Self-Launched Southern Africa: Kruger, Chobe & Victoria Falls
10 days · Southern Africa
G Adventures charges £10,630
No-markup version: ~£1,355 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Skip the £10,500+ luxury tour price tag and explore Southern Africa's most iconic highlights independently. This self-launched 10-day route takes you from Johannesburg through Kruger National Park, on to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and into Botswana's Chobe River for wildlife photography — all on a fraction of the budget. You'll swap the private train lodge for well-rated guesthouses and budget lodges, join shared safari drives instead of private vehicles, and book activities directly or via GetYourGuide. The wildlife, the wonder, and the magic of the Zambezi sunset remain exactly the same.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Fly into OR Tambo International Airport and make your own way to your guesthouse in the Maboneng or Rosebank neighbourhood — both well-connected and safe for solo travellers. The Gautrain runs directly from the airport to Rosebank station for around £3. Spend the evening exploring the local restaurant scene and preparing for the journey ahead. Consider downloading the Maps.me offline map for South Africa before you land.
🚌Gautrain from airport to Rosebank: ~£3. Uber widely available in Johannesburg.
🛏Johannesburg backpacker lodge or guesthouse (e.g. The Bannister Hotel, Maboneng) — approx £20-30/night
- →Arrive at OR Tambo International, take the Gautrain to Rosebank (~£3)
- →Check in to budget guesthouse or backpacker lodge in Rosebank or Maboneng
- →Explore Neighbourgoods Market area or Maboneng Precinct for dinner
- →Pick up a local SIM card at the airport (Vodacom or MTN, ~£5)
Nelson Mandela Foundation & Travel to Kruger
Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, South Africa
Start your morning with a self-guided visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg. The foundation offers public tours of Mandela's post-presidential office — book directly via their website for around £10. Afterwards, take a shared shuttle or budget flight from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit (the gateway town to Greater Kruger). FlySafair operates budget flights on this route from around £45-70 one way. Check in to a budget lodge near the Kruger park gates.
🚌Budget flight Johannesburg to Hoedspruit: ~£50-70 (FlySafair/Airlink). Or shared shuttle ~£20.
🛏Budget lodge near Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa gate (e.g. Kruger Park Backpackers) — approx £20-35/night
- →Morning visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation — book direct at nelsonmandela.org (~£10)
- →Take a budget flight (FlySafair or Airlink) from OR Tambo to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (~£50-70)
- →Alternatively, take a shared intercity shuttle Johannesburg–Hoedspruit (~5-6 hrs, ~£20)
- →Check in to budget lodge near Phalaborwa or Hoedspruit gate
- →Evening meal at local braai restaurant in Hoedspruit
Afternoon Safari Drive — Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Head into Kruger National Park for an afternoon shared safari drive. You can self-drive inside Kruger (car hire from Hoedspruit from ~£35/day including park entry) or join a shared group game drive departing from the camp gates, bookable directly with SANParks or via GetYourGuide from around £35-50 per person. The southern section near Lower Sabie and Skukuza camps is famous for Big Five sightings. Late afternoons are prime for lion and leopard activity. Park entry costs ~£15/day for international visitors.
🚌Self-drive hire car from Hoedspruit: ~£35/day. Or join shared transfer to camp gate.
🛏SANParks rest camp — Satara or Orpen (budget chalet ~£40-60/night, camping ~£15/night)
- →Enter Kruger National Park at Phalaborwa or Orpen Gate (park fee ~£15)
- →Join a shared afternoon game drive from camp gate (~£35-50 via GetYourGuide or SANParks direct)
- →Alternatively self-drive in a hired vehicle and follow the tarred roads through the park
- →Sundowner drinks at camp bar watching the bush at dusk
- →Overnight at SANParks rest camp (budget chalet or camping)
Morning Safari Drive — Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Rise before dawn for the best game viewing of the trip. Early mornings in Kruger are when predators are most active and the light is golden for photography. Book a sunrise guided bush walk with a SANParks-registered guide from the camp gate (~£30) or join a shared morning game drive. Spend the afternoon driving yourself through the park toward the southern end near Skukuza. Depart the park in the late afternoon and catch a shuttle or self-drive toward your overnight stop near Nelspruit if flying to Zimbabwe the next day.
