South Africa Rainbow Route (Self-Launched Edition)

Fly into OR Tambo, grab a local SIM (Vodacom/Vodacom airtime ~£5) and pick up a Gautrain card. Base yourself in Rosebank or Melville rather than Rivonia — an Airbnb dorm or hostel like Curiocity Backpackers (~£18). Use the afternoon to buy a Kombi/Baz Bus pass and stock up on snacks for the long haul. Some travellers fly directly to Nelspruit/KMIA (~£45 one-way) to save the overnight leg, but the budget move is the Intercape or Greyhound overnight coach to Nelspruit, departing ~19:00 and arriving ~05:30.

🚌Gautrain airport-to-city ~£8; overnight Intercape/Greyhound coach to Nelspruit ~£25

🛏Curiocity Backpackers or a Rosebank hostel dorm (~£18)

• →Orient in Johannesburg (Maboneng or Rosebank)
• →Buy SIM card and travel essentials
• →Optional: Apartheid Museum (~£7)

From Nelspruit take a shared shuttle or the Kruger Shalati/Skukuza transfer to one of the park's budget rest camps (Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal or Pretoriuskop), booked direct through SANParks (~£25-£35 per person in a self-catering rondavel or safari tent). Book a sunset drive with SANParks that evening (~£18) or a night drive (~£22) — these are run by the park, not a private operator, and are superb value. Self-cater from the camp shop or eat at the camp restaurant.

🚌Shared shuttle Nelspruit to Kruger gate ~£15

🛏SANParks rest camp rondavel or safari tent (~£30 per person)

• →SANParks sunset game drive (~£18)
• →Evening braai or camp restaurant
• →Self-drive or shared vehicle game viewing

The Big Five day. Either book a SANParks morning walk (~£30) or, more cheaply, split a guided game drive with other travellers from your camp notice board (~£35 each in a shared open 4x4) covering the southern circuit — Sabie River, Lower Sabie and the N'waswitshaka area. If you have a car, self-driving the tar roads is free beyond park entry (~£22/day conservation fee and ~£22/day park fee for international visitors). Afternoon siesta at the camp pool, then a second sunset drive.

🚌Shared 4x4 game drive vehicle within park

🛏SANParks rest camp (~£30)

• →Full-day game viewing (Big Five)
• →Optional guided bush walk (~£30)
• →Camp pool and wildlife photography

Head south via the Jeppe's Reef/Matsamo border to Eswatini (visa-free for UK passports, no fee). Shared taxis and minibus Kombis run from Mbabane to the Malolotja turn-off; from there it's a short hitch or negotiated ride to Malolotja's budget self-catering lodge or the nearby Hawane area. Malolotja has marked hiking trails — the Malolotja Falls and the canopy-tour zipline (~£35, book direct with Malolotja Canopy Tour). Evening braai under huge Swazi skies.

🚌Shared minibus Kombi Nelspruit-Mbabane ~£10, then local transport to Malolotja ~£5

🛏Malolotja self-catering lodge or Hawane-area guesthouse (~£20)

• →Malolotja waterfall hike (free with park entry ~£4)
• →Optional canopy zipline (~£35)
• →Campfire braai

Cross back into South Africa toward Hluhluwe. Base yourself in a St Lucia or Hluhluwe backpacker lodge (Bushbaby Lodge or Isinkwe Backpackers, ~£18 dorm/£30 double). St Lucia is the activity hub: book a Hluhluwe-iMfolozi half-day game drive through your hostel (~£40) — Hluhluwe is the best place in Africa to see white rhino. In the evening join a Zulu cultural village experience (Khula Village or DumaZulu, ~£25) run by community operators rather than a tour company.

