Johannesburg to Nairobi Overland: Waterfalls & Beaches (Self-Launched)

Land at OR Tambo and take the Gautrain (approx £10, ~30 min) or a shuttle to a hostel in Maboneng or Braamfontein. No group welcome meeting this time — instead, spend the evening doing a free orientation walk around Maboneng's galleries and food trucks. Optional Soweto tour or the Apartheid Museum (approx £10) if you arrive early.

🚌Gautrain + walk (~£10)

🛏Hostel dorm in Maboneng/Braamfontein (~£15)

• →Maboneng precinct walk
• →Optional Apartheid Museum (£10)
• →Optional Soweto tour (£30-60)

Long travel day. Take an early Intercape/Greyhound-style coach from Johannesburg Park Station to Gaborone (~£18, 5-6 hrs), then a shared minibus taxi north to Serowe (~£10, 3 hrs). Border formalities at Martins Drift — pay the Botswana USD 30 tourism levy in cash. Overnight in a simple guesthouse or at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary campsite if you have a tent.

🚌Coach + shared minibus (~£28)

🛏Guesthouse or Khama Rhino Sanctuary campsite (~£12)

• →Border crossing at Martins Drift

Book a morning game drive inside Khama Rhino Sanctuary directly at the gate (~£22, 2-3 hrs) — it's one of the most reliable places in Botswana to see white rhino. Then take an afternoon bus/shared taxi to Maun (~£15, 4-5 hrs), the gateway to the Delta. Check in, book your mokoro trip for tomorrow with a Maun-based operator (Old Bridge Backpackers and Audi Camp both arrange this).

🚌Shared minibus (~£15)

🛏Backpackers dorm in Maun (~£14)

• →Khama Rhino Sanctuary drive (£22)
• →Book mokoro excursion

The classic Delta experience, booked independently: a poler takes you out by mokoro (dugout canoe) into the channels, with a guided walking safari through the reeds and islands, then a night at a basic fly-camp on an island. Operators in Maun run this as a 1-night package including meals (~£95-120). No phones, no power — just birds, hippo eyes and a campfire.

🚌4x4 transfer + mokoro (included in package)

🛏Delta bush camp, tents supplied by operator (included)

• →Mokoro canoe excursion
• →Guided Delta bush walk
• →Birdwatching

Wake for sunrise over the channels, mokoro out and 4x4 back to Maun for a proper shower. Then take a shared taxi/minibus on to Nata (~£12, 3 hrs). Camp or stay at a lodge near Nata — the giant baobabs around the Nata Bird Sanctuary are the postcard image. Optional afternoon drive to the Sowa Pan edge if the season is right.

🚌Mokoro + 4x4 back to Maun (included); shared taxi to Nata (~£12)

🛏Lodge/campsite near Nata (~£12)

• →Delta sunrise
• →Baobab country walk

Shared minibus to Kasane (~£10, 3 hrs). Book a Chobe River sunset cruise directly at the Kasane waterfront (~£30-45, 3 hrs) — the elephant density along the Chobe riverfront is hard to beat, and you'll usually see hippos, crocs and buffalo herds. Optional morning game drive into Chobe next day.

🚌Shared minibus (~£10)

🛏Backpackers in Kasane (~£18)

• →Chobe River sunset cruise (£35)
• →Optional Chobe NP game drive (£35)

Cross the Kazungula border into Zimbabwe by shared taxi (~£8) — buy the KAZA Uni-Visa (USD 50) covering Zimbabwe and Zambia. Overnight in Victoria Falls town. In the afternoon walk the rainforest trail along the falls on the Zimbabwean side (~£16 entry) and get soaked by the spray. Evening at a hostel bar on the main strip.

🚌Shared taxi over Kazungula border (~£8)

🛏Hostel in Victoria Falls town (~£15)

• →KAZA Uni-Visa (USD 50, ~£40)
• →Victoria Falls rainforest walk (£16)

Free day for the falls' big-ticket add-ons. Cheapest thrill is the bridge swing or zipline (~£35-50); whitewater rafting the Zambezi is the classic (~£95); helicopter flight over the falls (~£100-140). Or keep it cheap: walk the Victoria Falls Bridge, watch the bungee jumpers, and swim at the Devil's Pool only if you've booked a licensed guide (seasonal, ~£90). Budget a communal dinner at The Boma or a backpacker braai.

