Namibia, Botswana & Victoria Falls — 14 Days, Self-Launched
14 days · Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe
On The Go Tours charges £3,760
No-markup version: ~£1,580 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of On The Go Tours' 14-day accommodated overland safari from Windhoek to Victoria Falls, covering the Namib Desert dunes at Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, Etosha, the Caprivi Strip, the Okavango Delta, Chobe and the Falls. Instead of a guided overland truck you'll chain together Namibia's excellent self-drive/shuttle network, Intercape and local minibus shuttles, and book shared game drives, mokoro trips and river cruises directly with lodges and local operators. Costs assume shared (dorm or twin-share) budget accommodation and self-catering where possible — expect superb wildlife, long but rewarding transfer days, and costs around a third of the packaged price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Windhoek — orient yourself and prep the road
Windhoek, Namibia
Land at Hosea Kutako International (WDH) and take the Airport Shuttle (N$250–300, ~£12) into the city centre. Windhoek is a compact, walkable capital — use the afternoon to sort practicalities: buy a Namibian MTC SIM, stock up on water and snacks at a Pick n Pay or Shoprite, and confirm your onward transfers. There's no driving tour bus here, so you'll be booking buses, shuttles and lodge transfers yourself — do this in person at the bus offices on Independence Ave or online. Evening: casual dinner at Joe's Beerhouse or a cheaper local kapana spot.
🚌Airport shuttle (~£12); walking in town
🛏Chameleon Backpackers or Roof of Africa Hotel, twin/dorm room (~£18)
- →City orientation walk
- →SIM card and supplies run
- →Independence Avenue and Christuskirche
Windhoek to Sesriem — gateway to the Namib
Sesriem, Namibia
Join a scheduled shuttle or Namibia's Intercape/ECT service down to Sesriem (roughly 5–6 hours; N$400–600, ~£20–25). Book seats online or via your hostel a day or two ahead. Alternatively, the classic backpacker option is a 3-day Sossusvlei camping trip departing Windhoek — comparable in price to doing it independently and includes transport. Arrive by mid-afternoon; settle into a camp or guesthouse and watch the desert sunset from the Elim Dune area.
🚌Shared shuttle Windhoek–Sesriem, ~£22
🛏Sossus Oasis Campsite or Desert Quiver Camp area budget chalet, twin-share (~£22)
- →Elim Dune sunset walk
- →Stargazing
Sossusvlei & Deadvlei — dunes at sunrise
Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park
Get up before dawn and drive in with a shared 4x4 transfer or join a lodge-run sunrise trip (from ~£40–50 per person, includes park entry of ~£14). Climb Dune 45 or Big Daddy for that classic orange-sand view, then walk the 5km into Deadvlei's dead camelthorn trees and the eerie Sossusvlei pan. Coming back, stop at Sesriem Canyon for a short walk down into the gorge. Doing this self-launched means arranging your own 4x4 transfer for the final sandy stretch (the last 5km is soft sand) — most camps arrange this for ~£12 each way.
🚌Shared 4x4 transfer into Sossusvlei (~£24 return)
🛏Sossus Oasis Campsite or Desert Quiver Camp area budget chalet, twin-share (~£22)
- →Sunrise Dune 45 climb
- →Deadvlei walk
- →Sesriem Canyon hike
- →Sossusvlei pan viewpoint
Sesriem to Swakopmund — via the Kuiseb and Walvis Bay
Swakopmund, Namibia
Long transfer day (~5 hours). Take a shared shuttle or Intercape via Solitaire and the Kuiseb Pass, with a quick stop in Solitaire for the famous apple pie. If you're heading via Walvis Bay, hop out for an hour to see the flamingos on the lagoon before continuing to Swakopmund. Swakopmund is Namibia's adventure capital and pleasantly cool and German-influenced — good spot to restock and pre-book a dolphin cruise or scenic flight for tomorrow.
