Zimbabwe & Botswana Self-Launched: Chobe, Hwange & Lake Kariba (10 Days)
10 days · Zimbabwe & Botswana
G Adventures charges £4,400
No-markup version: ~£1,188 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day loop from Victoria Falls covering the same ground as the G Adventures Geluxe 'Chobe, Hwange & Lake Kariba' trip — but booked yourself, using local shuttles, budget lodges, self-arranged safari drives and the legendary Hwange safari train. You'll do Victoria Falls on foot and by boat, glamp (or tent) in Chobe, ride the Elephant Express into Hwange, spend days tracking elephant on foot and from open 4x4s, then unwind on the shores of Lake Kariba with a boat trip into Matusadona National Park, finishing with the 'Simunye' show back in Vic Falls. Costs are rough per-person estimates based on 2024/25 budget-traveller rates and assume shared twin/dorm accommodation; park fees in Zimbabwe and Botswana are the biggest variable and you'll self-drive or join shared game drives rather than a private vehicle.
Day-by-day
Victoria Falls: Arrive and Settle In
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Land at Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) and take a shared shuttle or taxi into town (~£8-12). Check into a budget lodge or hostel in the Vic Falls village area. Spend the afternoon orienting yourself — buy a multi-entry Vic Falls National Park ticket if you plan to go twice, stock up on USD cash and local SIM data, and grab a casual dinner at a local eatery (try a 'potjie' style stew or sadza and relish). Evening free to relax after the flight.
🚌Shared airport shuttle/taxi from VFA ~£10
🛏Budget lodge/hostel twin or dorm in Victoria Falls (~£20-28/night)
- →Arrival and orientation walk
- →Local dinner and SIM/cash setup
Victoria Falls: Smoke That Thunders
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Self-guided walk through the Victoria Falls National Park — the 16 viewpoints along the rainforest path get you drenched and put you right among the spray. Entry ~£25-30 (USD 30-50 depending on season). In the afternoon, book a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi (book direct or via GetYourGuide, ~£30-40 including drinks) for hippo and croc spotting and a classic Vic Falls sundowner. Optional helicopter 'Flight of Angels' 15-min flip is ~£120 if you want the aerial view — book direct with any of the operators in town.
🚌Walking + short taxi rides ~£5
🛏Budget lodge/hostel twin or dorm in Victoria Falls
- →Self-guided Victoria Falls rainforest walk
- →Zambezi sunset cruise
- →Optional helicopter flight (extra ~£120)
Cross to Chobe: Glamping in the Bush
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Take a shared shuttle or cross-border minibus from Victoria Falls to Kasane (~2-3 hrs, ~£15 including border formalities — have your passport and USD ready for the Botswana tourism levy ~£24). In Kasane, join a 2-day/1-night mobile glamping package or a budget Chobe lodge and book an afternoon boat safari on the Chobe River — huge elephant herds come down to drink at sunset. Dinner around the fire at camp.
🚌Shared shuttle Vic Falls–Kasane ~£15; boat safari included in activity booking
🛏Mobile glamping tent camp in/around Chobe with shared facilities, or basic Kasane lodge (~£40-55 incl. some meals)
- →Border crossing into Botswana
- →Chobe River sunset boat safari
- →Bush camp dinner around the fire
Hwange: The Elephant Express
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Early morning game drive in Chobe, then shuttle back across the border to Zimbabwe and on towards Hwange. The headline: ride the 'Elephant Express' — a converted safari rail car on the old Victoria Falls–Bulawayo line that runs along the edge of Hwange National Park (~£45-60 one way, book ahead through the operator as seats are limited and it doesn't run daily — check schedules and be flexible by a day). Elephants and zebra are commonly seen from the carriage. Overnight at a budget safari lodge or camp near the park gate.
