Self-Launched South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana Explorer (Johannesburg to Cape Town)
15 days · South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana
Collette charges £5,900
No-markup version: ~£2,150 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 15-day adventure recreating Collette's fully-guided Johannesburg-to-Cape Town tour — Big Five game drives in Pilanesberg and Chobe, the thundering Victoria Falls, a Chobe River safari cruise, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine tasting, Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguins and Table Mountain — all booked independently using budget guesthouses, lodges and public/shared transport. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP and assume shared accommodation and self-arranged activities.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Fly into O.R. Tambo International and take a shared shuttle or Gautrain to your hostel in Maboneng or Rosebank. Settle in, buy a local SIM (Vodacom/MTN data bundle ~£3) and pick up a reloadable transport card. Rest up or wander the Maboneng precinct for street art and dinner.
🚌Gautrain airport train ~£10 / shared shuttle ~£8
🛏Budget hostel/boutique guesthouse, Maboneng or Rosebank (~£20)
- →Airport transfer via Gautrain/shuttle
- →Buy local SIM & data
- →Maboneng precinct evening wander
Johannesburg city day
Johannesburg
Explore Joburg independently: the excellent Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill are essential. In the afternoon head to the Neighbourhoods Market or the Origins Centre. Pre-book your onward airport transfer for tomorrow's Victoria Falls flight.
🚌Uber/local transport ~£8
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse, Johannesburg (~£20)
- →Apartheid Museum (~£6)
- →Constitution Hill (~£5)
- →Neighbourhoods Market
Fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls
Take a short flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls (book early on Fastjet/Airlink for £90-150). Cross into Zimbabwe (visa/KAZA uni-visa ~£40-50, check eligibility). In the afternoon walk the Victoria Falls rainforest trail — the spray and viewpoints are spectacular at sunset.
🚌Flight ~£110, airport transfer ~£10
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers, Victoria Falls town (~£22)
- →Flight JNB-VFA
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk (~£25)
- →Sunset at the falls
Victoria Falls — wildlife & community
Victoria Falls
Book a morning elephant sanctuary interaction (~£55) and a visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (~£20) through GetYourGuide or your hostel. In the late afternoon, join an optional Zambezi sunset cruise (~£45) — cheaper booked locally than the tour's $75 rate.
🚌Local taxi/shared transfers ~£12
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers, Victoria Falls town (~£22)
- →Elephant sanctuary visit
- →Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
- →Zambezi sunset cruise (optional)
Cross to Chobe, Botswana
Kasane / Chobe
Take a shared transfer across the border to Kasane, Botswana (or a Kazungula ferry + taxi), ~£15-25. In the afternoon join a Chobe River safari cruise (~£35) — pods of hippo and huge elephant herds come to drink. Optional village/homestead visit can be arranged locally.
🚌Shared border transfer ~£20
🛏Budget lodge/guesthouse, Kasane (~£25)
- →Border crossing to Kasane
- →Chobe River sunset safari cruise
Chobe National Park game drives
Chobe National Park
Full day of self-booked game drives in Chobe NP (~£45-60 per drive with a shared vehicle), famous for the world's largest elephant concentrations. In the afternoon swap to a second safari cruise or another drive. Book through your lodge or GetYourGuide the day before.
🚌Park safari vehicle (included in activity)
🛏Budget lodge/guesthouse, Kasane (~£25)
- →Morning game drive in Chobe NP
- →Afternoon game drive or safari cruise
Return to Johannesburg, transfer to Pilanesberg
Pilanesberg National Park
Fly or take an early shared transfer back toward Johannesburg, then pick up a bus/bazbus or shared shuttle north-west to Pilanesberg (~£35-50). Check into a budget lodge near the park gate and rest before safari days.