🚌Shared shuttle Sesriem–Swakopmund, ~£25
🛏Swakopmund Backpackers or Amanpuri Travellers Lodge, dorm/twin (~£20)
- →Solitaire apple pie stop
- →Walvis Bay lagoon flamingos
- →Swakopmund jetty and pier walk
Swakopmund activities and free day
Swakopmund, Namibia
Book activities directly: a dolphin-and-seal catamaran cruise from Walvis Bay (~£45 with oysters and sparkling wine included) is the best-value classic; a scenic flight over the Namib and Skeleton Coast starts around £150 for a 45-minute hop, or a tandem skydive for the brave. If you'd rather save money, spend the day walking the colonial architecture, the Swakopmund Museum and the beach — the sea breeze is a welcome break after the desert.
🚌Local taxi to Walvis Bay if needed (~£10)
🛏Swakopmund Backpackers or Amanpuri Travellers Lodge, dorm/twin (~£20)
- →Dolphin and seal catamaran cruise
- →Optional scenic flight over the Namib
- →Swakopmund Museum and beach walk
Swakopmund to Damaraland — via Spitzkoppe or the coast road
Damaraland (Twyfelfontein/Uis area), Namibia
Head north into Damaraland, either self-arranged with a shuttle/car share or via the backpacker shuttle network connecting Swakopmund to Uis and Twyfelfontein (roughly 4–5 hours, ~£30–40). Stop at Spitzkoppe for a short hike among the granite peaks if the schedule allows. Damaraland is Herero and Damara country — spend the late afternoon at a local craft market and, if you're there on a market day, buy directly from Herero women in their distinctive dress. Sunset over the Brandberg massif is a highlight.
🚌Shared shuttle/vehicle transfer, ~£35
🛏Ugab Terrace Lodge budget room or Torra Bay/White Lady Lodge camp, twin-share (~£25)
- →Spitzkoppe hike
- →Herero market visit
- →Brandberg sunset
Damaraland rock art to Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Morning visit to the Twyfelfontein UNESCO rock engravings (self-guided trail, ~£6 entry) — one of Africa's largest concentrations of ancient rock art — plus the Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain nearby. Then continue east to Etosha (roughly 4 hours to the Andersson Gate; arrange a private shuttle or shared transfer, ~£40). Enter the park in the afternoon and do your first self-drive or lodge game drive; Etosha's waterholes are legendary for dry-season wildlife concentrations.
🚌Shared transfer to Etosha, ~£40; park entry ~£12
🛏Okaukuejo or Halali rest camp budget bungalow/campsite, twin-share (~£25)
- →Twyfelfontein rock engravings
- →Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain
- →Afternoon self-drive game viewing
Full day in Etosha — the big waterhole day
Etosha National Park, Namibia
A full day of game driving in Etosha. Rather than a private open 4x4, book a spot on a rest-camp guided game drive (N$500–700, ~£22–30 for a 3-hour drive) or self-drive your rental car between waterholes. Okaukuejo's floodlit waterhole is the star: sit on the bench at dusk and wait for black rhino, elephant and lion. Etosha's salt pan is vast and dry — bring plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks.
🚌Rest-camp game drive (~£25)
🛏Okaukuejo or Halali rest camp budget bungalow/campsite, twin-share (~£25)
- →Guided game drive in Etosha
- →Okaukuejo floodlit waterhole at night
- →Self-drive between waterholes
Etosha to Rundu — onto the Okavango River
Rundu, Namibia (Kavango region)
Big transfer day south-east to Rundu on the Okavango River (roughly 6–7 hours; Intercape or a shared shuttle, ~£30). Rundu is the last proper Namibian town before the Caprivi Strip and a good place to restock. Late afternoon, book a sunset boat cruise on the Okavango (from ~£15–20 via riverside lodges such as N'Kwazi or Hakusembe) — hippos, fish eagles and riverine birdlife, with Angola on the far bank.
