A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampala vs. Drakensberg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampala or Drakensberg?

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

Should I visit Kampala or Drakensberg? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Kampala or Drakensberg?

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.

Drakensberg

Drakensberg, whose name derives from the Dutch and means "mountains of the dragons," is a mountainous region which encompasses a vast amount of South Africa's interior, extending into neighboring countries as well. It hugs the eastern border of Lesotho, attracting visitors for hiking, backpacking, and admiring the natural wonders of the landscape.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town.


Which place is cheaper, Drakensberg or Kampala?

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 Kampala is $77, while the average daily cost in Drakensberg is $117. 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 Kampala and Drakensberg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $60
    Drakensberg $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $120
    Drakensberg $86
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Drakensberg

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Drakensberg? 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 Kampala


Hotels in Drakensberg


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: Kampala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.54
    Drakensberg $78
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $4.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $110
  • Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
  • Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
  • Jinja 1 Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $250
  • Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
  • Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
  • Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
  • Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
  • Airport Pick-Up and Transfers by Globetrotters Africa: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Drakensberg?

Prices for flights to both Drakensberg and Kampala 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
    Kampala $15
    Drakensberg $33
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.

  • Matoke Moments Kampala Food Tour 12+ Tastings: $49
  • Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Kampala Local Cooking Experience: $80
  • Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $99
  • Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
  • Kampala cooking tour: $133

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Drakensberg $9.89

Tours and Activities in Kampala

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

  • 1 Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $30
  • 1 Day Jinja & Source of the Nile River tour (female guided): $230
  • 1 Day Jinja Source of the Nile Tour: $290
  • 1 Day Jinja and Source of the Nile River Tour: $200
  • 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $290
  • 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
  • 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience: $190
  • 1 Day Tour of Jinja and Source of the Nile: $180
  • 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour From Kampala To Kayabwe: $200
  • 1 Day Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Safari and Wildlife Tour, Uganda: $300
  • 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $210
  • 1 day kampala tour: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Drakensberg $4.29


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Drakensberg, we can see that Drakensberg is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampala 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 Drakensberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Drakensberg than you might in Kampala.

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


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