2 Weeks in Southern Africa: A Budget African Safari Itinerary
Safariing in Africa is a bucket list adventure for any traveler. Make the most of your African safari trip with this budget-friendly itinerary for 2 weeks in Southern Africa.
You’ll spend your 14 days in Africa exploring the wonderful cities and nature of South Africa before venturing up through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe on a safari journey you won’t soon forget.
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2 Week Itinerary in Southern Africa
When two of my dear friends threw out the idea of us going on a trip together, I was excited! As we narrowed down locations none of us had been to, we settled on an African safari.
Upon further deliberation and research we realized a “Do It Yourself” safari would be more difficult than originally thought as transportation in some of the countries we were looking at is a bit sparse. And, we didn’t feel confident self-driving through such unknown territory in search of wild animals.
That’s how we settled on an 8 day prepackaged trip through Botswana and Zimbabwe from G Adventures. But who goes to Africa just for 8 days?? Certainly not me. So I did some research and added on some other exciting destinations to visit on my own before they arrived: Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Kruger National Park.
Needless to say, the trip didn’t go exactly as planned, so let’s take a quick look at my learnings and how I’ve adapted the itinerary a bit to be more flawless!
The Botswana and Falls Adventure Trip with G Adventures
While the 8 day tour with G Adventures: Botswana & Falls Adventure was the main driving force behind this safari itinerary for 2 weeks in Southern Africa, it was definitely not the end all be all.
My friends and I were going to join a group of 18 – thirty something year olds to camp and safari our way through “The Bush” for the adventure of a lifetime!
Well, as it turns out, this was the experience of a lifetime, but mostly for how poorly it was run. (Yikes!) That being said, this route is 100% possible to do on your own or as part of a different tour, and it’s totally worth the extra effort it will take. In fact, this part of Africa was pretty easy to get around!
As such, I have learned from the error of my ways and adapted the experience to be the ultimate safari itinerary for South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
Learn More: G Adventures Botswana & Falls Adventure Trip Review
The Ultimate Safari Itinerary for 2 Weeks
Put on your running shoes! You’re in for a treat with this 2 week safari itinerary. You’ll get to experience the highlights of South Africa as well as wind your way up through the stunning untouched wilderness of Botswana and into Zimbabwe and Zambia for one of the natural world wonders: Victoria Falls!
Day 1 – 4: Fly into Cape Town, South Africa and spend a few days exploring this beautiful region
Day 5: Fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg, South Africa and take a look around Johannesburg
Day 6 – 8: Travel overland from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park, South Africa for a 3 day/2 night safari in Kruger National Park; Spend the remainder of your 8th day exploring more of Johannesburg, South Africa
Day 9 – 10: Fly to Maun, Botswana to explore the Okavango Delta
Day 11 – 12: Fly to Kasane to explore Chobe National Park
Day 13 – 14: Drive the 1-2 hours to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to explore Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia
Here’s a map of where you’ll be headed.
Now this might look intense, but let me break it down to more digestible chunks.
The 4 Parts of This South African Itinerary
To make this 2 week safari itinerary easier to digest, let’s break it into four main parts.
- 5 days in Cape Town and Johannesburg: Exploring the magical cities of South Africa.
- 3 days/2 night Safari: Heading into Kruger National Park for a true African safari.
- 4 days in Botswana: Journeying into the untouched wilderness of Botswana.
- 2 days in Victoria Falls: Getting to know Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Part 1: Exploring Cape Town and the Southern Cape of Africa
Start your safari adventure with 4 days in Cape Town, the capital of South Africa before heading to Johannesburg – the largest city in South Africa.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is a beautiful city surrounded by some of the most amazing nature, and best of all – it’s easy to explore on your own. Because it has so much to offer, you can easily spend more than 4 days in Cape Town – not to mention there are a number of great day trips from Cape Town, but we have a lot to cover so make the most of your four days here!
While Cape Town does get a bad rep for being dangerous, with a few simple precautions it can be pretty safe. For example – do not walk anywhere at night. Call an Uber. Do not carry valuables. You know, the basics to traveling safely.
While you’re in Cape Town, make sure not to miss these key adventures. Depending on your speed of exploration, you may have to pick and choose with the limited time:
- Take a “free” walking tour to get a feel for Cape Town and admire the colorful Bo Kaap neighborhood. It’s the best way to get acquainted with the city, so I’d do it as soon as you arrive.
- Explore Table Mountain via hiking and cable car! I personally hiked up Table Mountain with a friend and it was incredible… and challenging. Highly recommend if you’re a hiker, but I would not hike it alone! Also, there are multiple paths so make sure you plan out your hike.
- Hike Lion’s Head at sunrise or sunset for epic views of Table Mountain and Cape Town. This hike I did with a group from the hostel I was staying at, and it was incredible. It’s definitely easier than Table Mountain, and again I would not recommend going alone.