🚌Walk/local taxi (~£5)

🛏Hostel in Victoria Falls town (~£15)

• →Optional rafting (£95)
• →Optional bridge swing (£45)
• →Optional helicopter flight (£110)

Cross the border into Zambia at the Victoria Falls land border (use the same KAZA visa) and get a shared taxi to Livingstone (~£5). Do a quick town stop, then take an overnight or afternoon Mazhandu/Intercity bus from Livingstone to Lusaka (~£18-25, 6-7 hrs). Check into a hostel in Lusaka; the Sunday craft market and the nearby zebra-stocked farm stays are optional.

🚌Shared taxi + intercity bus (~£25)

🛏Hostel in Lusaka (~£14)

• →Livingstone town wander
• →Optional Lusaka craft market

Big travel day. Take an early bus to Chipata (~£12, 6-7 hrs), then a shared minibus or taxi to Mfuwe at the gate of South Luangwa (~£8, 2 hrs). Stay at a budget safari camp or the Wildlife Camp's campsite along the Luangwa River, where hippos honk at night.

🚌Bus + shared minibus (~£20)

🛏Budget safari camp/campsite on the Luangwa (~£18)

• →Luangwa River sunset

South Luangwa is arguably Africa's best place for leopard and wild dog. Book direct with a local operator: a day/night game drive package is ~£60-80 including park fees, or a walking safari ~£55. Budget a full day in the park with a packed lunch, and a night drive for leopard on the way back.

🚌Open safari vehicle (included in drive)

🛏Budget safari camp/campsite (~£18)

• →Full-day game drive (£70)
• →Night drive
• →Optional walking safari (£55)

Optional dawn drive before you leave. Then cross into Malawi at Mwami/Mchinji (~£15 in shared taxis) and reach Lilongwe by late afternoon. Stop at Tribal Textiles in Mfuwe on the way out if you have time — it's a craft workshop worth supporting. Overnight in a Lilongwe guesthouse; get a Malawi e-visa in advance.

🚌Shared taxis/minibus across border (~£15)

🛏Guesthouse in Lilongwe (~£12)

• →Tribal Textiles workshop visit
• →Optional dawn safari

Take a bus to Salima or Mangochi (~£8, 4 hrs), then a shared minibus or boat to the lake shore. Kande Beach or Cape Maclear both have cheap lakeside hostels with dorms right on the sand. Afternoon swim in the clear water — Lake Malawi's cichlids are visible with a snorkel.

🚌Bus + shared minibus (~£10)

🛏Lakeside hostel dorm (~£10)

• →Lake swim
• →Beach chilling

Slow day on the lake. Book a village walk with a local guide (~£12) and a snorkelling trip (~£15) directly through your hostel. Optional kayak hire or a boat trip to Thumbi Island to see the fish eagles being fed. Dinner of chambo (lake fish) and nsima at a beach bar.

🚌Walk/boat (~£5)

🛏Lakeside hostel dorm (~£10)

• →Village walk (£12)
• →Snorkelling (£15)
• →Optional kayaking (£8)

Cross into Tanzania at the Songwe border (~£18 in buses and shared taxis, 8-9 hrs total). Apply for your Tanzania e-visa and pay for the mandatory NIC inbound travel insurance before you arrive. Overnight in Mbeya — a functional transit town with cheap guesthouses.

🚌Bus + shared taxi across border (~£18)

🛏Guesthouse in Mbeya (~£12)

• →Songwe border crossing

Long bus day on the TANZANIA-ZAMBIA highway, or splash out on a flight if you're short on time (Mbeya–Dar from ~£60). Buses take 10-12 hrs (~£15). Stay near Kariakoo or the ferry terminal in Dar so you can catch the morning boat to Zanzibar.

🚌Intercity bus (~£15) or optional flight

🛏Budget hotel in Dar (~£15)

• →Kariakoo market

Take the public ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town (~£25-30, 2 hrs; the fast Azam/Sea Express boats are worth it). Check into a Stone Town guesthouse and do a self-guided wander through the alleys — the Old Fort, Forodhani night market and the House of Wonders. Optional guided walking tour with a local guide (~£15).

