Are you thinking about going to Africa, but don't know where to start? I've been there, but I took the plunge and just went.
This is the exact itinerary I followed when traveling to Africa by myself for the first time.
- Most hotels have shuttles to and from the airport, but if you're staying at a hostel or an Airbnb you can grab a taxi—they're very reliable and affordable.
Once you get to your hotel you should drop your stuff and hit the main town of Victoria Falls!
Literally all the restaurants I went in town were so incredibly good. Beef is one of the best items in this area, more so in Botswana, but also in Zimbabwe.
Most restaurants have live music at night.
There will be locals trying to get you to buy a ridiculous currency dollars, million, 100 trillion, billion, dollar notes. This has absolutely zero value and is essentially just a souvenir. You could hang it on your wall at home, it's cool, but I wouldn't waste your money on this.
Solid place for a happy hour to look over the falls, but definitely overpriced food for the tourists - and doesn't give you an authentic representation of the area. Definitely worth it to have a drink with a view though!
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Day 2 - Devil's Pool, Bungee Jumping, & Dinner Cruise
You can book this through a number of different ways, but I used Viator - they set up transportation, lunch, the works.
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Devil's Pool
You have to book this in advance, so if you want to go it's best to plan ahead. This is technically in Zambia, but definitely worth it.
Depends on if the weather if you can go. If the pool is too high, you won't be able to go as you basically can just fall right over the falls, so be careful!
Bungee Jumping
After Devil's Pool head over to Lookout Cafe as they offer bungee jumping next to the falls!
Literally, a local operation, you tell them you want to do it, they hook you up, and you're swinging over the river in no time. Full disclosure, there are crocodiles in the river, so swing at your own risk.
Sunset Dinner Cruise
I can't remember the exact sunset cruise I took, but I know I got the recommendation from the hotel but booked it through Viator.
They included dinner and a beverage, live music, and so much wildlife (elephants, hippos, crocodiles). This was truly a highlight of visiting Zimbabwe.
Botswana
Day 3 - Day 10 Trek Through Botswana
Since I did this trip solo I had ZERO idea how I was going to navigate through Africa by myself, so I had Intrepid do the heavy lifting for me.
Intrepid had the full blown itinerary ironed out - hotels/hostels, transportation, food, friends, everything. Through this program I was able to trek through Botswana without having to organize transportation separately.
Also, this itinerary allowed me to experience SO MANY safaris. Almost every day, we went on a safari.
Along with the safaris, there was a unique experience to spend time with the locals in the Okavango Delta, sleep in the bush, and support the Khama Rhino Sanctuary - one of the only places in the world where both black and white rhinos reside.
Below is the route that we took throughout the week, but to get a full breakdown visit their itinerary - I started in Victoria Falls and ended in Johannesburg, but you can start in Johberg and finish in Victoria Falls too. Either way, it's absolutely legendary!
I can't even explain how freaking WILD this place is. The elephants know if they're in Botswana or Nigeria, so you can see elephants lined up along the Chobe River. Also, there's so much wildlife. Nowhere else in the world looks quite like this place.
Interact with the locals. This place really helps you understand how people in Botswana live. Try the food at the local supermarkets. The locals are so nice and will tell you what you should try!
Interact with the locals. This place really helps you understand how people in Botswana live. Try the food at the local supermarkets. The locals are so nice and will tell you what you should try!
I can't even explain how freaking WILD this place is. The elephants know if they're in Botswana or Nigeria, so you can see elephants lined up along the Chobe River. Also, there's so much wildlife. Nowhere else in the world looks quite like this place.
I can't even explain how freaking WILD this place is. The elephants know if they're in Botswana or Nigeria, so you can see elephants lined up along the Chobe River. Also, there's so much wildlife. Nowhere else in the world looks quite like this place.
If you didn't think about sustainability and how to safe the wilderness, this place will get you thinking about just that. This is one of the only places in the world where you can see these creatures in their natural habitat. Truly a life-changing place.
Joburg is not THAT exciting. However, it is interesting to see a side of South Africa that is not Cape Town. Whether you're going downtown to experience the main city center or experience the local hidden gems be aware of your surroundings—as Joburg is notorious for beautiful street art and relatively high crime rates.
Kind of a zoo-like, but they take vulnerable animals and focus on their well-being and helping their species escape vulnerability. It was fine, but there are other places in the world that are similar to this, so you can skip.
If you're into local places. This is a good spot. It's on the ocean too, which is definitely a plus. However, Durban's crime rate is high and there isn't THAT much to do here, so not a main attraction by any means.
