A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jinja vs. Kruger National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jinja or Kruger National Park?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jinja or Kruger National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Jinja or Kruger National Park?

Jinja

Jinja is a city located at the source of the Nile in Uganda, Africa. Many backpackers travel to Jinja, as it is known for its white water rafting. This city is the third largest economy in all of the East African Community. It has a population of about 72,000 people.

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park, in northeast South Africa hugs the border of Mozambique in the east, Zimbabwe in the north, and the Crocodile River to the south. Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometers, it hosts a variety of habitats with a thriving population of wildlife and indigenous plant species, making it a safari destination like no other.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Uganda, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Uganda, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in South Africa, and The Best 10-Day Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Kruger National Park or Jinja?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jinja is $116, while the average daily cost in Kruger National Park is $92. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Jinja and Kruger National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jinja $45
    Kruger National Park $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jinja $90
    Kruger National Park $96
Compare Hotels in Jinja and Kruger National Park

Looking for a hotel in Jinja or Kruger National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Jinja


Hotels in Kruger National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Jinja Hotel Prices and Kruger National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jinja $22
    Kruger National Park $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jinja

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jinja:

  • 1-Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $280

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kruger National Park

Also for Kruger National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shuttle Transfer from Greater Kruger to Gauteng: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Jinja or Kruger National Park?

Prices for flights to both Kruger National Park and Jinja change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Jinja $51
    Kruger National Park $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jinja $30
    Kruger National Park $21

Tours and Activities in Jinja

Here are a few actual costs in Jinja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Day Jinja And Source Of The Nile River Tour(female Guided): $295
  • 1-DAY BEST JINJA & SOURCE OF RIVER NILE TOUR: $220
  • 2 days Jinja adventure with white water rafting and tubing: $200
  • David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
  • EPIC UGANDA SAFARI ADVENTURE | (2 Adults-1 Child Tier) 5-Day: $3,850
  • HIGH-OCTANE ADVENTURES—QUADBIKE, ZIPLINE, RIVER-RAFT & MORE: $2,750
  • Half-Day Jinja Walking Tour: Source of Nile & Boat Ride Options: $31
  • 2 Day Tour with Source of the Nile and Boat Cruise: $492
  • 2 Day tour with visit to the Sipi Falls: $418
  • Full Day Tour with source of the Nile Boat Cruise: $175
  • Guided Walking Tour with Optional Source of the Nile: $31
  • UGANDA HORSEBACK — SCENIC LANDSCAPES & ADVENTURES | 8-Days: $3,200

Tours and Activities in Kruger National Park

For Kruger National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Citrus farm tours with Primos gin tastings: $22
  • Full-Day Guided Tour in the Kruger National Park: $82
  • Sabie Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Sundowners: $154
  • Private Guided Panorama Full Day Tour : $169
  • Kruger National Park Sunrise Half-Day Safari Tour: $179
  • 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $722

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jinja $14
    Kruger National Park $4.13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jinja and Kruger National Park, we can see that Jinja is more expensive. And not only is Kruger National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kruger National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kruger National Park and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Jinja would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jinja than you might in Kruger National Park.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jinja Expensive? and Is Kruger National Park Expensive?.


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