🚌Shuttle Kasane–Hwange ~£20; Elephant Express rail ride ~£50
🛏Budget safari lodge/camp near Hwange main camp (~£30-45)
- →Chobe morning game drive
- →Elephant Express safari train through Hwange
- →Evening at lodge
Hwange: Bushwalk and Game Drive
Hwange National Park
Join a morning guided bushwalk (walking safaris must be with a licensed armed guide — book through the lodge or a Hwange operator, ~£30-40) and get down to dung beetles, tracks and birds. Afternoon open-vehicle game drive (~£35-45 including park fees) in search of elephant, lion and sable antelope. Self-cater or eat at the lodge.
🚌Lodge 4x4 for activities
🛏Budget safari lodge/camp near Hwange
- →Guided bushwalk
- →Afternoon game drive in open safari vehicle
Hwange: Underground Hide and Waterholes
Hwange National Park
Book a hide session at one of the park's pumped waterholes (Nyamandhlovu or similar) — many lodges and the park's own hides let you sit at ground level while elephant drink metres away; some hides are free with park entry, others charge a small fee (~£10-20). Rest through the heat of the day, then another late-afternoon drive. Hwange is famous for its enormous elephant population, so patience at a waterhole usually pays off.
🚌Lodge 4x4 / self-drive if you have a rental
🛏Budget safari lodge/camp near Hwange
- →Game-viewing hide at a waterhole
- →Late afternoon game drive
Road to Lake Kariba: Lakeside Safari
Lake Kariba (Kariba town side), Zimbabwe
Long transfer day: shared shuttle or local bus from Hwange towards Kariba via Bulawayo/Karoi, or fly Hwange–Kariba if you'd rather save the day (flights ~£150-200 and need booking ahead). Realistically the road journey is 9-11 hrs (~£25-35), so start early. Arrive at a lakeside guesthouse or lodge — Lake Kariba is the world's largest man-made lake by volume and is thick with hippo, croc, cormorants and tigerfish. Sunset from the deck. No swimming — the hippos are not hypothetical.
🚌Long-distance shared shuttle/bus Hwange–Kariba ~£30 (or optional flight ~£175)
🛏Lakeside guesthouse/budget lodge, Kariba (~£30-45)
- →Road journey through Matabeleland
- →Sunset over Lake Kariba from the lodge deck
Matusadona National Park and Sundowners
Matusadona National Park / Lake Kariba
Take a boat safari across to Matusadona National Park (~£60-90 for a shared day boat with guide and park fees) — the park is under a 20-year African Parks agreement and is recovering as strong elephant and black rhino country. Do a walking safari on the shoreline led by an armed ranger (park walking fees apply) and look for elephant, buffalo, waterbuck and the lakeshore's incredible birdlife. Back on the water for sundowners at sunset, then dinner at the lodge.
🚌Boat transfer across the lake (included in boat safari booking)
🛏Lakeside guesthouse/budget lodge, Kariba
- →Boat safari to Matusadona National Park
- →Guided shoreline walking safari
- →Lakeside sundowners
Back to Victoria Falls: The Curtain Closes
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Return to Victoria Falls (~4-5 hrs by shared shuttle on the main road, ~£20-25). Check back into your Vic Falls lodge. In the evening, book tickets for the 'Simunye — We Are One' theatrical production — a fusion of Zimbabwean theatre, dance and song (tickets ~£20-30 direct or via your lodge; check show nights before you set this day in stone). Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
🚌Shared shuttle Kariba–Victoria Falls ~£25
🛏Budget lodge/hostel in Victoria Falls (~£20-28)
- →'Simunye — We Are One' theatre performance
- →Farewell dinner
Victoria Falls: Departure
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Depart at any time. Shared shuttle back to VFA airport (~£10). If you have a late flight, a final café breakfast in town and last souvenir browsing before you go.
🚌Shared shuttle to VFA airport ~£10
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,188 | £4,400 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,212 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,188
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 Zimbabwe & Botswana Self-Launched: Chobe, Hwange & Lake Kariba (10 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,188 per person for 10 days in Zimbabwe & Botswana. 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 £4,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,188 — a saving of roughly £3,212 (73%) per person.
How long is the Zimbabwe & Botswana trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Zimbabwe & Botswana.
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, budget trip through Zimbabwe & Botswana, 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.