🚌Self-drive within park. Transfer to Nelspruit by shared shuttle or self-drive (~1.5 hrs).
🛏Budget guesthouse in Nelspruit or Komatipoort (e.g. Funky Monkey Backpackers) — approx £18-25/night
- →Pre-dawn start: join a shared sunrise game drive or guided bush walk (~£30, book at camp reception)
- →Self-drive morning loop through Kruger's southern section (Satara to Lower Sabie corridor)
- →Pack your own picnic lunch and stop at a designated picnic site inside the park
- →Exit park via Numbi or Malelane Gate in the afternoon
- →Head toward Nelspruit/Komatipoort for overnight stop before Zimbabwe leg
Travel Day: Nelspruit to Victoria Falls
Nelspruit, South Africa to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Today is a travel day. Take a budget flight from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP, near Nelspruit) to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe — Airlink operates this route directly for around £80-120. Alternatively, take a shared shuttle to Johannesburg (~3 hrs) and fly from OR Tambo. Arriving in Victoria Falls town, walk or take a taxi to your hostel (the town is very compact). Grab a Zimbabwe or KAZA UNIVISA on arrival (~£40) which covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia. Spend the evening exploring the lively Victoria Falls town.
🚌Budget flight Kruger Mpumalanga to Victoria Falls: ~£90-120 (Airlink). Airport to town taxi: ~£5.
🛏Budget hostel in Victoria Falls town (e.g. Victoria Falls Backpackers or Shoestrings) — approx £15-25/night
- →Morning: take budget flight from Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP) to Victoria Falls (VFA) with Airlink (~£90-120)
- →Obtain KAZA UNIVISA on arrival at Victoria Falls Airport (~£40 — covers Zimbabwe & Zambia)
- →Check in to budget hostel or guesthouse in Victoria Falls town
- →Evening: stroll Victoria Falls town, visit local craft market, dinner at Mama Africa or Shoestrings restaurant
Victoria Falls — The Smoke That Thunders
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Spend a full day at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Entry to the Victoria Falls National Park is around £30 for international visitors — this gets you full access to all the main viewpoints on the Zimbabwe side, which are widely considered the best. Walk the rainforest path through the mist, getting completely soaked (pack waterproofs or hire a poncho at the gate). In the afternoon, book a Zambezi sunset cruise — easily booked directly at the waterfront or via GetYourGuide for around £25-35. Watch hippos and elephants along the banks as the sun sets over the Zambezi River.
🚌Victoria Falls town is walkable. All activities accessible on foot or short taxi ride.
🛏Victoria Falls Backpackers or similar — approx £15-25/night
- →Morning: enter Victoria Falls National Park (entry ~£30, book on arrival or via Zimbabwe Parks Authority)
- →Walk all 16 viewpoints through the rainforest path — pack waterproof gear or hire a poncho (~£2)
- →Photography at Devil's Cataract, Main Falls, and Danger Point viewpoints
- →Afternoon: book a Zambezi sunset cruise (~£25-35 via GetYourGuide or direct at the waterfront jetty)
- →Optional: white-water rafting on the Zambezi for adrenaline seekers (~£90-110, bookable in town)
Cross into Botswana — Travel to Kasane
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to Kasane, Botswana
Cross from Zimbabwe into Botswana at the Kazungula border crossing — it's an easy and straightforward border for independent travellers. Take a shared taxi from Victoria Falls town to Kazungula (~1.5 hrs, ~£8-12) and walk across. From the Botswana side, take another shared taxi or minibus to Kasane (~10 minutes, ~£2). Kasane is the gateway to Chobe National Park and sits right on the Chobe River. Check in to your budget lodge and spend the afternoon exploring the riverfront — elephants regularly wander right into town.
🚌Shared taxi Victoria Falls to Kazungula: ~£10. Minibus to Kasane: ~£2.
