Zimbabwe

This self-launched version of Acacia Adventure Holidays' classic 22-day overland journey takes you from Zanzibar's spice-scented alleyways and white-sand beaches, through rural Tanzania and Malawi's lake shores, on to the thundering Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe's ancient Matobo Hills, and finally into the big-five wilderness of South Africa's Kruger National Park — ending in Pretoria. Instead of a guided overland truck, you'll string this route together using local buses, shared minibuses (dala-dalas), and budget shuttles, staying in well-rated hostels and budget guesthouses along the way. All major activities — game drives, national park entries, Victoria Falls — are bookable independently via GetYourGuide, Klook, or direct with local operators. Costs are approximate estimates per person based on current backpacker rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,409

This self-launched version of Much Better Adventures' Botswana overland safari takes you on the same epic journey — from the mokoro channels of the Okavango Delta to the thundering Victoria Falls — without the group tour price tag. You'll book your own mokoro poler locally in Maun, arrange shared 4x4 transfers into the Delta, self-drive or take shared shuttles between Nata, Kasane and Vic Falls, and book Chobe game drives and river cruises directly with local operators. Accommodation switches from included lodge bundles to a mix of well-rated guesthouses, budget lodges and campsites. All the same wildlife, all the same magic — estimated at roughly £1,000–£1,200 per person versus the operator's guided price.

Travel Crew

~£1,100

Experience the very best of Botswana's wildlife and wilderness independently — from mokoro canoe rides in the Okavango Delta to game drives in Chobe and Moremi, wild camping under the stars on the Makgadikgadi Pans, and the thundering spectacle of Victoria Falls. This self-launched version follows the same iconic route as the Exodus group tour, swapping the guided group for self-booked camps, locally arranged mokoro trips and independent game drive bookings — saving you over £2,000 per person. Note: all costs are approximate estimates for budget-conscious independent travellers.

Travel Crew

~£1,650

An epic self-launched overland adventure from Maun through the Okavango Delta, across the Kalahari, through Chobe National Park, and on to Victoria Falls — one of the most wildlife-rich journeys on Earth. By booking mokoro trips, bush safaris, and game drives directly with local operators, and staying in budget-friendly lodges and campsites, you can experience the same raw, untamed Africa at a fraction of the group-tour price. Costs are approximate estimates per person.

Travel Crew

~£595

Same iconic Southern Africa wildlife route — Victoria Falls, Botswana, Mapungubwe, and Kruger — minus the group tour markup. This self-launched itinerary swaps the overland truck and guided package for local buses, shared transfers, budget campsites, and self-bookable safari drives, slashing the cost while keeping every headline experience intact. You'll still walk with elephants, spot the Big Five, and fall asleep under an impossibly starry African sky — you'll just have more money left over for cold Zambians and sundowner beers.

Travel Crew

~£490

A self-launched 27-day overland route from Johannesburg to Maun, matching (and often beating) the content of the G Adventures "Southern Africa: Desert, Wildlife & Falls" National Geographic Journeys trip. You'll do your own Kruger self-drive or guided day safaris, cross into Namibia for Sossusvlei and Etosha, meet cheetahs at CCF, walk Mondesa township, see Victoria Falls, and finish with a Chobe riverfront safari and the Okavango Delta by mokoro. Everything is bookable independently: budget lodges and safari camps, shared shuttles, Intercape/Greyhound-style coaches, and intercity 4x4 transfers. Costs are rough estimates for one person sharing twin/dorm rooms in low-to-mid season (excludes international flights).

Travel Crew

~£2,570

A self-launched version of Acacia's 29-day Kruger-to-Serengeti accommodated overland trip. You'll do the same arc — Kruger, Matobo rhino tracking, Victoria Falls, South Luangwa, Lake Malawi, Zanzibar and the Serengeti/Ngorongoro circuit — using local minibus taxis, intercity coaches, overnight trains, ferries and self-booked day tours, with hostels and budget guesthouses instead of the overland truck's lodges. This is the most logistically demanding route on the continent, so build in buffer days where possible and book park permits and safari day-trips a few days ahead. Costs are approximate per-person backpacker rates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£3,150

A do-it-yourself reconstruction of G Adventures' 20-day "Victoria Falls & Serengeti Overland" camping trip — Victoria Falls, the Zambian bush and South Luangwa, Lake Malawi's beaches, the Tanzanian highlands, Zanzibar's Stone Town and beaches, then Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater safaris finishing in Nairobi. Instead of a Lando truck and crew of CEOs and cooks, you'll use local buses, minibuses, the Azam ferry and shared safari-camp shuttles, staying in hostels, campsites and guesthouses. This is a long, bumpy, brilliant overland route — the key trade-off is that self-booking public transport takes more time and patience than a private truck, so allow flexibility at borders (Songwe/Kasumulu and Namanga). Costs are approximate 2025 backpacker rates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£1,370

