Self-Launched South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana Safari

Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Take the MyCiTi Airport Bus to the city centre for around £2, or a metered taxi for ~£20. Check into a well-rated hostel or guesthouse in the City Bowl or De Waterkant area. Spend the evening exploring the V&A Waterfront on foot — grab dinner at one of the many affordable restaurants around the harbour. Rest up ahead of a packed day tomorrow.

🚌MyCiTi Airport Bus (£2) or metered taxi (~£20) from CPT to city centre

🛏Ashanti Lodge Gardens or similar city-centre hostel/guesthouse (~£18–25/night)

• →Arrive at Cape Town International Airport
• →Take MyCiTi Airport Bus or metered taxi to city centre (~£2–20)
• →Check in to hostel or guesthouse in the City Bowl
• →Evening stroll around V&A Waterfront

Start your Cape Town exploration with a walk through the Company's Garden and past St. George's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament — all free to observe from outside. Visit the Castle of Good Hope (entry ~£4). Head to the colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood and join a self-guided walk through its cobbled streets; grab a traditional Cape Malay lunch at a local eatery for ~£6. In the afternoon, take the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (book online via the official site, ~£20 return) for panoramic views over the city. Have dinner at a popular local spot in the city centre.

🚌Walk or Uber between city sights (~£3–5)

🛏Ashanti Lodge Gardens or similar city-centre hostel/guesthouse (~£18–25/night)

• →Visit Castle of Good Hope (entry ~£4)
• →See St. George's Cathedral and Houses of Parliament (free, exterior)
• →Walk through The Company's Garden (free)
• →Explore Bo-Kaap neighbourhood independently
• →Traditional Cape Malay lunch at a local Bo-Kaap restaurant (~£6)
• →Cable-car ride to Table Mountain (book online, ~£20 return)
• →Dinner at a local restaurant in the City Bowl

Book a shared minibus day tour of the Cape Peninsula via GetYourGuide or Viator (~£35–50 per person) — these cover Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point Nature Reserve (funicular ride included in most tours or ~£5 extra), and Boulders Beach penguin colony (entry ~£5). Alternatively, hire a car for the day (~£30) and drive the route yourself for maximum flexibility. Enjoy lunch at a local seafront restaurant at Hout Bay or Simon's Town (~£8). Return to Cape Town by late afternoon.

🚌Shared minibus Cape Peninsula day tour via GetYourGuide (~£35–50) or self-drive hire (~£30)

🛏Ashanti Lodge Gardens or similar city-centre hostel/guesthouse (~£18–25/night)

• →Scenic drive along Chapman's Peak Drive
• →Visit Cape of Good Hope
• →Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve
• →Funicular ride to the old lighthouse (~£5 if not included)
• →Visit Boulders Beach African penguin colony (entry ~£5)
• →Lunch at a seafront restaurant in Hout Bay or Simon's Town (~£8)

Use today to explore at your own pace. The V&A Waterfront is free to wander and great for shopping, cafés, and the Two Oceans Aquarium. For a Cape Winelands excursion, book a shared day tour to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek via GetYourGuide (~£30–45, including wine tastings). Between June and December, book a whale-watching boat trip from Hermanus (~£25 via GetYourGuide) or self-drive the Garden Route coast. A great budget option is to take the Metrorail to Muizenberg (~£1.50) for a surf session.

🚌Uber/Metrorail within Cape Town (~£2–5)

🛏Ashanti Lodge Gardens or similar city-centre hostel/guesthouse (~£18–25/night)

• →Explore Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (free)
• →Optional: Cape Winelands day trip via GetYourGuide (~£30–45 with tastings)
• →Optional: Whale watching from Hermanus (June–December, ~£25)
• →Optional: Metrorail to Muizenberg for beach and surf (~£1.50 each way)

Fly from Cape Town (CPT) to Hoedspruit (HDS) or Nelspruit/Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) — book with FlySafair or Airlink, typically £60–100 one way. Pre-arrange a transfer to your budget safari camp near the Kruger (e.g. Tremisana Lodge, Africa on Foot Camp, or similar ~£25–35/night self-catering or B&B options with scheduled game drives). Join the camp's shared afternoon game drive (~£25–35 per person) to spot lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and Cape buffalo. End the evening with sundowner drinks in the bush — many budget camps include this.

