Joburg to Victoria Falls Overland – Self-Launched
12 days · South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana
On The Go Tours charges £3,820
No-markup version: ~£1,315 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on On The Go Tours' 12-day overland safari from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, covering the Panorama Route, Kruger, a private Limpopo reserve, Matobo, Hwange, Chobe and the Smoke That Thunders. Instead of a fully guided overland truck you'll piece the route together with a Baz Bus/shuttle to Hazyview, self-drive or budget safari shuttles through Kruger, Intercape buses and shared border shuttles into Zimbabwe, and a Kazungula crossing into Botswana. You'll join the same style of open 4x4 game drives, either self-booked directly with lodges or via GetYourGuide, for a fraction of the package price. Camping and basic lodges keep costs down, and you choose exactly where your money goes. All figures are approximate per-person estimates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Land at O.R. Tambo and take the Gautrain or a shared shuttle to a hostel in Melville or Maboneng (the airport lodges the tour uses are far out of town). Stock up on a SIM, a plug adapter, and cash — you'll need USD notes for Zimbabwe and Botswana later. Evening: braai or a cheap curry on 7th Street in Melville.
🚌Gautrain + Gautrain bus or shuttle, ~£10-12
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Melville/Maboneng (~£18-25)
- →Gautrain from O.R. Tambo to Park Station (~£10)
- →Melville/Maboneng street food and bar hop
Johannesburg to Hazyview via the Panorama Route
Hazyview / Graskop, South Africa
Take an early Intercape or Citiliner bus to Nelspruit (Mbombela), ~£18-22, 5-6 hrs, then a minibus taxi or shuttle to Hazyview (~£6-8). Alternatively book a Baz Bus hop-on hop-off ticket if you prefer door-to-door. From Hazyview, hire a car for one day or join a Panorama Route day tour (GetYourGuide has Graskop-based options from ~£35-45) to hit Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes and God's Window yourself. Sunset at the Three Rondavels is the highlight.
🚌Intercape bus + minibus taxi, ~£25
🛏Backpackers lodge in Hazyview, dorm or camping (~£14-18)
- →Blyde River Canyon viewpoint
- →Bourke's Luck Potholes
- →God's Window
- →Lisbon Falls
Kruger National Park self-drive or guided game drive
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Enter Kruger at Phabeni or Numbi gate at opening time. Two options: self-drive the tarred southern loops in a hired car (park entry ~£22/day plus ~£30 car hire) or book a full-day open 4x4 game drive with a Hazyview operator (~£70-90, bookable direct or via GetYourGuide). The south — Lower Sabie, Crocodile Bridge, Skukuza — is where the Big Five sightings happen. Pack your own lunch; park shops are pricey.
🚌Self-drive hire or operator pickup, ~£30
🛏Backpackers lodge in Hazyview (~£14-18)
- →Full-day Big Five game drive or self-drive safari
- →Skukuza and Lower Sabie rest camps
- →Sunset at a waterhole
Hazyview to Mapesu / Mapungubwe area
Alldays / Mapungubwe, Limpopo
A long transit day. There's no direct public transport, so book a private shuttle or shared transfer to Alldays (~£45-60, 5-6 hrs) — ask your Hazyview lodge to arrange it, or jump on a seat-in-vehicle transfer sold through local operators. En route you pass near Mapungubwe National Park; if you have a car, detour for the Mapungubwe Hill viewpoint (San rock art and Iron Age ruins). Overnight at a bush camp or guest farm near Alldays.
🚌Private/shared shuttle Hazyview-Alldays, ~£55
🛏Bush camp or farm guesthouse near Alldays (~£25-30)
- →Mapungubwe National Park viewpoint (if self-driving)
- →Baobab country scenery
Bushman paintings and sunset drive
Mapesu Private Game Reserve area, South Africa
Book a guided walk to the Kaoxa Bushman paintings with a local guide (~£15-20, arranged through your camp) — the sandstone shelters hold thousands of San rock art panels. In the late afternoon join a sunset game drive on a private reserve (~£35-45), which is far better value than the big-name lodges and still delivers elephants, giraffe and antelope. DIY alternative: walk the Mapungubwe interpretation trails yourself.
🚌Local guide/operator pickup, ~£10
🛏Bush camp or farm guesthouse (~£25-30)
- →Kaoxa Bushman paintings guided walk
- →Sunset game drive on a private reserve
- →Stargazing (brilliant dark skies here)
Cross into Zimbabwe to Bulawayo / Matobo
Bulawayo & Matobo, Zimbabwe
The border day. Take a shuttle to Beitbridge (~£25), walk across the border (Zimbabwe visa on arrival ~£25-30 for most Western passports, single entry, USD cash), then catch an Intercape or City Link bus from Beitbridge or Musina to Bulawayo (~£15-18, 5-6 hrs). Note: some nationalities need the KAZA visa later, so keep receipts. Overnight in Bulawayo or a Matobo lodge; a shared taxi to Matobo is ~£8-10.