A 9-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Windhoek-to-Victoria-Falls overland camping trip. You'll cross the Kalahari into Botswana, glide through the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro, camp among baobabs at Nata, cruise and game-drive in Chobe National Park, and finish at thundering Victoria Falls. Instead of a private Lando truck and crew, you'll use intercape/shuttle buses, shared 4x4 transfers, and locally booked mokoro trips and safari drives — same route, same wildlife, roughly half the price. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights.

Travel Crew

~£730

An 18-day independent version of G Adventures' Kruger, Falls & Botswana Safari: Johannesburg and the Panorama Route, self-drive or shuttle safari in Kruger, a Greater Kruger private reserve stay, Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides, and a budget-friendly Okavango Delta experience (maokoro / camping delta trip) plus Chobe. You skip the group CEO and private touring vehicle, booking the same headline experiences direct (SANParks, lodge-run game drives, GetYourGuide/Klook Falls activities, Intercape/Greyhound coaches, Airlink flights and shared 4x4 transfers). All costs are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume sharing a dorm or twin room and using local transport.

Travel Crew

~£2,285

A do-it-yourself version of the 10-day Victoria Falls–to–Victoria Falls Botswana safari loop: houseboat nights in the Okavango Panhandle, a storytelling dinner in Maun, self-drive or shuttle access to Khwai/Moremi, mobile-safari and shared 4x4 game drives in Savuti and Chobe, and Victoria Falls at the finish. Book the game drives as small-group departures direct with Maun/Kasane operators or via GetYourGuide rather than a single guided tour, take the local bus/shuttle between towns, and stay in guesthouses and budget safari-tented camps. Prices are approximate 2025 budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights; the big variable is park fees and whether you self-drive (cheapest) or pay for shared game drives.

Travel Crew

~£1,105

A self-launched 21-day overland route from Cape Town to Victoria Falls covering the same ground as the G Adventures 'Dunes, Deltas & Falls' trip — Cape Town, the Cederberg, the Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei and Dune 45, Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe, Etosha, the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls — but booked piece by piece yourself. Instead of a 22-seat overland truck and a CEO/cook, you use Intercape/Greyhound-style coaches, shared minibus taxis and the excellent Intercape/Baz Bus network plus a few locally booked safaris. Costs below are approximate backpacker rates in GBP (flights excluded).

Travel Crew

~£1,280

A self-launched version of G Adventures' 12-day Cape Town–Kruger–Victoria Falls trip, rebuilt for independent travellers. You'll cover the same three stages — Mother City, Greater Kruger bushveld, and the smoke that thunders — using Baz Bus shuttles and intercity coaches instead of a private touring vehicle, budget guesthouses and a bushveld backpackers' camp instead of hotels and safari lodges, and self-booked day tours and budget safari drives instead of guided group activities. Costs are approximate backpacker rates and exclude international flights.

Travel Crew

~£1,510

A self-launched, hostel-and-guesthouse version of G Adventures' 17-day Geluxe trip from Victoria Falls to Cape Town. You'll overnight on the edge of Hwange with a local guide, see the Falls from the Zimbabwe side, cross into Botswana for a Chobe River cruise and land safaris, then fly to Johannesburg for a bushveld guide-training experience and self-drive or shuttle safaris in Kruger. Finish with Stellenbosch vineyards by bike and the Cape Peninsula by local train and shared taxi. Costs are approximate backpacker/mid-range estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.

Travel Crew

~£1,725

A self-launched take on On The Go Tours' 12-day 'Best of Botswana & Victoria Falls' loop, starting and finishing at Victoria Falls. Instead of a guided 4x4 expedition truck you'll string together local buses, shared shuttles, minibuses and the odd charter flight to hit the same headline experiences: the Falls themselves, the Makgadikgadi salt pans at Nata, self-drive or shared game drives in Moremi, a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta, a mokoro trip and island bush walk in the Delta panhandle, and Chobe's elephants by land and river. Costs are backpacker-to-midrange estimates and assume shared accommodation, public/shared transport and self-booked activities — realistically expect to spend roughly £2,100–2,500, versus around £4,200 for the operator's tour (US$5,105 + US$300 local payment).