🚌Domestic flight CPT–HDS/MQP (~£60–100); camp transfer (~£15–25)

🛏Tremisana Lodge, Hog Hollow, or similar budget/mid-range safari camp (~£30–45/night)

• →Fly Cape Town to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit (FlySafair/Airlink, ~£60–100)
• →Transfer to budget safari camp near Kruger (~£15–25)
• →Afternoon game drive with tracker and ranger to spot the Big 5 (~£25–35)
• →Sundowner drinks in the bush (often included with camp)

Rise before dawn for a morning game drive with your camp's guide — the best time to spot predators and active wildlife (~£25–35). Return for a brunch at camp. Rest during the midday heat on the viewing deck. Head out again for an afternoon game drive as temperatures drop (~£25–35). Watch the sunset with sundowner drinks. Enjoy dinner at the camp's communal area — a great opportunity to swap stories with fellow travellers.

🚌Included in camp game drive packages

🛏Tremisana Lodge or similar budget/mid-range safari camp (~£30–45/night)

• →Morning game drive with camp guide (~£25–35)
• →Brunch at camp
• →Afternoon game drive with camp guide (~£25–35)
• →Sundowner drinks at a bush viewpoint
• →Dinner at camp

Another full day of game drives — morning and afternoon sessions included with most budget safari camps (~£25–35 each). Spend the midday break relaxing at the camp's pool or viewing deck, looking out for wildlife passing through. In the evening, many camps in the Kruger area host astronomy talks or informal stargazing sessions — ask your camp hosts or book a dedicated stargazing experience via GetYourGuide (~£15–20). The Lowveld night skies are extraordinary.

🚌Included in camp game drive packages

🛏Tremisana Lodge or similar budget/mid-range safari camp (~£30–45/night)

• →Morning game drive with camp guide (~£25–35)
• →Relaxation at camp pool or viewing deck
• →Afternoon game drive with camp guide (~£25–35)
• →Informal or booked stargazing/astronomy session (~£15–20)

Enjoy one final morning game drive at sunrise — a last chance to spot big cats or a herd of elephants at the waterhole (~£25–35). After breakfast, arrange a shared shuttle from the Kruger area to Johannesburg (~£20–30, book via Baz Bus or local operators) or take a domestic flight from Hoedspruit or Nelspruit to OR Tambo International (~£50–80). Check into a well-located hostel in the Rosebank or Maboneng district.

🚌Shared shuttle Kruger–Johannesburg (~£20–30) or domestic flight (~£50–80)

🛏Curiocity Backpackers Maboneng or Rosebank hostel/guesthouse (~£18–28/night)

• →Final morning game drive at sunrise (~£25–35)
• →Breakfast at camp
• →Shared shuttle or domestic flight to Johannesburg (~£20–80 depending on option)

Join a shared Soweto community tour via GetYourGuide (~£20–30 per person) — these tours include a local community guide, visits to Vilakazi Street, Mandela House Museum (entry ~£5), and the Hector Pieterson Memorial & Museum (entry ~£3). Return to the city for lunch at a local Joburg restaurant (~£6–8). In the afternoon, visit Constitution Hill independently (entry ~£5) — a former prison complex turned home of South Africa's Constitutional Court, with a powerful and moving museum. Debrief over dinner in the Maboneng Precinct.

🚌Shared Soweto tour transport included; Uber between sights (~£3–6)

🛏Curiocity Backpackers Maboneng or Rosebank hostel/guesthouse (~£18–28/night)

• →Shared Soweto community tour via GetYourGuide (~£20–30)
• →Visit Mandela House Museum, Vilakazi Street (entry ~£5)
• →See Hector Pieterson Memorial & Museum (entry ~£3)
• →Lunch at a local Johannesburg restaurant (~£6–8)
• →Visit Constitution Hill museum independently (entry ~£5)
• →Dinner in the Maboneng Precinct

Take a morning flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe — book with Airlink or Ethiopian Airlines, typically ~£80–120. On arrival, arrange a shared transfer or taxi to your guesthouse in the Victoria Falls town (~£5–10). In the evening, book a Zambezi sunset cruise directly with a local operator or via GetYourGuide (~£25–35 per person) — most include complimentary drinks and snacks while you watch hippos and elephants along the banks as the sun sets.

🚌Domestic/regional flight JNB–VFA (~£80–120); taxi from airport (~£5–10)

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£15–25/night)

• →Fly Johannesburg (JNB) to Victoria Falls (VFA) (~£80–120, Airlink)
• →Shared transfer or taxi to guesthouse in Vic Falls town (~£5–10)
• →Zambezi River sunset cruise with drinks and snacks (~£25–35)

Walk to Victoria Falls independently — entry to the Zimbabwe side is ~£30 per person and includes a self-guided trail through the rainforest with stunning viewpoints. Many operators offer a guided tour of the falls with historical and ecological context via GetYourGuide (~£15–25 additional, or included in some packages). Optional helicopter 'Flight of Angels' can be booked locally (~£100–130 for 15 minutes). Visit a local village in the afternoon with a community-run tour (~£10–15). Farewell dinner at The Boma or a riverside restaurant with local African-fusion cuisine (~£15–20).

