Johannesburg to Nairobi Overland Safari: Self-Launched Edition

Land at OR Tambo and take the Gautrain or a shared shuttle to a hostel in Braamfontein or Melville (about £6-8). Spend the afternoon orientating, buying a local SIM (Vodacom/MTN, ~£4) and stocking up on snacks. If you have energy, walk through Maboneng or do a self-guided trip on the Rea Vaya bus to the Apartheid Museum (~£5 entry).

🚌Gautrain + shuttle from OR Tambo (~£7)

🛏Hostel dorm in Braamfontein or Melville (~£14)

• →Orient in Braamfontein/Maboneng
• →Apartheid Museum (~£5)
• →Buy SIM card and groceries

Take an early Intercape or Greyhound-style coach from Johannesburg Park Station to Gaborone (~£20, 6 hrs), then a shared minibus taxi to Serowe (~£8, 4 hrs). Alternatively an overnight bus gets you to Gaborone in time to connect. Base yourself at a campsite or basic guesthouse near Khama Rhino Sanctuary and take a late-afternoon self-drive or arranged game drive to see white rhino. Sort your Botswana pula cash on arrival in Gaborone.

🚌Intercape coach Johannesburg-Gaborone (~£20) + shared taxi to Serowe (~£8)

🛏Campsite/guesthouse near Khama Rhino Sanctuary (~£15)

• →Border crossing into Botswana
• →Khama Rhino Sanctuary game drive (~£25)

Long travel day: take a shared taxi/bus from Serowe to Francistown, then a coach onward to Maun (total ~£25-30, 8-10 hrs with changes). Book a bed at a backpackers in Maun (Old Bridge Backpackers and similar are the classic budget spots) and arrange your Okavango Delta trip for the next day. Evening at the riverside bar watching the sunset.

🚌Shared taxi Serowe-Francistown + coach to Maun (~£28)

🛏Backpackers dorm/campsite in Maun (~£16)

• →Sunset at the Thamalakane River
• →Book Okavango Delta excursion

Join a locally operated 1-day or overnight mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion into the Delta — these are bookable direct from Maun operators from around £90-120 including poler, some food and park fees. Glide through reed channels, walk on palm islands and camp out in the bush with your poler-guide as the sun sets. Book directly with a Maun operator rather than through an agent to keep costs down.

🚌4x4 transfer + mokoro into the Delta (included)

🛏Bush camp in the Okavango Delta (included in excursion, ~£15 value)

• →Mokoro canoe excursion in the Okavango Delta
• →Guided island walk
• →Bush camping

Return to Maun mid-morning (included in excursion). Hire a local taxi or jump on a shared minibus north toward Nata and get dropped at Gweta (~£18). Stay at Planet Baobab or Elephant Sands area and spend the afternoon among giant baobabs. Many camps here run cheap optional sunrise game drives or meerkat experiences if you want to add one.

🚌Taxi back from Delta + shared minibus to Gweta (~£18)

🛏Budget campsite/baobab lodge near Gweta (~£14)

• →Baobab country walk
• →Optional sunset/sunrise game drive (~£20)

Shared minibus or local bus from Gweta to Kasane via Nata (~£12, 4-5 hrs). Kasane sits right on the Chobe River and is the launch point for Chobe National Park trips. Book a spot on a sunset river cruise (~£25-30, direct from the waterfront operators) — an excellent, cheap way to see huge elephant herds, hippo and birds. Overnight in a Kasane backpackers or campsite.

🚌Shared minibus Gweta-Nata-Kasane (~£12)

🛏Kasane campsite/backpackers (~£15)

• →Chobe River sunset cruise (~£28)

Do an early-morning Chobe game drive in a shared 4x4 (~£40-50, book direct in Kasane). In the afternoon cross the border into Zimbabwe via Kazungula (visa/Kaza UniVisa on arrival, budget ~£40), then shared taxi to Victoria Falls town (~£10). Settle into a backpackers in town — Victoria Falls Backpackers and Shoestrings are classic options.

🚌Shared 4x4 game drive + shared taxi across border to Vic Falls (~£12)

🛏Backpackers dorm in Victoria Falls town (~£16)

• →Chobe National Park game drive (~£45)
• →Border crossing into Zimbabwe

Spend the morning at the falls themselves — entry is ~£40 from the Zimbabwe side. If your budget allows, add one adrenaline activity: a 15-minute scenic helicopter flight (~£100), white-water rafting (~£95), or the cheaper Boiling Pot hike and lookout walk. Afternoon: visit the craft market and relax by the pool at your backpackers. Local microbrewery and river sunset spots make for a good evening.

