Self-Launched Kruger & Victoria Falls: Johannesburg to the Smoke That Thunders
9 days · South Africa & Zimbabwe
G Adventures charges £2,540
No-markup version: ~£963 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 9-day version of G Adventures' "Explore Kruger & Victoria Falls" — same route, same wildlife, a fraction of the price. Start in Johannesburg, drive the Panorama Route to the Greater Kruger area, join a full-day open-vehicle safari in Kruger National Park, then spend three nights on a Greater Kruger private reserve doing dawn and dusk game drives, with a carnivore conservation talk thrown in. Fly (or take the bus) to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe for a village dinner, a self-guided walk along the Falls, and the option of a Chobe day trip in Botswana. Everything is booked direct: park-entrance fees, SANParks-guided safaris, budget shuttle/backpacker bus, a low-cost flight, and hostel/guesthouse lodging. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and assume you book a few days ahead in shoulder season.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg — Maboneng or Melville
Johannesburg, South Africa
Land at O.R. Tambo (JNB) and take the Gautrain to Park Station (~£10, 25 min) or a shared shuttle to your hostel in Maboneng or Melville (~£12). Skip the operator's private arrival transfer. Spend the afternoon at the Apartheid Museum (~£5) or the Neighbourhoods Market in Braamfontein if it's a Saturday. Buy a local SIM (Vodacom, ~£3) and stock up on ZAR — cash is king on the road ahead. Grab a bunny chow or braai plate for dinner (~£7).
🚌Gautrain from airport ~£10
🛏Maboneng/Melville backpacker hostel dorm, ~£14
- →Apartheid Museum (£5)
- →Maboneng street art wander
Panorama Route drive to Hazyview
Johannesburg → Hazyview / Greater Kruger
Take an early Baz Bus or a scheduled shuttle from Johannesburg towards Nelspruit/Hazyview (~£22–28, 5–6 hrs). If you're road-tripping with others, hire a car (~£30/day split) and self-drive the Panorama Route: Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes (~£2), God's Window (~£1). Independent day tours from Hazyview cover the same stops for ~£40. Base yourself in a Hazyview hostel or guesthouse — the gateway to Kruger's Phabeni and Numbi gates.
🚌Baz Bus / shuttle ~£25
🛏Hazyview backpacker lodge dorm, ~£16
- →Blyde River Canyon viewpoint
- →Bourke's Luck Potholes
- →God's Window
Full-day Kruger National Park safari
Kruger National Park
Book a full-day open-vehicle safari direct with a Hazyview operator (~£60–75 including park entry, or ~£38 for a SANParks guided morning drive plus ~£24 conservation fee). Leave at dawn, spend the day tracking elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra and rhino across the savanna, with a picnic lunch at a rest camp. Independent travellers can also self-drive Kruger in a hired car — the park is easy to navigate and entry is ~£24/day — but a ranger-driven game viewer is worth it for the spotting. Back to Hazyview for a braai and an early night.
🚌Included in safari vehicle
🛏Hazyview backpacker lodge dorm, ~£16
- →Full-day open-vehicle Kruger safari (~£65)
- →Kruger conservation fee (~£24)
Into a Greater Kruger private reserve
Karongwe / Greater Kruger private reserve
Transfer to a private reserve in the Greater Kruger area — many lodges run shared transfers for ~£20, or arrange a private shuttle ~£40. Stay in a budget safari tent or chalet inside the reserve so you're already in the bush for dawn. Afternoon game drive with a ranger/tracker (~£35 as a lodge add-on). Many reserves host researchers working on cheetah and carnivore conservation — ask your lodge whether a researcher talk or a research-vehicle drive is running; independent travellers can join scheduled conservation drives (~£50) or visit the Endangered Wildlife Trust's public outreach events in Hoedspruit.
🚌Shared transfer ~£20
🛏Budget safari tent/chalet on reserve, ~£28
- →Afternoon game drive (~£35)
- →Carnivore conservation drive/talk (~£50)
Dawn and dusk game drives in the bushveld
Karongwe / Greater Kruger private reserve
Classic safari rhythm: up at 5am for a sunrise drive, back for brunch, siesta by the pool or a self-guided walking trail within camp, then out again at 4pm for sundowners in the bush. Lodge game drives typically run ~£35 each, or book a two-drive day package (~£60). This is the day to hunt for the Big Five — the private reserves off the Kruger boundary are excellent for leopard. Traditional South African boma braai dinner at camp (~£12).
🚌Lodge game-viewer vehicles
🛏Budget safari tent/chalet on reserve, ~£28
- →Sunrise game drive (~£35)
- →Sundowner game drive (~£35)
- →Boma braai dinner (~£12)
Last drive, then back towards Johannesburg
Greater Kruger → Johannesburg
One more morning game drive (~£35), then pack up and head back to Johannesburg (~£30 shared shuttle, 5–6 hrs) or stay a night in Hoedspruit if you're flying out from there. Evening in Johannesburg — dinner in Melville (~£9) and a prep for the Zimbabwe leg. Book your Joburg–Victoria Falls flight tonight if you haven't already (see Day 7).
🚌Shared shuttle ~£30
🛏Johannesburg hostel dorm, ~£14
- →Morning game drive (~£35)
Fly to Victoria Falls — village dinner in Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly Johannesburg (JNB) to Victoria Falls (VFA) on Fastjet or Airlink — budget fares run ~£70–110 one-way if booked a few weeks out. Budget alternative: the Intercape/bus route via Bulawayo is ~£25 but takes 20+ hours; not worth it on a 9-day trip. Zimbabwe visa on arrival ~£45–55 for most nationalities (check yours). Settle into a Victoria Falls guesthouse (~£18 dorm/£35 private), then book a community village dinner direct with a local operator (~£25–35) — several Victoria Falls operators run homestay-style dinners with families in nearby villages, including market shopping and cooking a traditional meal.
🚌Flight JNB–VFA ~£90
🛏Victoria Falls guesthouse dorm, ~£18
- →Community village dinner & cooking (~£30)
Victoria Falls — the Smoke That Thunders
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Walk the Victoria Falls Rainforest trail yourself — entry is ~£24 — and follow the marked paths to the Knife Edge, Livingstone Island viewpoint and the spray-soaked bridges. Self-guided is easy: it's a 2km loop with signage. Optional extras bookable on GetYourGuide or direct: Zambezi sunset cruise (~£40), helicopter flip (~£130), white-water rafting (~£90), or a full-day Chobe National Park trip in Botswana (~£110–150 incl. transfer and park fees). Dinner at the Victoria Falls Hotel terrace or a local restaurant in town (~£10).
🚌Walk / local taxi ~£5
🛏Victoria Falls guesthouse dorm, ~£18
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk (~£24)
- →Zambezi sunset cruise (~£40, optional)
- →Chobe day trip (~£130, optional)
Depart — or drift down to Kasane
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Walk out the front gate of the Falls, grab a final breakfast and head to VFA airport for your flight home, or take a shared taxi across the border to Kasane, Botswana (~£15) if you're continuing on. Independent travellers heading back to Johannesburg can fly ~£70–110 or bus via Bulawayo ~£25. Book onward travel no earlier than 11am to leave room for one last look at the Falls.
🚌Airport transfer ~£8 / onward flight ~£90
🛏—
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£963 | £2,540 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,577 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£963
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Kruger & Victoria Falls: Johannesburg to the Smoke That Thunders cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £963 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 £2,540 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £963 — a saving of roughly £1,577 (62%) 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, backpacker 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.