Best of Kruger & Victoria Falls — Self-Launched Edition
9 days · South Africa & Zimbabwe
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£715 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent 9-day route from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls that recreates the G Adventures Classic trip: the Panorama Route drive, a full day in Kruger National Park, open-vehicle drives in a Greater Kruger private reserve with a Big Five focus, then a short flight (or overland crossing) to Victoria Falls for the rainforest walk and a village homestay dinner. Everything is self-bookable — baz bus/shuttle, rest camp or safari tent stays, GetYourGuide and direct-operator safaris — for roughly half the group-tour price. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg — braai night in Melville
Johannesburg, South Africa
Land at O.R. Tambo (JNB) and take the Gautrain rapid rail to Rosebank or Park Station (~£10, 20-30 min) rather than a private transfer. Check into a backpacker hostel or budget guesthouse in Melville/Rosebank. In the evening, head to a hostel-run braai or a local grill house for a DIY South African barbecue — boerewors, pap and chakalaka — and pick up a SIM/eSIM for data.
🚌Gautrain from JNB ~£10; walk/Uber locally ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Johannesburg (~£22-30 dorm/private)
- →Gautrain airport transfer
- →Melville/Rosebank neighbourhood walk
- →Traditional braai dinner (self-arranged)
Panorama Route to the Kruger area
Graskop / Hazyview, South Africa
Self-drive (hire car from Johannesburg ~£30-45/day split between travellers) or join a shared shuttle/backpacker bus along the Panorama Route. Stop at Blyde River Canyon viewpoints, Bourke's Luck Potholes and God's Window (small entry fees ~£2-3 each). Overnight in Graskop or Hazyview at a backpackers or self-catering lodge — most have braai facilities and a boma-style firepit.
🚌Hire car ~£40/day (split 2-4 ways) or Baz Bus-style shuttle ~£25
🛏Backpackers lodge or safari tent, Hazyview/Graskop (~£20-28)
- →Blyde River Canyon viewpoints
- →Bourke's Luck Potholes
- →God's Window
- →Self-drive scenic route
Full-day Kruger National Park safari
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Book a full-day open-vehicle safari through the park gate (Phabeni or Numbi) with a local operator via GetYourGuide or directly with a Hazyview-based safari company (~£70-95 incl. park conservation fees ~£25). Alternatively buy a Wild Card and join a SANParks-guided morning drive if you're self-driving. Watch for elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra and hippo; return to the lodge late afternoon for a sundowner on the deck.
🚌Open safari vehicle included in tour price
🛏Backpackers lodge or safari tent, Hazyview/Graskop (~£20-28)
- →Full-day open-vehicle game drive in Kruger NP (GetYourGuide or local operator)
- →SANParks conservation fee
- →Sundowner at lodge deck
Into the Greater Kruger private reserve
Karongwe / Balule private reserve
Transfer to a Greater Kruger private reserve (Karongwe, Balule or Klaserie) and check into a budget safari camp — many offer 'budget safari' packages with shared en-suite tents. Afternoon game drive with a resident ranger and tracker. Many reserves host conservation researchers (e.g. Endangered Wildlife Trust cheetah project); ask your camp whether a researcher will join your evening drive — often free or a small donation.
🚌Shared shuttle or self-drive transfer ~£15-20
🛏Budget safari camp tent/chalet with en-suite (~£35-50 full board-ish)
- →Transfer to private reserve
- →Afternoon open-vehicle game drive
- →Optional conservation talk with reserve researcher
Big Five drives — morning and afternoon
Karongwe / Balule private reserve
Two game drives today (sunrise and late afternoon) with your camp's rangers, tracking buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino. Most budget safari-camp packages bundle accommodation, all meals and two daily drives — book this as a 2-night package directly with the camp for the best rate. Spend midday by the pool or on the deck.
🚌Included in camp package
🛏Budget safari camp tent/chalet (~£35-50)
- →Sunrise game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Camp deck relaxation
Last drive, then back to Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Final early-morning game drive, then transfer back to Johannesburg (shared shuttle ~£30-40 or self-drive). Overnight at a hostel or budget guesthouse near the airport or in Rosebank so you're set for the flight the next day. Eat at a local guest house or Melville restaurant.
🚌Shared shuttle Kampersrus→Joburg ~£35
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Johannesburg (~£22-30)
- →Morning game drive
- →Return transfer to Johannesburg
- →Evening in Rosebank/Melville
Fly to Victoria Falls — village visit and cooking dinner
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly Johannesburg–Victoria Falls (Fastjet or Airlink, ~£120-180 one way booked 6-8 weeks ahead). Budget alternative: fly/bus to Harare or overland via Beitbridge, but the flight is far simpler. Get a Zimbabwe visa on arrival (Kaza Univisa ~£40 if also visiting Zambia). Settle into a backpackers or guesthouse in Victoria Falls town, then book a community village visit + cooking experience directly with a local operator (~£25-35) — shop in the market together and cook a Zimbabwean meal with a host family.
🚌Flight JNB→VFA ~£150; airport transfer ~£8
🛏Backpackers or guesthouse, Victoria Falls town (~£20-32)
- →Flight to Victoria Falls
- →Zimbabwe village visit and market shopping
- →Home-cooked Zimbabwean dinner with local family
Victoria Falls rainforest walk
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Walk the rainforest trail on the Zimbabwe side — entry ~£25-30 for international visitors — and see 'Mosi-oa-Tunya', the smoke that thunders. A self-guided walk takes 1.5-2 hours; a local guide (~£12-18) adds geology, history and Livingstone legends. Optional add-ons: a sunset cruise on the Zambezi (~£35-45), a microlight or helicopter flip (~£100-160), or a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana (~£110-140). Book all via GetYourGuide or local operators in town.
🚌Walk/town shuttle ~£3
🛏Backpackers or guesthouse, Victoria Falls town (~£20-32)
- →Victoria Falls rainforest entry and walk
- →Optional local guide
- →Optional Zambezi sunset cruise
- →Optional Chobe day trip
Depart Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Free morning — a last coffee at the Lookout, curio shopping, or a swim in the Devil's Pool if seasonally open. Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) for your onward flight. If continuing to Zambia, cross the border on foot and use the Kaza Univisa.
🚌Airport shuttle ~£8
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Free morning in Victoria Falls town
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£715 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,635 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£715
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 Best of Kruger & Victoria Falls — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £715 per person for 9 days in South Africa & 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 £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £715 — a saving of roughly £1,635 (70%) per person.
How long is the South Africa & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through South Africa & 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 South Africa & 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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