🚌Walking + local taxis in town (~£4)

🛏Backpackers dorm in Victoria Falls town (~£16)

• →Victoria Falls entry (~£40)
• →Optional rafting (~£95) or helicopter flight (~£100)
• →Craft market

Cross into Zambia at the Victoria Falls/Livingstone border. Take the overnight Lukasa-bound coach from Livingstone (~£25-30, about 9-10 hrs) or break the journey via a shared minibus. In Lusaka, stay at a budget guesthouse or hostel and pick up your next bus ticket for the east. Zambia uses the kwacha — draw cash at an ATM in Lusaka rather than at the border.

🚌Border crossing + Livingstone-Lusaka coach (~£28)

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Lusaka (~£18)

• →Border crossing into Zambia
• →Lusaka markets

Take a bus or shared minibus from Lusaka to Chipata (~£15, 6-7 hrs), then a shared taxi to Mfuwe / the South Luangwa gate area (~£10). Base yourself at a budget camp outside the park (Croc Valley and similar) and spend the evening by the Luangwa River listening to hippos.

🚌Bus Lusaka-Chipata (~£15) + shared taxi to Mfuwe (~£10)

🛏Budget safari camp near South Luangwa (~£20)

• →Luangwa River sunset walk

Book a self-bookable day safari through your camp: a morning game drive with a park guide (~£45-60 including park fees) and/or a walking safari. South Luangwa is famous for leopard and its walking-safari tradition. Book direct with the camp's operator — shared vehicle seats are much cheaper than private drives.

🚌Game drive vehicle (included in safari price)

🛏Budget safari camp near South Luangwa (~£20)

• →South Luangwa game drive (~£50)
• →Optional walking safari

Return to Chipata by shared taxi, then cross the border into Malawi at Mchinji and take a minibus onward to Lilongwe (~£15-18 total). Sort a Malawi visa if needed and change money. In Lilongwe, visit the Tribal Textiles market area for crafts and grab dinner at a local courtyard cafe. Overnight in a budget lodge.

🚌Shared taxi to Chipata + minibus across Malawi border to Lilongwe (~£18)

🛏Budget lodge/hostel in Lilongwe (~£18)

• →Border crossing into Malawi
• →Tribal Textiles market

Take a minibus or coach north along the lake to Nkhata Bay/Kande area (~£12, 5-6 hrs). Kande Beach is a classic backpacker spot right on the sand — book a beachside campsite or dorm. Swim, rent a kayak and settle into Malawi's famous slow pace.

🚌Shared minibus Lilongwe to Kande (~£12)

🛏Beach camp/dorm at Kande Beach (~£12)

• →Lake Malawi swim
• →Kayak hire

A full lake day: snorkel or dive (Kande is a diving hub — a two-tank dive runs from ~£45), rent a mountain bike, or take a village walk with a local guide. In the evening, arrange a home dinner with a local family through your camp (~£10-15) for a genuine Malawian meal.

🚌Walking/bike hire (~£4)

🛏Beach camp/dorm at Kande Beach (~£12)

• →Snorkelling or diving (~£45)
• →Village walk (~£8)
• →Local home dinner (~£12)

Head north along the lake shore to Chitimba (~£8-10 by minibus). Walking trails run inland up to Livingstonia — a full-day hike with a local guide (~£15-20 including guide) or a shared 4x4 lift to the mission town. Chill at a lakeside camp and try the lakeside carving workshops if you're interested in a hands-on craft session.

🚌Shared minibus to Chitimba (~£9)

🛏Lakeside camp at Chitimba (~£12)

• →Livingstonia hike (~£18)
• →Carving workshop (~£8)

Cross into Tanzania at Karonga/Songwe (Tanzanian visa on arrival for most nationalities, budget ~£40-50). Take a coach or shared minibus from the border up to Iringa (~£12-15, long day with changes). The Old Farm House at Kisolanza south of Iringa is a well-known overlander stop and a good budget option. Warm up with a hot shower and local food.

🚌Border crossing + minibus/coach to Iringa (~£14)

🛏Budget guesthouse/farm stay near Iringa (~£16)

• →Border crossing into Tanzania
• →Iringa town wander

Head east toward Morogoro, stopping in the famous baobab-dotted valley near the Ruaha River (~£10 shared minibus). This is a low-key landscape stop — hike among the baobabs, and if you're lucky spot wildlife on the roadside en route through Mikumi. Stay at a simple roadside camp or guesthouse.