🚌Public ferry (~£28)

🛏Stone Town guesthouse (~£16)

• →Forodhani night market
• →Optional Stone Town walking tour (£15)

Book a spice plantation tour through your guesthouse (~£15-20, half day) — vanilla, cloves and cinnamon straight off the tree, with a fruit tasting. Then a dala-dala to the east or north coast (Jambiani or Nungwi, ~£2) for a couple of nights of turquoise water.

🚌Dala-dala (~£4)

🛏Beach guesthouse (Jambiani/Nungwi) (~£16)

• →Spice plantation tour (£18)
• →Beach time

Optional dhow day trip (Safari Blue-style, ~£55-75 including lunch) or a cheaper snorkelling trip (~£30). Alternatively surf, dive (<£100) or just walk the beach. Sunset at Kendwa if you're on the north coast — it's the liveliest stretch of the island.

🚌Boat/walk (~£5)

🛏Beach guesthouse (~£16)

• →Optional dhow day trip (£60)
• →Snorkelling (£30)

Ferry back to Dar early (~£28) and either bus to Arusha (~£20, 9 hrs) or fly Dar–Arusha/Kilimanjaro (~£70) to save a day. Arrive Arusha and check into a hostel — this is the base for Serengeti and Ngorongoro bookings. Book your safari through a local Arusha operator (shopping around saves serious money).

🚌Ferry + bus (~£48) or ferry + flight (~£98)

🛏Hostel in Arusha (~£14)

• →Book Serengeti/Ngorongoro safari

Begin a 3-day shared camping safari booked locally in Arusha (~£350-450 per person all-in: vehicle, guide, park fees, meals, tents). Drive via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Olduvai Gorge area into the Serengeti for an afternoon game drive. Sunset over the plains from the campsite.

🚌4x4 safari vehicle (included)

🛏Public campsite in the Serengeti (included)

• →Game drive en route
• →Olduvai Gorge area

Dawn game drive for predators on the move, full day out with a picnic lunch, and a late afternoon drive. Lions, leopards, cheetah, elephants, and wildebeest herds if the migration timing is right. Optional hot-air balloon safari (~£400-500, book well in advance) — it's spectacular but doubles your safari budget.

🚌4x4 safari vehicle (included)

🛏Public campsite in the Serengeti (included)

• →Full-day game drive
• →Optional balloon safari (£450)

Early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater — the best chance on the trip to see black rhino alongside the dense lion population, plus flamingos on the soda lake. Picnic lunch on the crater floor, then climb out and drive back to Arusha for the night.

🚌4x4 safari vehicle (included)

🛏Hostel in Arusha (~£14)

• →Ngorongoro Crater game drive

Take a shared shuttle or bus from Arusha to the Namanga border (~£10-15, 5 hrs), then on to Nairobi (~£10). Get your Kenya eTA and the mandatory Kenya inbound health insurance before you travel. Check into a hostel in Westlands or Kilimani and eat at a nyama choma joint.

🚌Shuttle + bus across Namanga (~£25)

🛏Hostel in Nairobi (~£15)

• →Nairobi street food

Do the classic Nairobi trio on foot and by matatu: Giraffe Centre (~£10), the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (~£10, book online in advance) and the Maasai Market for crafts. Optional Nairobi National Park half-day drive (~£80 with a local operator) if you want one more safari close to the city skyline.

🚌Matatu/taxi (~£6)

🛏Hostel in Nairobi (~£15)

• →Giraffe Centre (£10)
• →Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (£10)
• →Maasai Market

Flex/swap day. Walk or cycle in Karura Forest (~£5 entry), visit the Nairobi National Museum (~£8), or join a community-led Kibera walking tour run by a local social enterprise (~£20) for context behind the headline. Evening hostel dinner to close out the trip.

🚌Matatu/taxi (~£6)

🛏Hostel in Nairobi (~£15)

• →Karura Forest (£5)
• →Optional Kibera community walk (£20)
• →Nairobi National Museum (£8)

Departure day — the original tour requires flights after 21:00, but booking independently gives you flexibility. Airport taxi or the cheap shuttle to JKIA (~£12). If you've got a late flight, drop your bag at the hostel and do one last coffee crawl in Westlands.

🚌Airport taxi/shuttle (~£12)

🛏—

• →Departure