🚌Shared minibus Kombi to Hluhluwe/St Lucia ~£15

🛏St Lucia/Hluhluwe backpacker lodge dorm (~£18)

• →Hluhluwe-iMfolozi half-day game drive (~£40)
• →Zulu cultural village evening (~£25)
• →Optional hippo-croc boat cruise on St Lucia estuary (~£15)

A full day exploring the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (UNESCO). Morning hippo and crocodile boat cruise on the St Lucia estuary (~£15, book direct at the jetty). Afternoon: hike to Mission Rocks or Cape Vidal in your own time via a shared shuttle (~£12), or hire a bike. This replaces the second day the overland truck spends covering ground — you get the same wildlife with far more freedom and a fraction of the cost.

🚌Walk or shared shuttle to Cape Vidal ~£12

🛏St Lucia backpacker lodge (~£18)

• →Hippo and croc boat cruise (~£15)
• →iSimangaliso Wetland Park hike
• →St Lucia beach and village

Travel to the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Take a Baz Bus or shared shuttle from Durban (St Lucia to Durban ~£12, then Durban to Underberg via the Baz Bus ~£20) and overnight in a budget cottage or backpackers such as Sani Lodge Backpackers (~£15 dorm, ~£30 double). The southern Berg (Sani Pass area) is the classic hiking base; Lotheni and Giant's Castle lie further north if you prefer.

🚌Baz Bus St Lucia-Durban ~£12, Durban-Underberg ~£20

🛏Sani Lodge Backpackers dorm or self-catering cottage (~£15)

• →Mountain stream walk near the lodge
• →Afternoon acclimatisation hike
• →Backpackers communal dinner

Two of the Berg's signature experiences, done independently. Book a Sani Pass 4x4 day trip through your hostel (~£45) — it climbs to Lesotho for the highest pub in Africa. Alternatively, hike to the Bushman rock paintings in Giant's Castle or Kamberg (SANParks permit ~£3, plus a guide ~£10), some of the finest San art in southern Africa. You set the pace instead of following a convoy.

🚌Guided 4x4 to Sani Pass (part of activity cost)

🛏Sani Lodge Backpackers (~£15)

• →Sani Pass 4x4 day trip to Lesotho (~£45)
• →Bushman rock art hike with local guide (~£10)
• →Optional abseiling or horse riding (~£25)

The Wild Coast is the reward for travelling independently: it's hard to reach by group truck but easy by Baz Bus. Take the Baz Bus or a shuttle from Durban along the coast to Mthatha/Kei Mouth (~£25-£30). Stay at a beachside backpackers (Crawford Beach Lodge near Kei Mouth ~£18, or Coffee Bay's Coffee Shack ~£15 for the full backpacker vibe). Afternoon of beach walking, lagoon swimming and sundowners.

🚌Baz Bus/shuttle Durban to Wild Coast ~£28

🛏Wild Coast backpackers dorm (~£18)

• →Beach and coastal exploration
• →Lagoon swimming
• →Village walk with a local guide (~£8)

A free-form day. Hike the Wild Coast trail sections (Hole-in-the-Wall or the Coffee Bay coastal path) at your own pace, or join a Xhosa village walking tour arranged by your hostel (~£10) for a genuine cultural exchange. Lunch on fresh fish at a beach shack. This is one of the cheapest and most rewarding stretches of the whole trip.

🚌Local walks and shared taxis

🛏Wild Coast backpackers (~£18)

• →Wild Coast trail hike
• →Xhosa village walk (~£10)
• →Beach shack seafood lunch

Head to Port Elizabeth (Baz Bus/shuttle ~£22, or the overnight Intercape train if running) and transfer to Addo (~£15). Book a SANParks safari tent or rondavel direct (~£35) or a nearby guesthouse (~£25). Addo is famous for its dense elephant herds plus lion, buffalo and the reintroduced rhino. Book a SANParks sunset or night drive (~£20-£25) — exactly what the guided tour offers, but you can also self-drive the park in a hired car (~£35/day split between travellers).