🛏Budget guesthouse or camping lodge in Kasane (e.g. Thebe River Safaris Campsite or Old House) — approx £20-35/night
- →Morning: take a shared taxi from Victoria Falls to Kazungula border (~£8-12, ~1.5 hrs)
- →Walk across the Kazungula border into Botswana (KAZA UNIVISA covers this crossing)
- →Take a minibus from border to Kasane town (~£2, ~10 minutes)
- →Check in to budget guesthouse in Kasane
- →Afternoon: walk along the Kasane waterfront — elephants frequently visible from the road
- →Book your Chobe river photo safari cruise for the following morning (£30-50 direct with local operators)
Chobe River Photo Safari Cruise
Kasane & Chobe National Park, Botswana
The Chobe River is home to the highest concentration of elephants in Africa — and a morning or late afternoon boat safari here is genuinely world-class wildlife viewing. Book a 2-3 hour shared boat safari directly with local operators in Kasane (Pangolin Photo Safaris offers photography-focused river cruises, or check Chobe Safari Lodge for shared departures). Costs range from £30-60 per person for a shared boat. In the afternoon, you can book an optional shared game drive into Chobe National Park (~£40-60 including park fees). Park entry is around £20/day for the national park.
🚌All activities based in Kasane — boat departs from town waterfront. Kasane is walkable.
🛏Same lodge in Kasane — approx £20-35/night
- →Early morning or late afternoon: shared Chobe River boat safari (~£30-60, book direct with Kasane waterfront operators or via GetYourGuide)
- →Photography focus: elephants swimming the Chobe, hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species
- →Optional: afternoon shared 4x4 game drive into Chobe National Park (~£40-60 including park entry)
- →Sunset drinks on the Chobe River waterfront
- →Dinner at a local restaurant in Kasane — try the BBQ packs at the local supermarket for a budget braai
Return to Johannesburg
Kasane, Botswana to Johannesburg, South Africa
Fly from Kasane Airport (BBK) back to Johannesburg OR Tambo. Airlink operates this route (often via Maun) for approximately £100-150. Alternatively, fly Kasane to Victoria Falls and connect to Johannesburg. Arrive in Johannesburg in the afternoon. If your flight home is the following day, check back in to your original guesthouse near the airport or in Rosebank. Spend the evening at Melrose Arch or Sandton City for a final South African dinner and souvenir shopping.
🚌Budget flight Kasane to Johannesburg: ~£100-150 (Airlink, may connect via Maun). Gautrain from airport: ~£3.
🛏Budget guesthouse near OR Tambo or Rosebank (e.g. The Bannister Hotel) — approx £20-30/night
- →Morning: fly from Kasane (BBK) to Johannesburg OR Tambo (~£100-150 with Airlink, often via Maun)
- →Afternoon: check back in to Johannesburg guesthouse near OR Tambo or in Rosebank
- →Final evening: dinner at Sandton City or Melrose Arch — try a proper South African braai restaurant
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Neighbourgoods Market or Rosebank Craft Market
Depart Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Final morning in Johannesburg. Depending on your flight time, you might have time for a quick visit to the Apartheid Museum (one of the most important and powerful museums in Africa, entry ~£8) if your schedule allows. Head to OR Tambo International by Gautrain or Uber. Your international departure flight should be after 19:00 as recommended. Safe travels!
🚌Gautrain to OR Tambo: ~£3. Uber: ~£8-12.
🛏Check out — hotel/guesthouse near airport if needed for early morning flight
- →Optional morning visit to the Apartheid Museum (~£8, book online in advance)
- →Take the Gautrain or Uber to OR Tambo International Airport (~£3-10)
- →Allow 3 hours before departure for international check-in
- →Depart Johannesburg — fly home or continue your African adventure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,355 | £10,630 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £9,275 per person (87%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,355
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 Southern Africa: Kruger, Chobe & Victoria Falls cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,355 per person for 10 days in Southern Africa. 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 £10,630 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,355 — a saving of roughly £9,275 (87%) per person.
How long is the Southern Africa trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Southern Africa.
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 wildlife, adventure, culture trip through Southern Africa, 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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