South Africa & Zimbabwe Discovery: Kruger to Victoria Falls — Self-Launched
10 days · South Africa & Zimbabwe
G Adventures charges £2,000
No-markup version: ~£850 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 10-day Kruger-to-Victoria-Falls trip. You'll start in Johannesburg with a DIY braai, ride a budget shuttle/bus up to the Greater Kruger Area, do your own self-booked safari drives in Kruger National Park, visit Chimp Eden independently, then fly (or take the long overland route) to Victoria Falls for the falls, the Simunye show and optional adrenaline activities. Same icons, no group markup — all costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg — braai night
Johannesburg
Land at OR Tambo and take the Gautrain or an airport shuttle into the city (Joburg's backpacker hostels in Maboneng or Melville are a good base). Settle in, then head to a local butcher and a public braai spot, or just grab a braai platter at a nearby pub — the group-tour welcome dinner replaced by a cheap, sociable evening out.
🚌Gautrain + Gautrain bus ~£6 or hostel airport shuttle ~£8-10
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm or private room, Maboneng/Melville (~£15-20)
- →Gautrain/shuttle into the city
- →Self-catered braai or budget pub dinner in Maboneng
Johannesburg to Greater Kruger Area
Hazyview / Greater Kruger
Long travel day south-east to Mpumalanga. Book a backpacker shuttle or the Intercape/Greyhound-style coach from Johannesburg to Nelspruit (Mbombela), then a local minibus taxi or your lodge's transfer to Hazyview, the gateway town to Kruger's Phabeni and Numbi gates. Check into a budget lodge or hostel and stock up on self-catering food.
🚌Coach Johannesburg–Mbombela ~£15-20; minibus taxi/shuttle to Hazyview ~£4
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers in Hazyview (~£18-25)
- →Scenic drive through Mpumalanga escarpment
- →Evening at lodge, plan safari bookings
Kruger morning drive + braai
Kruger National Park
Book a sunrise game drive directly with SANParks (Kruger's own guided drives leave from the gates/camps) or a local operator in Hazyview — far cheaper than the tour's add-on. Return for a picnic lunch, rest, then do a late-afternoon self-drive or another short guided drive. End the day with your own braai at the lodge.
🚌Local transfers to Kruger gate ~£5-8; SANParks drive/entry fees
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers in Hazyview (~£18-25)
- →SANParks sunrise game drive
- →Afternoon self-drive or guided drive
- →DIY braai dinner
Full-day Kruger safari (Big Five)
Kruger National Park
Full day in the park. Cheapest option is a self-drive with a hired car (or a shared day tour from Hazyview). Aim for the central grasslands and waterholes for elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard. Bring your own lunch and plenty of water. SANParks conservation fees are payable at the gate (around £25-30 per day for international visitors).
🚌Shared rental car or day-tour seat ~£30-45 + park fees ~£27
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers in Hazyview (~£18-25)
- →Full-day self-drive or shared day tour in Kruger
- →Big Five spotting
4x4 open-vehicle safari
Kruger National Park Area
Book a smaller-group open 4x4 drive (many Hazyview operators offer half or full day open-vehicle safaris, which is what the tour includes as a 4x4 experience). The open sides give better viewing and a guide's local knowledge is worth the money. Relax in the evening and cook at the lodge.
🚌Open-vehicle safari with local operator ~£35-50
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers in Hazyview (~£18-25)
- →Open 4x4 safari drive
- →Self-catered dinner
Panorama Route day trip
Blyde River Canyon / Panorama Route
Free day — most travellers choose the Panorama Route. Join a shared day tour from Hazyview (cheaper than a private car) to Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window and Lisbon Falls. Big views, easy walking, great photos.
🚌Shared Panorama Route day tour ~£30-45
🛏Budget lodge/backpackers in Hazyview (~£18-25)
- →Shared Panorama Route day tour
- →Blyde River Canyon viewpoints
- →Bourke's Luck Potholes
Chimp Eden + back to Johannesburg
Chimp Eden / Johannesburg
Morning visit to Chimp Eden (Jane Goodall Institute sanctuary in the Umhloti Nature Reserve, near Nelspruit) — book entry and a guided tour directly online, roughly £12-15. Then take the afternoon coach or shuttle back to Johannesburg and stay somewhere convenient for your flight the next day.
🚌Transfer to Chimp Eden ~£6 + coach Mbombela–Johannesburg ~£18-22
🛏Backpacker hostel/hotel near OR Tambo or Maboneng (~£18-25)
- →Chimp Eden sanctuary tour
- →Coach back to Johannesburg
Fly Johannesburg to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Cheap flights go Johannesburg to Victoria Falls (VFA) with Fastjet or similar — book well ahead for fares around £100-140. Land, take a shared taxi or your lodge's transfer into town, get settled, then eat at a local spot or one of the women-run eateries in the Chinotimba area (a nod to the tour's Lusumpuko Women's Club dinner — you can book community dinners directly with several local women's groups).
🚌JNB–VFA flight ~£100-140; airport transfer ~£6
🛏Backpackers/guesthouse in Victoria Falls town (~£18-28)
- →Flight to Victoria Falls
- →Local dinner in town
Victoria Falls + Simunye show
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Walk to the falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) and spend the morning on the rainforest paths and the knife-edge bridge — entry around £25-30 for non-residents. In the afternoon pick an optional: rafting, zipline (£50), or a short helicopter flight (£150-200), all bookable directly or via GetYourGuide. In the evening catch the Simunye theatrical show at the Victoria Falls Theatre (around £30-40).
🚌Walking + local taxi ~£5
🛏Backpackers/guesthouse in Victoria Falls town (~£18-28)
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk
- →Optional whitewater rafting or zipline
- →Simunye Theatrical Show
Depart Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Free morning — maybe a sunrise walk along the Zambezi or a quick craft market browse — then transfer to the airport for your onward flight. If you're heading on overland instead, buses run to Bulawayo and Harare, and to Kasane (Botswana) for Chobe day trips.
🚌Airport transfer ~£6
🛏None (departure day)
- →Morning at leisure
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£850 | £2,000 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,150 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£850
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 South Africa & Zimbabwe Discovery: Kruger to Victoria Falls — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £850 per person for 10 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 £2,000 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £850 — a saving of roughly £1,150 (57%) per person.
How long is the South Africa & Zimbabwe trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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, culture 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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