- Wander through Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. It’s just a beautiful garden right outside the city center. Grab a quick Uber there.
- Visit the V&A Waterfront (Victoria and Alfred). This is the touristy part of Cape Town, but you’ll find all kinds of attractions, world-class shopping, dining, and stunning views of Table Mountain.
- Tour Robben Island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its infamous prison for political prisoners. It is also where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years, and now serves as a powerful symbol of South Africa’s struggle for freedom.
- Educate yourself about apartheid at the District Six Museum. It’s the best museum in Cape Town offering a look at South Africa’s history through personal stories, photographs, and exhibits.
- Taste the local wines on the Franschhoek Wine Tram. South Africa is known for their wine…. don’t miss the opportunity to head to the vineyards and wineries!
- Take a trip down the Cape of Good Hope to Muizenberg Beach, Boulder Beach, and beyond! This was my favorite day trip from Cape Town as you get to see the penguins at Boulder Beach! You can also rent a car to get there.
- Try cage diving with great white sharks. If diving with a great white in Cape Town is on your bucket list… there’s no time like the present.
- Go on safari from Cape Town. If you’re headed up to Kruger National Park, like I did, I recommend skipping the safari in Cape Town and holding off. If you aren’t headed on safari later – don’t miss it!
In summary, no Southern Africa trip is complete without a stop in Cape Town as it is simply an amazing place with so much to do. If you have time, add a few days here to be able to take advantage of all of the day trips in the area!
Read more: Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide
Johannesburg, South Africa
From Cape Town, you’ll want to fly up to Johannesburg. Unfortunately, Johannesburg lacks some of the charm of Cape Town and offers equal threatening problems and crime. However, its worth spending a day or two to explore the highlights of Johannesburg.
Here are some of the best things to do in Johannesburg with your limited time.
- Explore Soweto and Johannesburg safely on a guided tour. You won’t want to wander through some of these areas on your own.
- Do a self-guided tour of Johannesburg using the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. This allows you to pinpoint your top destinations and get there easily.
- Take a safari tour of Pilanesberg National Park. Once again, if you’re not going to Kruger National Park – go here. A safari in South Africa is a must do!
- Hot air balloon over Magaliesburg and the Cradle of Humankind. See the city from a different angle!
- Try a food tour to experience the tastes of Africa. I know I was shocked at the number of types of meat we were able to try.
- Admire the street art in the Maboneng neighborhood. See a more fun side of the city with a tour of the street art.
Part 2: Introducing African Safari Life at Kruger National Park
It’s a real shame to come to South Africa and not visit one of their most iconic safari areas – Kruger National Park. If you’re looking to go on safari in Kruger National Park from Cape Town or Johannesburg, the best way to get there is from Johannesburg as it is much closer.
After much research, I settled on African Budget Safaris as my ideal budget safari operator. They offer a 3 Day Kruger Park Camping Safari option from Johannesburg. Their reviews were awesome and their prices were fair. Having done it, I also highly recommend it!
However, if you want to view more tour options, check these out!
Read more: Budget Safaris in Kruger National Park
Part 3: Journeying into the Untouched Wilderness of Botswana
To continue on your Southern African safari, you’ll want to get from Johannesburg, South Africa to Maun, Botswana. You have two options to do so – travel overland or look into flights. Driving from Johannesburg to Maun is long (~14 hours) and flights tend to not be too expensive, so it’s definitely preferred to fly!
Maun, Botswana
From Maun, you have one of the best parts of Africa at your fingertips: The Okavango Delta!
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is an inland river delta and UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its seasonal floods that transform the landscape into one of the most unique safari experiences. This unique ecosystem offers mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions and game drives, where you can spot elephants, lions, and rare antelope species.
Here you can book your excursions in advance or ask your hotels to help coordinate them. We actually ended up taking a mokoro (canoe) into the Delta and camping overnight in the bush to go by foot looking for wildlife!
Some of the can’t miss activities here include:
- Take a traditional mokoro (canoe) into the Okavango Delta to admire wildlife from the waterways. Seriously, we were on the water with elephants bathing and hippos swimming.
- Stay overnight in the Okavango Delta with a 3 day/2 night camping adventure where you can do bushwalks and mokoro rides. Honestly, wild camping in this area is pretty cool… just you and the wild animals!
- Do a Moremi game drive safari in Moremi Game Reserve for a more traditional African safari experience. You’ll see more of the traditional land based animals this way like the zebras and large cats.
- Learn more about the local culture with a Cultural Tour in Maun. While I love the nature and animals of Africa, you can’t miss the opportunity to get to know a bit more about the people and how they live.
- Fly over the Okavango Delta for an aerial view of the delta. There are a number of different providers, such as Okavango Scenic Flights, Mack Air, and African Reservations.
After this wild adventure, it’s time to take a quick and cheap 50 minute flight from Maun to Kasane to continue your African safari in Botswana.