🚌Baz Bus/shuttle to PE ~£22, transfer to Addo ~£15

🛏SANParks Addo safari tent or nearby guesthouse (~£32)

• →Game viewing in Addo Elephant NP (park fee ~£22)
• →SANParks night drive (~£22)
• →Optional self-drive game viewing

The Garden Route is ideal self-launched travel. Take the Baz Bus or a shared shuttle to Knysna (~£20). Stay at a Knysna backpackers on the lagoon (Island Vibe ~£18 dorm, or the Knysna Backpackers ~£20). Afternoon stroll along the Knysna Heads and the lagoon waterfront. Dinner of fresh Knysna oysters at a local restaurant (~£15) — the seafood here is a highlight the group tour also flags.

🚌Baz Bus/shuttle to Knysna ~£20

🛏Knysna backpackers dorm (~£18)

• →Knysna Heads and lagoon walk
• →Oyster tasting (~£15)
• →Waterfront sunset

Knysna sits at the heart of the Garden Route's forests and gorges. Rent a bicycle or take a shared shuttle into the Knysna Forest for the Circles in the Forest walk (free). Optional day trip to Tsitsikamma (Storms River Mouth suspension bridge and Bloukrans bungee ~£55) or the Knysna lagoon ferry to Featherbed (~£22). Keep the day loose — the Garden Route rewards slow travel.

🚌Local shuttle or hired car

🛏Knysna backpackers (~£18)

• →Knysna Forest walk
• →Optional Bloukrans bungee (~£55)
• →Optional Featherbed Nature Reserve ferry (~£22)

Continue along the coast to Hermanus (Baz Bus ~£18). Base at a Hermanus backpackers (Hermanus Backpackers ~£20 or Zoete Inval guesthouse ~£28). Hermanus is the world's best shore-based whale-watching spot — the cliff path at Gearing's Point is free and, from June to November, southern right whales come within metres of the rocks. In summer, hike the Fernkloof Nature Reserve instead.

🚌Baz Bus Knysna to Hermanus ~£18

🛏Hermanus backpackers or budget guesthouse (~£22)

• →Cliff path whale watching (free, Jun-Nov)
• →Fernkloof Nature Reserve hike (summer)
• →Optional boat-based whale watching (~£60)

Arrive in Cape Town (Baz Bus or Intercape ~£18). Check into a central backpackers — the V&A Waterfront is lovely but pricey, so base in Green Point, Sea Point or the City Bowl (Long Street Backpackers ~£18 dorm, or Never at Home Green Point ~£22). That evening sample the Waterfront and Bree Street food scene. Buy your Table Mountain cableway ticket online (~£22 return) to skip the queue.

🚌Baz Bus/Intercape to Cape Town ~£18

🛏Cape Town central backpackers dorm (~£18)

• →V&A Waterfront walk
• →Bree Street food and bar hop
• →Book Table Mountain cableway online (~£22)

Pick your adventures. Take the Table Mountain cableway (~£22) and hike the Devil's Peak contour paths (free). Robben Island ferry and tour book direct (~£30, sells out — book days ahead). Book a Cape Peninsula shared day tour (~£45) for the Cape of Good Hope, Boulder's Beach penguins and Chapman's Peak Drive — far cheaper than a private hire. Those wanting shark cage diving (~£120) or a seal colony boat trip (~£18) can book via GetYourGuide.

🚌Uber or MyCiTi bus around the city

🛏Cape Town backpackers (~£18)

• →Table Mountain cableway (~£22)
• →Robben Island ferry and tour (~£30)
• →Cape Peninsula shared day tour (~£45)
• →Optional shark cage diving (~£120)

Final morning for last sightseeing — the Company's Garden, Bo-Kaap's colourful houses or curio shopping at Greenmarket Square. Fly out from Cape Town International, or extend into a Cape Winelands day trip (Stellenbosch/Franschhoek by shared shuttle, ~£35, tastings extra). Airport transfer by Uber ~£15.

🚌Uber to Cape Town International ~£15

🛏None (onward travel) or optional extra backpacker night (~£18)

• →Bo-Kaap and Company's Garden walk
• →Greenmarket Square curio shopping
• →Optional Cape Winelands day trip (~£35)