Travel Crew

~£2,315

A self-launched version of G Adventures' 21-day Victoria Falls to Cape Town participation camping overland trip. Instead of a Lando truck, a guide and a cook, you string together the same route using public buses, shared shuttles and the excellent Intercape/Mainliner coach network, booking campsites, hostels and a few budget guesthouses yourself and joining locally run safaris (Chobe, Okavango, Etosha, Sossusvlei) through operators you can book direct or via GetYourGuide. You keep all the big hits — Victoria Falls, Chobe elephants, mokoro in the Delta, San culture, the Namib dunes, Fish River Canyon, Cape Town — at roughly two-thirds of the tour price, with the welcome trade-off of more planning and no built-in cook.

Travel Crew

~£1,180

An 18-day DIY version of G Adventures' "Ultimate African Safari" — Johannesburg to Maun across three countries, hitting Kruger, Victoria Falls, Hwange, Chobe and the Okavango Delta by self-booked budget lodges, hostels, shared backpacker shuttles, buses and independently booked safari drives. You skip the group leader and included set-menu dinners, but keep every headline wildlife experience: open-vehicle Big Five drives, the Chimp Eden sanctuary, the Painted Dog centre, the Chobe sunset cruise, a guided bush walk and a full day in the Delta with a mokoro poler. Costs are backpacker/mid-budget estimates in GBP and assume a shared dorm or twin room, self-catered or local café meals, and directly booked activities via GetYourGuide, Klook or the operators' own sites. Prices are approximate and vary by season (July–October is peak and roughly 20–30% pricier).

Travel Crew

~£1,747

A self-launched version of G Adventures' 20-day Victoria Falls to Nairobi camping overland — same route, same parks, same Zanzibar time, but strung together with public buses, minibuses, shared 4x4 safari hires, local guides and hostel/campsite nights instead of a Lando truck and participation-camping crew. You'll cross Zimbabwe → Zambia → Malawi → Tanzania → Kenya on the ground, sleep in dorms and safari tents, self-drive nothing but organise everything yourself via GetYourGuide, local operators and direct campsite booking. Roughly £1,450–1,750 all-in versus ~£2,100+ for the commercial tour, with the big-ticket items being the Serengeti/Ngorongoro 4x4 safari and the Zanzibar ferry. Costs are approximate backpacker rates (2025/26) and exclude international flights, visas and personal spending.

Travel Crew

~£1,580

A self-launched version of Intrepid's 19-day Zanzibar to Victoria Falls overland trip. You'll start in Stone Town, snorkel the northern beaches of Zanzibar, safari in Mikumi and South Luangwa, chill on Lake Malawi, cross Zambia and Zimbabwe by public bus and train, and finish under the spray of Victoria Falls. Instead of a guided overland truck, you piece the route together with dala-dalas, ferries, buses and shared taxis — booking safaris and rhino tracking through local lodges and operators in each place. Expect more logistics and earlier mornings, but the same wildlife, beaches and scenery for roughly half the price.

Travel Crew

~£1,275

An independent, self-launched take on G Adventures' 8-day "Delta & Falls Discoverer" route — from the mist of Victoria Falls through Chobe's elephant country and the waterways of the Okavango Delta to the Kalahari and on to Windhoek. Same route, same big experiences (mokoro excursions, bushman walk, Chobe safari), but booked yourself: public and shared shuttle transfers, hostel/lodge/community-camp accommodation, and local guides paid direct. Ideal for backpackers and gap-year travellers comfortable with early starts and a bit of travel admin. Costs are approximate per person and assume sharing twin/dorm rooms.

Travel Crew

~£570

An independent, self-launched version of G Adventures' 11-day TailorMade Southern Africa trip — Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula and winelands, a Soweto cycle tour, a self-drive or budget-backed safari in Kruger, then Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side. All the headline experiences (Boulders Beach penguins, Big Five game drives, Boma drumming, the falls) are bookable directly or through GetYourGuide/Klook, using hostels, lodges and budget hotels instead of a private guided group, plus local flights and shuttles instead of private tour transport. Costs are approximate per person and assume you're booking flights within Southern Africa separately.

