Botswana & Victoria Falls Overland: Self-Launched Wildlife & Safari Adventure
8 days · Botswana, Zimbabwe & South Africa
G Adventures charges £790
No-markup version: ~£505 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 8-day Johannesburg-to-Victoria-Falls overland route. Same spine as the group tour — Khama Rhino Sanctuary, the Okavango Delta by mokoro, bush camping under the stars, Nata's baobabs, Chobe's elephants and the thundering Victoria Falls — but booked independently using intercape buses, shared minibuses, community campsites and locally arranged mokoro trips. Realistically you'll spend the same days driving; the money you save comes from cutting the operator margin, cooking for yourself and choosing dorm/community-camp accommodation. Costs are rough backpacker estimates for one person in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg — meet the city
Johannesburg, South Africa
Fly into OR Tambo and take the Gautrain or a metered taxi to a backpackers in the Maboneng or Melville area (dorms ~£14-18). Spend the afternoon at the Apartheid Museum (~£9 / 180 ZAR) if you have time, then grab dinner and a drink in Maboneng. Buy supplies tonight — cash (ZAR and USD), a sleeping bag if you haven't brought one, and basic groceries for the road. Pre-book your bus to Gaborone/Serowe online with Intercape or arrange a minibus via your hostel.
🚌Gautrain/taxi from OR Tambo (~£10)
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm, Maboneng or Melville (~£16)
- →Apartheid Museum (~£9)
- →Maboneng street food and bars
- →Grocery and cash run for the road
Long drive day: Johannesburg to Serowe via the Botswana border
Serowe, Botswana
Expect a genuinely big travel day — this is the same leg the group tour does in a Lando. Catch an early Intercape bus from Johannesburg to Gaborone (~£18-22, 6-7 hrs), cross at Ramotswa/Tlokweng, then take a shared minibus or taxi-up from Gaborone to Serowe (~£8-10, 3-4 hrs). Check into a simple guesthouse or the campsite near Khama Rhino Sanctuary (~£12-15 for a campsite pitch or basic room). Cook dinner on your stove or eat at the campsite restaurant and sleep early — you're up at dawn.
🚌Intercape bus Joburg-Gaborone ~£20 + shared minibus to Serowe ~£9
🛏Guesthouse or campsite near Khama Rhino Sanctuary (~£14)
- →Border crossing at Tlokweng
- →Campsite dinner under the stars
Khama Rhino Sanctuary drive, then on to Maun
Maun, Botswana
Book a morning game drive directly with Khama Rhino Sanctuary (~£25-30 for a shared open-vehicle drive, book a day ahead by phone or email). It's one of the best-value rhino sightings in Southern Africa and you'll likely see white rhino, giraffe and plenty of antelope. Afterwards catch a shared minibus or bus from Serowe to Maun (~£10-12, 5-6 hrs on the A1). In Maun, stay at a budget lodge or campsite such as those along the Thamalakane River (~£14) and book your Delta trip for tomorrow with a local poler association — you can arrange a one-night mokoro excursion for ~£55-70 all-in including poler, guide and camping gear.
🚌Shared minibus Serowe-Maun ~£11
🛏Budget lodge or campsite, Maun (~£14)
- →Khama Rhino Sanctuary game drive (~£27)
- →Book Okavango Delta mokoro trip
Into the Okavango Delta by mokoro — bush camp
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Head out with your poler from Maun (usually a 4x4 transfer then a two-hour mokoro paddle into the delta). Walk with your guide on a nature walk to learn animal tracking and birdlife on foot — this is the same experience the tour markets, just arranged directly. Set up a very basic bush camp on an island: no facilities, so carry water, food and a torch. Sundowners around the fire, frogs and hippos calling at night. Confirm with your poler what's included (tent, mattress, meals) before you pay.
🚌4x4 transfer + mokoro dugout canoe
🛏Bush camp tent in the Okavango Delta (included in mokoro package)
- →Mokoro paddling
- →Guided wildlife walk and tracking
- →Sunset sundowners around the campfire
Delta sunrise, back to Maun, then Nata's baobabs
Nata, Botswana
Wake for sunrise over the delta and paddle out through the clear channels after breakfast. Back in Maun, use the showers at your previous lodge or a day-use camp (~£4) before catching the afternoon bus or shared minibus north to Nata (~£10, 3-4 hrs). Camp at Nata Lodge or a nearby community campsite among the baobabs (~£12). If you have energy left, Nata Bird Sanctuary is right on the edge of the Makgadikgadi pans and worth a short sunset walk.
🚌Shared minibus Maun-Nata ~£10
🛏Campsite under the baobabs, Nata (~£12)
- →Delta sunrise paddle
- →Nata Bird Sanctuary sunset walk (~£6)
Nata to Kasane — Chobe elephants by land and river
Kasane, Botswana
Bus or shared minibus from Nata north to Kasane (~£10, 3-4 hrs), watching the bush turn greener as you approach the Chobe River. In Kasane, stay at a budget camp or guesthouse (~£15) and book a Chobe safari drive plus sunset boat cruise — book directly with the Chobe operators or via your accommodation the day before (~£30-35 for the drive, ~£35-45 for the river cruise; the group tour sells these as optional extras too). The river cruise is the classic way to see the largest elephant population in Southern Africa, with hundreds of elephants coming down to drink.
🚌Shared minibus Nata-Kasane ~£10
🛏Budget camp or guesthouse, Kasane (~£15)
- →Chobe National Park safari drive (~£32)
- →Chobe River sunset cruise (~£40)
Cross to Victoria Falls — the Smoke That Thunders
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Walk or take a short taxi to the Kazungula border and cross into Zimbabwe (Kazungula one-stop border post; small fees and bribes are unnecessary — just have USD cash and your passport). Take a shared taxi or minibus from the border to Victoria Falls town (~£5). Check into a backpackers such as Shoestrings or similar (~£16-20) and spend the afternoon walking the Victoria Falls Rainforest trail with a KAZA or Zim Parks entry ticket (~£40 / 50 USD). For a splurge, pre-book whitewater rafting (~£95) or the 15-minute helicopter flip (~£150) via GetYourGuide or the operator desks in town. Dinner at a local spot in town rather than a lodge restaurant to keep costs down.
🚌Shared taxi to Kazungula border ~£3 + shared taxi to town ~£4
🛏Backpackers in Victoria Falls town (~£18)
- →Victoria Falls Rainforest walk (~£40)
- →Optional: whitewater rafting (~£95) or helicopter flight (~£150)
Morning at the Falls and depart
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
If you're not flying straight out, use the morning for the free-ish extras: a walk along the Zambezi, a look at the historic Victoria Falls Hotel, or the Bridge Swing/Zipline over the gorge (~£40-135). Flights out of Victoria Falls International are short-taxi distance from town. If you're continuing overland, cross back to Livingstone, Zambia on a KAZA visa (~£40 for the multi-entry combo) for Devil's Pool or cheap onward buses.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£6, or onward border crossing
🛏Departure day (no overnight)
- →Optional zipline or bridge swing (~£40)
- →Zambezi viewpoint walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£505 | £790 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £285 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£505
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 & Victoria Falls Overland: Self-Launched Wildlife & Safari Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £505 per person for 8 days in Botswana, Zimbabwe & 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 £790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £505 — a saving of roughly £285 (36%) per person.
How long is the Botswana, Zimbabwe & South Africa trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Botswana, Zimbabwe & 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, backpacker trip through Botswana, Zimbabwe & 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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