🚌Intercape/shared shuttle Etosha–Rundu, ~£30
🛏N'Kwazi Lodge budget room or Rundu Backpackers, twin-share (~£18)
- →Okavango River sunset boat cruise
- →Riverside birdwatching
Rundu along the Caprivi to the Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta (Maun side), Botswana
Cross into Botswana and continue to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta (long day; roughly 8 hours via Divundu and Shakawe — arrange a shared shuttle or cross-border transfer, ~£40–50). Alternatively break the journey near Divundu for a night. Maun has plenty of backpacker lodges that arrange 2-night mokoro trips — book on arrival or ahead via a local operator; a guided 2-day/1-night mokoro camping trip costs about £130–160 per person including meals, guide and transfers.
🚌Cross-border shuttle Rundu–Maun, ~£45
🛏Old Bridge Backpackers or Sitatunga Camp, Maun, dorm/twin (~£18)
- →Caprivi Strip drive
- →Arrive Maun, arrange mokoro trip
Into the Okavango Delta by mokoro
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The original tour includes a mokoro cruise and guided game walks — you'll do the same on a self-booked 2-day mokoro trip from Maun. Poled through papyrus channels in a traditional dug-out canoe, you'll camp on an island in the delta, do guided bush walks tracking elephant and antelope, and swim in clear channels (croc-free spots only, as advised by your poler). Expect a magical night under the stars with the sounds of hippos nearby.
🚌4x4 transfer to mokoro station and poled canoe (~included in trip)
🛏Delta island bush camp (tents provided on mokoro trip), twin-share
- →Mokoro canoe trip
- →Guided bush walks
- →Island camping
- →Sunset over the delta
Delta to Chobe National Park, Kasane
Kasane, Botswana
Return from the delta to Maun in the morning, then take the afternoon shuttle or shared taxi north to Kasane on the Chobe River (roughly 4–5 hours, ~£25). Kasane is the base for Chobe — book your sunset river cruise and morning game drive directly through your lodge or a local operator (about £30 each). The Chobe River sunset cruise, with hundreds of elephants coming to drink, is one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles.
🚌Maun–Kasane shared shuttle, ~£25
🛏Old House Backpackers or Chobe Safari Lodge campsite, Kasane, twin-share (~£20)
- →Chobe River sunset cruise
- →Elephant spotting from the water
Chobe game drive, then on to Victoria Falls
Kasane, Botswana to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Early morning open-vehicle game drive in Chobe National Park (~£32, 3 hours) — Chobe has the highest elephant concentration in Africa, plus lion, buffalo and giraffe. Afterwards cross the border into Zimbabwe at Kazungula (a shared shuttle or taxi to the border plus a Zimbabwean side taxi, ~£20 total, plus visa on arrival ~£50 for most Western passports; many nationalities pay less or nothing — check before you go). Arrive in Victoria Falls town by late afternoon.
🚌Chobe game drive vehicle, Kazungula border transfer and taxi (~£35 total)
🛏Shoestrings Lodge or Victoria Falls Backpackers, twin/dorm (~£20)
- →Chobe morning game drive
- →Border crossing to Zimbabwe
- →Victoria Falls town walk
Victoria Falls and departure
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Spend the morning at Victoria Falls itself — the self-guided rainforest walkway on the Zimbabwe side (entry ~£25) gives the best panoramic views of the Main Falls. If you have time, add a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi (~£45) or a helicopter flip over the falls (~£120, 15 minutes). Browse the curio markets on the way back and take your onward flight from Victoria Falls Airport (VFA).
🚌Taxi to falls and airport (~£20)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk
- →Optional Zambezi sunset cruise
- →Optional helicopter flight
- →Curio market browsing
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,580 | £3,760 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,180 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,580
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Namibia, Botswana & Victoria Falls — 14 Days, Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,580 per person for 14 days in Namibia, 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £3,760 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,580 — a saving of roughly £2,180 (58%) per person.
How long is the Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Namibia, 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, road-trip trip through Namibia, 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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