Botswana Safari Self-Launched: Okavango, Moremi & Chobe Independently
10 days · Botswana & Zimbabwe
G Adventures charges £3,200
No-markup version: ~£1,105 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
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.
Day-by-day
Arrive Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA). Take a local taxi into town (~£7-10 shared, £15 private) instead of a pre-booked transfer and check into a budget guesthouse or hostel 10-15 minutes' walk from the falls. Afternoon: walk to the Victoria Falls Rainforest viewing points on the Zimbabwe side (entry ~£25-30 for foreigners) — the spray and gorge views are best late afternoon. Evening: supermarket picnic or a cheap local eatery in the town centre; pick up cash (USD is widely used in Zimbabwe) and confirm your onward shuttle booking to Kasane for tomorrow.
🚌Airport taxi ~£10; walking in town
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Victoria Falls town (dorm ~£12-18, private ~£30)
- →Victoria Falls Rainforest walk (self-guided, ~£28 entry)
- →Sunset viewpoint at the falls
Cross into Botswana — Kasane to Okavango Panhandle
Okavango Panhandle, Botswana
Take a shared shuttle or local minibus from Victoria Falls to Kasane (~£20-30, 2 hrs) and cross at Kazungula border (pay Botswana tourism levy ~£23/US$30 and any visa fees in cash). From Kasane, a bus/shared transfer to Shakawe or Sepopa in the Panhandle is long (~7-8 hrs via Maun or direct combi); book a shuttle through your houseboat operator in advance. Alternatively fly Kasane–Shakawe on a light aircraft if budget allows. Board your houseboat for the first of two nights — budget houseboat operators (e.g. Panhandle-area operators) offer twin/small cabins with shared or en-suite facilities, from ~£40-60 pp per night including meals and a guide, far cheaper than a lodge.
🚌Shared shuttle Victoria Falls–Kasane (~£25) + cross-border transfer to Panhandle (~£30-40)
🛏Okavango Panhandle houseboat (shared cabin, ~£45-60 pp incl. meals)
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Houseboat boarding on the Okavango Panhandle
Okavango Panhandle by boat
Okavango Panhandle, Botswana
Full day on the water. Most houseboats include early-morning and late-afternoon small-boat excursions into the papyrus channels — excellent birdwatching (Pel's fishing owl, bee-eaters, kingfishers) and hippo/croc sightings. Ask your houseboat skipper to add a mokoro (dugout canoe) trip with a local poler (~£12-18 pp) instead of the pricier Tsodilo Hills excursion (~£40-60 plus long transfer). Mosquito repellent essential; evenings cool down so bring layers.
🚌Boat; walking
🛏Okavango Panhandle houseboat (shared cabin, ~£45-60 pp incl. meals)
- →Morning and afternoon wildlife boat excursions
- →Mokoro (dugout canoe) paddle ~£15 pp
- →Sunset on the delta
Panhandle to Maun — storytelling & traditional dinner
Maun, Botswana
Transfer back to Maun (~£25-35 shared transfer, 4-5 hrs on gravel/dirt road). Check into a Maun guesthouse or backpackers (e.g. the well-known backpacker lodges near the Thamalakane River). In the afternoon, book the Thari-E-Ntsho Storytellers traditional dinner with author Bonty Botumile directly (email/phone ahead — roughly £25-35 pp including food), or join a comparable community storytelling and seswaa/pap dinner arranged through your hostel. If budget permits, a scenic flight over the delta from Maun airport is ~£80-110 for a short 30-40 min hop — split between two people if short of cash, or skip it.
🚌Shared transfer Panhandle–Maun ~£30
🛏Maun guesthouse/backpackers (dorm ~£15, private ~£35)
- →Thari-E-Ntsho Storytellers traditional dinner (~£30)
- →Optional scenic flight over the delta (~£95)
Maun to Khwai / Moremi border camp
Khwai / Moremi Game Reserve area
Take a shared transfer or join a small-group mobile safari departing Maun for the Khwai River area on Moremi's eastern edge (shared 4x4 transfers ~£40-60 one-way; budget mobile-safari operators in Maun run 3-day Khwai/Moremi packages from ~£250-350 pp including camp, food and game drives). Arrive at a simple tented camp on the river's edge — Khwai Community Trust-run campsites and community camps are the affordable option. Afternoon on the camp deck watching elephant and hippo move through the river channels.