🚌Walk to the falls from town (~10 min); Uber or taxi for village visit (~£3–5)

🛏Shoestrings Backpackers or Victoria Falls Backpackers (~£15–25/night)

• →Self-entry to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe side (~£30)
• →Guided walk through the falls with history and nature commentary (~£15–25 via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Helicopter 'Flight of Angels' over the falls (~£100–130)
• →Optional: Visit to a nearby local village (~£10–15)
• →Farewell dinner at The Boma restaurant or similar riverside venue (~£15–20)

Take a shared transfer from Victoria Falls to Kasane, Botswana, the gateway to Chobe National Park (~£15–20, ~1.5 hours, crossing the Kazungula border). Check into a budget guesthouse or camp in Kasane. In the afternoon, join a shared boat cruise on the Chobe River — one of Africa's greatest game-viewing experiences, with enormous herds of elephants, hippos, and crocodiles along the banks (~£25–35 per person, book via GetYourGuide or directly in Kasane). Meals at the guesthouse or a local restaurant.

🚌Shared transfer Vic Falls–Kasane (~£15–20)

🛏Old House Guesthouse Kasane or similar budget option (~£20–30/night)

• →Shared transfer from Victoria Falls to Kasane, Botswana (~£15–20)
• →Cross Kazungula border into Botswana
• →Check in to budget guesthouse in Kasane
• →Afternoon Chobe River boat cruise for game viewing (~£25–35)

Book a full-day shared game drive in Chobe National Park through your guesthouse or a local operator in Kasane (~£40–60 per person, including park entry). Chobe is famous for the world's highest concentration of elephants and offers excellent lion and leopard sightings. Lunch is typically a packed meal or stop at a safari lodge. Return in the late afternoon in time to watch game at a waterhole from your lodge veranda. Dinner at the guesthouse or a local Kasane restaurant.

🚌Shared game drive vehicle included in tour price

🛏Old House Guesthouse Kasane or similar budget option (~£20–30/night)

• →Full day shared game drive in Chobe National Park (~£40–60 including park entry)
• →Wildlife spotting: elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and more
• →Optional: relax at lodge veranda overlooking the valley
• →Optional: watch game at nearby waterhole
• →Dinner at guesthouse or local restaurant

Arrange a shared road transfer or light aircraft flight from Kasane/Maun to the Okavango Delta (~£40–80 by road to Maun, or ~£80–120 by charter plane to a delta camp). Budget camps in the Okavango, such as Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp near Maun, offer excellent value with included mokoro and game drive activities. In the afternoon, choose from a guided morning game drive, afternoon game drive, mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion through the papyrus channels, or guided bush walk (~£20–35 per activity). Dinner included at camp.

🚌Shared road transfer Kasane–Maun (~£40–80) or light aircraft (~£80–120)

🛏Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp near Maun/Okavango (~£25–40/night)

• →Shared transfer or light aircraft to Okavango Delta / Maun (~£40–120)
• →Check in to budget delta camp or Maun-based camp
• →Choice of afternoon activity: game drive, mokoro excursion, or bush walk (~£20–35)

Spend a full day immersed in the extraordinary Okavango ecosystem. Morning mokoro trip through the lily-covered channels with a poler guide — silent, serene, and spectacular for birdwatching and spotting hippos and crocs at close range (~£20–30). Return to camp for lunch. Join an afternoon game drive or guided bush walk to look for large mammals on the islands (~£20–30). Watch the sunset from camp over the flooded plains. Three-course dinner at camp.

🚌All transport included in camp activity packages

🛏Audi Camp or Crocodile Camp near Maun/Okavango (~£25–40/night)

• →Morning mokoro (dugout canoe) trip through the Okavango channels (~£20–30)
• →Lunch at camp
• →Afternoon game drive or guided bush walk (~£20–30)
• →Sunset views over the delta from camp
• →Dinner at camp

After breakfast at camp, transfer to Maun Airport (MUB). Fly from Maun to Johannesburg OR Tambo (~£80–120 with Air Botswana or Airlink), allowing connections to your international departure. If time permits before your flight, explore OR Tambo's international terminal or transit into Rosebank for a final South African meal. Congratulate yourself on completing one of Africa's great self-launched adventures at a fraction of the group tour price.

🚌Camp transfer to Maun Airport (~£10–15); flight MUB–JNB (~£80–120)

🛏N/A (transit day) or Johannesburg airport hotel if needed (~£30–50/night)

• →Breakfast at camp
• →Transfer to Maun Airport (MUB)
• →Fly Maun to Johannesburg OR Tambo (~£80–120)
• →International connection home or final night in Johannesburg