open-vehicle safari drive
- →Braai and optional traditional dinner & dancing
Greater Kruger to Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
A long travel day. Take a shuttle from Kruger/Hazyview to Johannesburg (~£20-30, 5-6 hrs) or the Intercape/Greyhound-style long-distance coach. Check into a hostel in Maboneng or Melville. Free evening to explore the neighbourhood, grab dinner and rest.
🚌Shuttle/coach Kruger–Johannesburg ~£20-30
🛏Hostel dorm in Maboneng/Melville, Johannesburg (~£18-28 p/n)
- →Travel day
- →Evening wander in Maboneng or Melville
Free day in Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Explore Johannesburg at your own pace. Visit the Apartheid Museum (~£9 entry), Constitution Hill, or join a guided cycle tour of Soweto (~£55-85). Wander Maboneng's markets, eat at a local spot in Braamfontein and catch some live music in the evening. Book your onward bus to Botswana tonight.
🚌Local minibus taxis / Gautrain / e-hailing ~£8-12
🛏Hostel dorm in Maboneng/Melville, Johannesburg (~£18-28 p/n)
- →Apartheid Museum
- →Optional Soweto cycle tour
- →Markets and live music
Johannesburg to Serowe, Botswana
Serowe, Botswana
Cross into Botswana at Groblersbrug/Martins Drift and travel north across the central-eastern bush to Serowe. Long-distance coach or shared combi/bus Johannesburg–Gaborone (~£15-20), then Gaborone–Serowe (~£10-12), then a local taxi to Khama Rhino Sanctuary (~£8). Camp for the night and enjoy time around the fire beneath a spectacular starry sky.
🚌Coach Joburg–Gaborone ~£15-20 + bus Gaborone–Serowe ~£10-12 + local taxi ~£8
🛏Khama Rhino Sanctuary campsite (~£10-15 p/n)
- →Border crossing at Groblersbrug
- →Campfire under the stars at Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Khama Rhino Sanctuary to Maun
Maun, Botswana
Start the day with a guided wildlife drive through Khama Rhino Sanctuary — a community-run conservation project — book direct (~£18-25, 2-3 hrs) and learn about their rhino protection work. Then take the bus or shared combi from Serowe to Maun (~£12-18, 6-7 hrs). Check into a budget lodge or backpackers and sort out tomorrow's Okavango Delta mokoro excursion (book direct with a Maun operator, ~£45-65 for an overnight trip).
🚌Bus Serowe–Maun ~£12-18
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers in Maun (~£12-18 p/n)
- →Khama Rhino Sanctuary wildlife drive
- →Book Okavango Delta mokoro & bush camp trip
Okavango Delta excursion & bush camping
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Head out of Maun in a 4x4 transfer to the Delta's edge, join your poler guides and begin a wildlife walk to learn about tracking and animal behaviour. Then pole deep into the Delta in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe), watching birds and game as you glide through the reeds. Set up camp on an island — this is the basic bush camp night: no running water, no showers, no toilets — then cook over the fire and sing with your guides as the stars come out. Remember to tip polers (~£4-6 equivalent in BWP).
🚌4x4 transfer + mokoro canoe
🛏Basic bush camp in the Okavango Delta (included in mokoro trip ~£45-65)
- →Wildlife tracking walk
- →Mokoro canoe excursion
- →Bush camp and campfire songs with local guides
Okavango Delta to Gweta
Gweta, Botswana
Wake early for a Delta sunrise in the bush, then mokoro out through the channels back to Maun. Shower at a Maun lodge or backpackers (day-use ~£5) before catching a shared combi or bus to Gweta (~£8-12, 3-4 hrs). Camp under the huge baobab trees at a local campsite (Planet Baobab is the famous one) and enjoy free time and a cold drink at sunset.
🚌Mokoro + 4x4 back to Maun, bus Maun–Gweta ~£8-12
🛏Campsite under baobabs near Gweta (~£10-15 p/n)
- →Delta sunrise
- →Lodge day-use shower
- →Baobab camping
Gweta to Nata / Kazungula area
Nata / Kasane, Botswana
Travel north from Gweta to Nata (~£6-9) and on toward Kasane/Kazungula (~£8-12). Overnight in a backpackers or campsite. Optional afternoon at Nata Bird Sanctuary (flamingos and pelicans in season, ~£5-8 entry) or simply rest and refuel.
🚌Bus/combi Gweta–Nata–Kasane ~£14-21 total
🛏Backpackers/campsite in Nata or Kasane (~£10-16 p/n)
- →Travel day
- →Optional Nata Bird Sanctuary visit
Chobe & Victoria Falls
Kasane, Botswana / Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
In the morning take a Chobe River sunset cruise or game drive (~£25-35) to see elephants on the Chobe floodplain — the densest elephant population in Africa. Then cross the Kazungula border back into Zimbabwe (~£10-15 shuttle/shared taxi) and check into your Victoria Falls lodge. In the afternoon visit Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side, entry ~£35-40) and take in the spray from the viewpoints.
🚌Local transfer + Kazungula border crossing ~£10-15
🛏Budget lodge/hostel in Victoria Falls (~£15-22 p/n)
- →Chobe River cruise or game drive
- →Victoria Falls visit (Zimbabwe side)
Depart Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A free morning for last-minute shopping at the craft market or an optional adrenaline activity — bungee (~£130), whitewater rafting (~£95) or a helicopter flip (~£130-220). Then take a shared shuttle or taxi to VFA airport for your onward flight.
🚌Shared shuttle to Victoria Falls Airport ~£6-10
🛏N/A
- →Craft market shopping
- →Optional bungee jump / whitewater rafting / helicopter flight
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,175 | £2,100 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £925 per person (44%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,175
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 Self-Launched Southern Africa Overland Safari: Victoria Falls to the Okavango cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,175 per person for 15 days in 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 £2,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,175 — a saving of roughly £925 (44%) per person.
How long is the Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through 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, budget trip through 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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