Kasane, Botswana
Kasane is the home base for visiting Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park in Botswana is known for its massive elephant population and diverse ecosystems, ranging from floodplains to dry savannas.
The park offers exceptional safari experiences, including boat cruises on the Chobe River – which I’d consider a must do. This is where you’ll see elephants, hippos, and crocodiles up close.
While you’re in Kasane, you’ll want to experience the national park in a couple of different ways:
- Take a sunset boat cruise in Chobe National Park. This is when you’ll see a lot of wildlife active, and you’ll get a different perspective from the water! We were able to get quite close to elephants and hippos, and you’ll get to enjoy it during “golden hour”.
- Do a game drive safari in Chobe National Park. Taking a game drive gets you inland to see more variety of animals and offers a more traditional safari experience. We saw lots of lions and monkeys on this game drive.
After Kasane, take the 1 – 2 hour drive to Victoria Falls. You can opt to stay in either Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or Livingstone, Zambia.
Part 4: Getting to know Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia
Wrap up your 2 week safari itinerary in Southern Africa with a trip to Victoria Falls and the ever famous Devil’s Pool.
Victoria Falls is one of the world’s largest and most spectacular waterfalls. It straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, offering breathtaking views and activities like white-water rafting and helicopter flights. You’ll want to experience the falls from both sides with Zimbabwe boasting the most panoramic viewpoints and Zambia providing closer access to the falls via the Knife-Edge Bridge.
To get to know this area, you’ll want to spend a couple of days exploring the falls and the National Parks in the area. Some of the best activities to do this are:
- Visit Victoria Falls National Park self-guided or via guided tour. Seriously, you can not miss the falls. Go by yourself or with a guide to learn more. You’ll love it either way!
- Swim in the famous Devil’s Pool located on the edge of Victoria Falls. This is a “must-do” for adrenaline junkies. You literally get to hang over the side of the waterfall looking straight down. It’s quite cool. You can learn all about it and my experience at Devil’s Pool here.
- Take a helicopter tour to see Victoria Falls from above. It’s really the only way to see the true scale of the falls.
- Navigate Class IV and V rapids by whitewater rafting the Zambezi River. Ever wanted to go white water rafting with hippos in rapids caused by some of the biggest waterfalls in the world? This is for you.
- Go zip-lining on a canopy tour of Victoria Falls. Feed that adrenaline junky side with another fun adventure!
Learn how to visit Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls with all the need to know facts.
About This African Safari Itinerary
This 2 weeks in Southern Africa itinerary will create so many wonderful experiences and memories.
You’ll get off the beaten path in South Africa and visit a lot of amazing places, like Cape Town, Kruger National Park, and Johannesburg. The beauty and variety of scenery and animals in this part of the world is hard to compete with. It’s simply incredible.
Other highlights in your Southern Africa safari itinerary will be visiting additional natural wonders like the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and Victoria Falls. These give you the opportunity to see some of the most naturally beautiful parts of the world that are mostly still untouched and uncrowded. Highly recommend!
Continue learning about visiting Africa and planning your 14 day African safari with these additional posts:
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Hi Julia! We want to book a Safari also with the same company as you but one is holding us back: the payment method. somehow we can only pay full 100% now wir wire transfer or with Visa (paygate). I feel a bit confused by the fact of that payment process being a bit bumpy and paypal revolut is not possible.. i send you a message on Instagram aswell. What experience did you have while paying the safari?
Hi Julia – Sorry for the slight delay – The holidays are a busy time! I opted to pay through Paygate. African Budget Safaris setup a bill for the complete cost of the safari, and I received an email from them with a link to the bill in Paygate. I was able to go in and pay via credit card in Paygate. As soon as I paid, I received a Payment Confirmation email from Paygate and another email from African Budget Safaris letting me know they received payment and providing me my “Confirmation Voucher” to provide to the tour provider on the day of the tour. It was a very smooth process and African Budget Safaris communication was great. 100% recommend based on my experience.
That being said, wire transfers always make me a bit iffy just because they cannot be refunded if things do go wrong. At least by paying through credit card you can go through your credit card provider if for whatever reason they do not provide the services paid for. Hope you have a great trip!!
Hey Julia,
How much roughly did the whole trip cost you?
Hi Marta, It was right around $3,000 + airfare from the United States – so almost $4,000 total.
Hi Julia,
My partner and I are also looking to do a similar trip for 2 weeks in August, which is peak season. I wanted to ask what time of year you went and what kind of accommodation you stayed in during your trip? Thank you
Hi Saar-Rah, I went late November to early December, so their summer. As for accommodation, it was a bit all over the place. I stayed in a hostel in Cape Town, a Marriott hotel in a gated compound in Johannesburg, permanent tents for the Kruger National Park safari, and then camped my way through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia with G Adventures. There are all kinds of accommodations available so its really up to what you’re used to in terms of luxury and budget. I will say, it was quite hot to camp in December… no sleeping bag needed! I hope you have a great trip!