🚌Shuttle + Intercape bus + shared taxi, ~£48
🛏Bulawayo backpackers or Matobo farm lodge (~£15-20)
- →Beitbridge border crossing
- →Bulawayo city wander
- →Matobo hills sunset
Matobo rhino walk, then on to Hwange
Matobo to Hwange, Zimbabwe
Morning half-day game drive and wilderness walk in Matobo National Park with a licensed guide (~£40-50, book through your lodge or ZimParks) — Matobo holds one of the highest densities of black and white rhino in Africa, and you'll usually track them on foot with a ranger. See Cecil Rhodes' grave and San rock art at Nswatugi. Afternoon: shared transfer or bus to Hwange (~£20-25, 6 hrs). Evening sunset game drive at Hwange (~£30) if you arrive in time.
🚌Shared transfer Matobo-Hwange, ~£22
🛏Hwange safari camp outside the park (~£20-25)
- →Matobo rhino tracking on foot
- →San rock art at Nswatugi Cave
- →World's View / Rhodes' Grave
- →Hwange sunset drive
Hwange National Park full day
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Hwange is Zimbabwe's largest park and famous for huge elephant herds at the pumped pans. Cheapest route: self-drive a hired 4x4 into the park (entry ~£20/day plus car) or join morning and afternoon game drives with a camp operator (~£35-45 each). A full-day guided drive (~£60-70 including park fees) is the best value if you don't want to drive. Elephants, sable antelope, wild dog and lion are all possible.
🚌Operator game-drive vehicles, included in activity cost
🛏Hwange safari camp (~£20-25)
- →Morning game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Guided walk with an armed ranger
Hwange to Kasane, Botswana
Kasane, Botswana
Cross into Botswana. The easiest public route is a shared shuttle from Hwange to Victoria Falls (~£20) then a Kazungula border shuttle into Kasane (~£12), or a direct cross-border transfer through Pandamatenga. Pula or USD cash for the Botswana side. Settle into a Kasane camp (camping or dorm keeps it cheap) and take a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River — book direct with a Kasane operator for ~£25-30, much cheaper than via a package.
🚌Shared shuttle/transfer, ~£30
🛏Kasane campsite or backpackers (~£15-18)
- →Kazungula border crossing
- →Chobe River sunset cruise
Chobe National Park game drive
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Chobe has the largest elephant population on earth — a morning open 4x4 game drive (~£60-70 including park fees, book direct in Kasane or via GetYourGuide) gets you among the herds along the Chobe River. Add an afternoon boat safari (~£30) for hippo, crocodile and elephant at the water's edge. Combine both as a full-day combo with lunch for around £85-95.
🚌Operator pickup from camp
🛏Kasane campsite or backpackers (~£15-18)
- →Chobe morning 4x4 game drive
- →Chobe afternoon boat safari
- →Optional Chobe birding walk
Kasane to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Short hop across the border to Victoria Falls — shared taxi to Kazungula (~£5) then a shuttle or taxi to Vic Falls town (~£5-8). Check in at a backpackers or the Rest Camp. Spend the afternoon walking the Zimbabwe-side falls trail (entry ~£30-35 USD cash) — the rainforest walk gives the fullest views of the Main Falls and Devil's Cataract. Evening: sunset drinks at the Victoria Falls Hotel terrace, or a cheap sunset cruise on the Zambezi (~£30).
🚌Shared taxi + border shuttle, ~£13
🛏Victoria Falls backpackers or Rest Camp (~£18-22)
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk (Zimbabwe side)
- →Victoria Falls town and craft market
- →Optional sunset cruise or helicopter flip (~£120-150)
Victoria Falls — depart or extend
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Morning free: swim in the Devil's Pool on Livingstone Island if water levels allow (seasonal, ~£85-95), bungee off the Victoria Falls Bridge (~£90), or simply wander the falls trails again at sunrise for fewer crowds. Fly home from Victoria Falls International (VFA) — there are daily connections to Johannesburg and Nairobi — or take a bus/shuttle back to Joburg (~£40, 14 hrs, not recommended on the same day). Stay another night if you want the Chobe/Zambezi combo.
🚌Airport transfer ~£8
🛏Depart, or extra night ~£18-22
- →Devil's Pool (seasonal, book ahead)
- →Victoria Falls Bridge bungee or gorge swing
- →Craft market shopping
- →Optional flight out from VFA
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,315 | £3,820 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,505 per person (66%) | |
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.~£1,315
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 Joburg to Victoria Falls Overland – Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,315 per person for 12 days in South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana. 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 £3,820 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,315 — a saving of roughly £2,505 (66%) per person.
How long is the South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana.
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 & Botswana, 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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