Travel Crew

~£960

A do-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 11-day Zimbabwe & Chobe Safari, running from Victoria Falls through Hwange and Chobe National Parks and finishing in the Okavango Delta near Maun. You'll swap the operator's private group transport and lodge stays for intercity coaches, shared safari vehicles, budget lodges, hostels and tented camps, and self-booked activities (Victoria Falls day tours, walking safaris, Chobe river cruises, mokoro trips). Same wildlife, same landscapes, same iconic experiences — booked your own way at a fraction of the group-tour price. All costs are approximate per person in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£895

A self-launched, independent version of Exodus's 3-day Victoria Falls add-on. Same headline experiences — a guided walk through Victoria Falls National Park and a sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi — but based in a budget guesthouse or hostel in Victoria Falls town instead of the historic Victoria Falls Hotel, using local shuttle/transfer options and self-booked activities. Everything is bookable on arrival or via GetYourGuide/Klook, with easy morning slots for optional extras like the Flight of Angels helicopter ride. Costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights.

Travel Crew

~£225

A self-launched version of Exodus's classic 20-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls overland route through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Instead of a guided overland truck, you'll piece the journey together using Intercape/Greyhound coaches, shared 4x4 shuttles, local taxis and self-booked game drives and river cruises. You'll hit the same highlights — Cape Point, Sossusvlei's dunes, Swakopmund, Etosha, the Okavango/Kavango River, Chobe and Victoria Falls — on a hostel/guesthouse budget. Costs are rough backpacker estimates; long transport legs and park entry fees are the biggest variables, so build in a buffer.

Travel Crew

~£1,980

A self-launched 12-day overland route from Cape Town to Victoria Falls covering the same highlights as G Adventures' "Journeys: Explore Southern Africa" — Bo-Kaap and Kirstenbosch in Cape Town, Soweto township in Johannesburg, full-day Kruger National Park safari drives, a carnivore conservation talk, the Karongwe private reserve, a traditional Zimbabwean family dinner, and the thundering Victoria Falls. Book your own hostels and lodges, use domestic flights and the intercity Baz Bus/local shuttles rather than a private touring vehicle, and self-book safaris directly with parks and reserves. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£1,955

An independent, self-launched version of G Adventures' 18-day "Best of Southern Africa" loop, running from Johannesburg to Maun through Kruger, Karongwe, Victoria Falls, Hwange, Chobe and the Okavango Delta. Instead of a guided group departure with catered lodges, you'll string together budget guesthouses, hostel dorm beds and self-catering camps, book day safaris directly with park operators, and use local buses, shared transfers and minibuses to move between countries. Same wildlife, same waterfalls, same mokoro sunsets — done your own way for a fraction of the tour price. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£1,590

A self-launched 18-day overland safari from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, covering Kruger National Park, the Okavango Delta panhandle by houseboat, Chobe and Savuti, and the thundering smoke of Mosi-oa-Tunya. You'll book your own budget lodges, safari tents and hostel dorms, join affordable shared game drives through local operators and GetYourGuide, use Baz Bus, Intercape and shuttle transfers between hubs, and self-cater most meals to keep costs down. Includes the Karongwe-style private reserve drives, a carnivore conservation talk, a Zimbabwean family dinner and a Victoria Falls guided walk — all bookable independently. Estimates are approximate and based on current backpacker/budget rates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£1,545

A self-launched version of Oasis Overland's epic 94-day Nairobi to Johannesburg expedition. Rather than a guided overland truck with a compulsory local payment, you'll string together the same circuit using local buses, shared minibuses (matatus/dala-dalas), domestic flights and the occasional cheap shuttle — booking game drives, gorilla permits, boat cruises and activities directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. You'll stay in backpacker hostels, guesthouses and campsites, wild camp or lodge near the parks, and move at your own pace. This is a big, demanding, rewarding overland-style trip best suited to confident solo travellers who enjoy slow travel and Africa's spectacular wildlife and landscapes. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget estimates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£4,950

A self-launched version of Absolute Africa's 54-day Nairobi-to-Victoria Falls overland expedition. You'll follow the same route through 7 countries — Kenya's Rift Valley and Masai Mara, Uganda's Nile and savannah parks, Rwanda's Kigali, Tanzania's Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar, then down through Malawi, Zambia's South Luangwa and Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls. Instead of a guided overland truck, you'll string together local buses, shared shuttles, matatus, ferries and the occasional budget safari vehicle, booking activities directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Costs below are backpacker-level estimates per person and exclude the big optional extras (gorilla permits, balloon safaris).

Travel Crew

~£4,050

A self-launched 15-day adventure recreating Collette's fully-guided Johannesburg-to-Cape Town tour — Big Five game drives in Pilanesberg and Chobe, the thundering Victoria Falls, a Chobe River safari cruise, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine tasting, Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguins and Table Mountain — all booked independently using budget guesthouses, lodges and public/shared transport. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP and assume shared accommodation and self-arranged activities.

Travel Crew

~£2,150