🚌Flight/shared transfer to JNB + shuttle to Pilanesberg ~£70
🛏Budget safari lodge near Pilanesberg (~£35)
- →Travel day
- →Arrive Pilanesberg area
- →Optional short nature walk
Pilanesberg Big Five game drives
Pilanesberg National Park
Book your own game drives (morning and afternoon, ~£50 each with a shared vehicle) in Pilanesberg — a malaria-free Big Five reserve set in a volcanic crater. Finish with a traditional boma-style sundowner dinner at your lodge.
🚌Park safari vehicle (included in activity)
🛏Budget safari lodge near Pilanesberg (~£35)
- →Early morning Big Five game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Sundowner dinner
Pilanesberg second safari day
Pilanesberg National Park
Another full day of self-booked morning and afternoon game drives. Bring binoculars, layers and patience — sightings of rhino, lion and elephant are strong here. Pre-arrange a bus/shuttle ticket for tomorrow's long journey to the Cape.
🚌Park safari vehicle (included in activity)
🛏Budget safari lodge near Pilanesberg (~£35)
- →Morning game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
Fly to Cape Town & transfer to Somerset West
Somerset West
Final short morning game drive, then shuttle to Johannesburg airport and a domestic flight to Cape Town (~£70-110 booked early). Take a shared shuttle or Metrorail/intercity option to Somerset West (~£15). Afternoon to relax or explore the Helderberg wine area.
🚌Shuttle + flight + local transfer ~£105
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, Somerset West (~£28)
- →Final morning game drive
- →Flight JNB-CPT
- →Arrive Somerset West
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek wine route
Stellenbosch / Franschhoek
Take the local train to Stellenbosch (~£3) or join a hop-on wine tram in Franschhoek (~£15-25). Book tastings directly at estates (~£5-10 each). Enjoy lunch in Franschhoek, then return to Somerset West. No group bus needed — the wine tram is the easy local equivalent.
🚌Train/hop-on tram ~£30
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, Somerset West (~£28)
- →Wine tasting in Stellenbosch Valley
- →Franschhoek Wine Tram
- →Lunch in Franschhoek village
Move to Cape Town, V&A & Table Mountain
Cape Town
Transfer into Cape Town (~£10) and check into a City Bowl/Green Point hostel. Explore the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, then ride the Table Mountain cable car (~£22 return) for sunset — buy timed tickets online to skip queues. Dinner in Bree Street or Bo-Kaap.
🚌Local transfer + cableway ~£30
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse, City Bowl (~£30)
- →V&A Waterfront
- →Table Mountain cable car
- →Bo-Kaap walk
Cape Peninsula — Cape Point & penguins
Cape Peninsula
Join a shared Cape Peninsula day tour (~£45) or hire a car with hostel-mates (~£35 each split). Walk the easy Lighthouse hike at Cape Point (entrance ~£18), stop at Boulders Beach to see the African penguins (~£8), and watch for baboons and whales along the coast.
🚌Shared peninsula tour or split car hire ~£45
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse, City Bowl (~£30)
- →Cape Point hike
- →Boulders Beach penguins
- →Chapman's Peak Drive
Free Cape Town day & community dinner
Cape Town
Leisure day: hike Lion's Head (free), take the ferry to Robben Island (~£20), or relax on Camps Bay beach. In the evening, book an independent 'home-hosted' Capetonian dinner experience through locals' Eatwith/GetYourGuide listings (~£35) for an authentic local meal.
🚌Local transport ~£8
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse, City Bowl (~£30)
- →Lion's Head hike or Robben Island
- →Optional home-hosted local dinner
Departure from Cape Town
Cape Town
Final morning for a last beach walk or breakfast at a local café, then transfer to Cape Town International for your flight home. Or extend your trip with a Garden Route road trip if time allows.
🚌Airport transfer ~£12
🛏—
- →Last Cape Town breakfast
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,150 | £5,900 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,750 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,150
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 Self-Launched South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana Explorer (Johannesburg to Cape Town) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,150 per person for 15 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 Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £5,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,150 — a saving of roughly £3,750 (64%) per person.
How long is the South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 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, culture 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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