🚌Shared minibus Iringa to Baobab Valley (~£10)

🛏Roadside camp/guesthouse (~£14)

• →Baobab Valley walk
• →Ruaha River viewpoint

Continue by shared minibus/coach to Dar es Salaam (~£10-12, 5-6 hrs). Get a bed near the beach south of the city — Kipepeo Beach area is where the overland crowd ends up, with cheap camping. Swim in the Indian Ocean and eat grilled fish at a local spot.

🚌Shared minibus to Dar (~£11)

🛏Beach camp near Kipepeo, Dar (~£14)

• →Indian Ocean swim
• →Seafood dinner

Take a morning fast ferry from Dar to Stone Town (~£30 one way, book direct with Azam Marine or similar). Then take a dalla-dalla (shared minibus, ~£2) south to Jambiani for the white-sand beach and budget guesthouses. Afternoon swim and sunset on the east coast.

🚌Fast ferry Dar-Zanzibar (~£30) + dalla-dalla to Jambiani (~£2)

🛏Beach guesthouse in Jambiani (~£18)

• →Fast ferry crossing
• →Jambiani beach
• →Sunset

Full day on the beach: snorkelling with a local boatman (~£15-20), a Swahili cooking class or seaweed farm visit in Jambiani (~£15), or just drift in the turquoise water. Budget guesthouses in Jambiani are far cheaper than the north-coast resorts and the vibe is more relaxed.

🚌Local walking/bike (~£4)

🛏Beach guesthouse in Jambiani (~£18)

• →Snorkelling trip (~£18)
• →Seaweed farm visit (~£8)
• →Swahili cooking class (~£15)

Take a dalla-dalla back north to Stone Town (~£2) and check into a budget guesthouse in the old town. In the afternoon join a spice farm tour (~£20-25, book direct) — Zanzibar's signature activity — and in the evening do a self-guided wander of the alleyways and Forodhani night food market (cheap, excellent street food).

🚌Dalla-dalla to Stone Town (~£2)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Stone Town (~£18)

• →Spice plantation tour (~£22)
• →Forodhani food market
• →Stone Town walking wander

Ferry back to Dar es Salaam (~£30) and take a shared minibus up the coast to Bagamoyo (~£2, 1.5 hrs) — an old Swahili trading town with slave-trade history and a good arts scene. Stay at a budget beach camp and wander the historic ruins and Kaole archaeological site (~£3).

🚌Ferry to Dar (~£30) + shared minibus to Bagamoyo (~£2)

🛏Beach camp in Bagamoyo (~£14)

• →Bagamoyo historic town walk
• →Kaole ruins (~£3)

Long transit day: shared minibus back to Dar, then an overnight or daytime coach to Arusha (~£20-25, 10-12 hrs). Arusha is the base for Serengeti and Ngorongoro trips — use this evening to finalise a shared safari with a local operator booked direct (~£350-450 for a 3-day camping Serengeti/Ngorongoro group safari, or budget slightly higher for private).

🚌Minibus to Dar + coach to Arusha (~£23)

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Arusha (~£15)

• →Book Serengeti/Ngorongoro shared safari

Depart early with your shared safari group on the classic route via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area boundary and Naabi Hill Gate. Afternoon game drive across the Serengeti plains looking for lion, cheetah, elephant and (in season) the migration herds. Overnight camping in the park at Seronera with a cook preparing meals — this is the most authentic (and cheapest) way to sleep inside the park.

🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle (included)

🛏Seronera campsite in Serengeti (included in safari)

• →Serengeti game drive
• →Campfire night at Seronera

Sunrise game drive in the Serengeti (optional hot-air balloon safari at ~£450-500 if your budget stretches — book well ahead). Then drive south to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area rim and camp at Simba Campsite, which has one of the best views in Tanzania. The shared safari price covers park fees and camping tonight.

🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle (included)

🛏Simba Campsite, Ngorongoro rim (included in safari)

• →Sunrise Serengeti game drive
• →Optional balloon safari (~£470)
• →Ngorongoro rim viewpoint

Descend early into the Ngorongoro Crater with your group for a half-day safari — one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino, plus dense lion and buffalo. Drive back to Arusha in the afternoon. Give yourself time to pick up Kenyan shillings and a bus ticket for tomorrow.

🚌Shared 4x4 back to Arusha (included in safari)

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Arusha (~£15)

• →Ngorongoro Crater safari drive

Take a direct shuttle bus or coach from Arusha to Nairobi via the Namanga border (~£20-25, 6-7 hrs; eTA/visa on arrival for many nationalities, budget ~£25). If time allows, finish with the National Museum of Kenya or the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage (~£10) before flying out of Nairobi.

🚌Arusha-Nairobi shuttle coach (~£22) + border formalities

🛏Not included — onward travel day

• →Border crossing into Kenya
• →Optional Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (~£10)