🚌Shared 4x4 transfer Maun–Khwai ~£50
🛏Khwai community tented camp (own/furnished tent, ~£25-40 pp incl. camp fee)
- →Khwai Community Trust camping
- →Wildlife watching from camp deck
Moremi / Khwai game drive day
Khwai / Moremi Game Reserve area
Full-day open-vehicle game drive with a licensed Khwai or Moremi guide (book direct with the community trust or via a Maun operator — ~£60-80 pp for a full day, plus Moremi park fees, which are around £15-20 pp per day for non-residents and must be paid in cash/Pula). Khwai is one of the best wild dog and leopard areas in southern Africa. Bring your own water, snacks and a packed lunch; morning start around 06:00, back before sunset. Evening around the fire at camp.
🚌Open 4x4 game drive vehicle
🛏Khwai community tented camp (~£25-40 pp)
- →Full-day guided game drive in Moremi/Khwai (~£70)
- →Moremi park fees (~£18)
Into the Chobe wilderness — Savuti / Ghoha Hills area
Savuti, Chobe National Park
Drive deeper into Chobe via the sand ridge roads to the Savuti/Ghoha area (~5-6 hrs — the priciest leg if hiring a 4x4; many budget travellers instead join a 3-day Savuti extension with a Maun or Kasane mobile operator, ~£300-400 pp all-in). Stay at a bush camp near the Savuti Channel. In the evening, ask your guide or camp host for the included-style bush talk on Chobe and Savuti geology, ecosystems, elephant movements and animal tracking — most local guides give this informally over dinner at no extra cost. Late-afternoon game drive around the waterholes looking for elephant, giraffe, lion and the famous Savuti pride.
🚌Shared 4x4, ~5-6 hrs on sand roads
🛏Savuti/Ghoha area bush camp (~£35-45 pp)
- →Bush-survival and wildlife talk with local guide
- →Late-afternoon game drive around waterholes
Chobe River drive to Kasane
Kasane, Botswana
Morning slow drive along the southern bank of the Chobe River — the Chobe riverfront has some of Africa's densest elephant concentrations in the dry season (May–Oct). Continue to Kasane, pay Chobe park entry fees (~£15-20 pp/day), and check into a Kasane backpackers or guesthouse. In the afternoon, book a shared sunset river cruise direct with a Kasane jetty operator (~£28-35 pp) or a photography boat safari (~£45-60 pp) — far cheaper booked at the jetty than via a tour agent.
🚌Game-drive vehicle to Kasane; short transfers by taxi/foot
🛏Kasane backpackers/guesthouse (dorm ~£15, private ~£35)
- →Chobe riverfront game drive
- →Chobe River sunset cruise (~£30)
- →Chobe park fees (~£18)
Kasane back to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Cross at Kazungula back into Zimbabwe (pay a double-entry Zimbabwe visa on arrival if applicable; UK passport holders ~US$30-55 depending on visa type). Shared transfer Kasane–Victoria Falls ~£25-35. Final afternoon options: the classic Zambezi sunset cruise (~£30-45 pp booked direct at the waterfront, or the 'Riversong' luxury version at ~£45/US$57) or a 15-minute helicopter flight over the falls (~£120-150 pp — the single biggest optional splurge). Cheaper alternative: walk to the falls again at golden hour or do the Boiling Pot / Lookout Tree trail.
🚌Shared shuttle Kasane–Victoria Falls ~£30
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Victoria Falls town (~£15-30)
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Zambezi sunset cruise (~£40)
- →Optional helicopter flight (~£135)
Depart Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
No activities planned. Take a shared or metered taxi to VFA airport (~£10-15). If your flight is later in the day, squeeze in a quick visit to the local craft market or the Victoria Falls craft village. Keep US$ cash for airport departure fees/tips and allow extra time for border-free domestic departures if onward travel is via Johannesburg or Harare.
🚌Airport taxi ~£12
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Craft market browsing
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,105 | £3,200 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,095 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,105
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 Botswana Safari Self-Launched: Okavango, Moremi & Chobe Independently cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,105 per person for 10 days in Botswana & Zimbabwe. 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 £3,200 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,105 — a saving of roughly £2,095 (65%) per person.
How long is the Botswana & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Botswana & Zimbabwe.
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 Botswana & Zimbabwe, 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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