A Travel Price Comparison for South Africa Kruger National Park vs. Cape Town for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kruger National Park or Cape Town?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Kruger National Park and Cape Town can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Kruger National Park or Cape Town?

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.

Cape Town

Picture your travel bucket list. Is Cape Town on it? Yes, most people dream of visiting the "Mother City" of South Africa. As one of the most iconic places in the world, Cape Town is a world-class cosmopolitan city full of bustling nightlife, historical backdrops and a large gay community.

Cape Town is the most southern city in Africa with seasons turned upside down. In the southern hemisphere they experience the summer from December to February. During these months days can be hot and dry so be sure to gather in the shade and wear plenty of sunscreen. The winter from June to August is full of rainy days and cold nights.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in South Africa, The Best 10-Day Tours in South Africa, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in South Africa, and The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Kruger National Park?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kruger National Park is $79, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $95. 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 Kruger National Park and Cape Town in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kruger National Park $47
    Cape Town $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kruger National Park $94
    Cape Town $74
Compare Hotels in Kruger National Park and Cape Town

Looking for a hotel in Kruger National Park or Cape Town? 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 Kruger National Park


Hotels in Cape Town


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: Kruger National Park Hotel Prices and Cape Town Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kruger National Park $24
    Cape Town $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kruger National Park

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

  • Transfer - Skukuza Airport to Southern Sabi Sand Reserve: $184

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town

Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Whale Watching In Hermanus with Private Transfer: $245
  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town APT-HTL(CPT): $44
  • Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $157
  • Township Tour by Lwafika Tours and Transfers in Cape Town: $32
  • Shuttle Transport Transfer from Simonstown to Cape Town Airport: $25
  • Shuttle Transport Transfer from Claremont to Cape Town Airport: $17
  • Shuttle Transport Transfer from Cape Town City Center (CBD) to Cape Town Airport: $17
  • Shuttle Transport Transfer from Camps Bay to Cape Town Airport: $17
  • Shopping Mall Transfers: $22
  • Shark Diving Full Day Guided Return Transfer to Gansbaai from Cape Town: $142
  • Shark Cage Diving: Full Day Tour Transfer: $94

Is it cheaper to fly into Kruger National Park or Cape Town?

Prices for flights to both Cape Town and Kruger National Park 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
    Kruger National Park $15
    Cape Town $41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kruger National Park

For Kruger National Park, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sabi Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Dinner: $137

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Town

For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Dinner At Mandela's - Cultural Township Dinner Experience: $28
  • Cape Malay Cooking with a Chef Founder: $28
  • Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $35
  • 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $42
  • Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $55
  • Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $58
  • African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $59
  • Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $60
  • From CapeTown: African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $61
  • Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $69
  • Cape Town Food tour (Includes all food) 4hrs: $74
  • Private Cooking Class and Meal in Local Wynberg Cape Town Home: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kruger National Park $21
    Cape Town $22

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:

  • Kruger National Park Sunrise Half-Day Safari Tour: $178
  • 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $677
  • Kruger Safari Tour - Morning Half Day: $52

Tours and Activities in Cape Town

For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 3 Wineries Private Tour in Stellenbosch, Paarl Tasting Included: $135
  • Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $191
  • Cape Point Full Day Tour: $216
  • Cape Point Private Tour withTable Mountain and Penguin Colony : $251
  • Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope day tour Up to 10 persons: $66
  • Cape Town Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour: $30
  • CapeWinelands Private Tour to Stellenbosch,Franschhoek and Paarl: $96
  • Day Tour in Robben Island, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain : $162
  • Long Walk to Freedom in Robben Island including Ticket & Afrogem: $154
  • Mandela's Robben Island Museum Bo-Kaap Cape Town City Tour + Ferry ticket f/d: $164
  • Penguins Private Tour- Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Tour from Cape Town: $112
  • Private Cape Peninsula Tour : $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kruger National Park $4.05
    Cape Town $20

Sample the Local Flavors in Cape Town

Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.46
  • African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $24
  • Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $28
  • Wine tasting tour : $36
  • From 3 Regions Wine Tour incl 3 Estates, 15 Wines: $37
  • Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $38
  • half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $42
  • Fullday Wine Tour: $50
  • Stellenbosch: Half-Day Wine Tour: $51
  • Stellenbosch Wine Tour half day from Cape Town: $53
  • Private Constantia Wine Tour: $59
  • Cape Point Chapman's Peak Drive Penguins Full Day Tour + Wine Tasting: $59


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kruger National Park and Cape Town, we can see that Cape Town 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 Cape Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Town 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 Kruger National Park Expensive? and Is Cape Town Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Kruger National Park or Cape Town?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Kruger National Park or Cape Town in the Summer?

Both Cape Town and Kruger National Park are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

Kruger National Park is a little warmer than Cape Town in the summer. The daily temperature in Kruger National Park averages around 28°C (83°F) in January, and Cape Town fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

In January, Kruger National Park usually receives more rain than Cape Town. Kruger National Park gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Kruger National Park 28°C (83°F) 
    Cape Town 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Kruger National Park or Cape Town in the Autumn?

Both Cape Town and Kruger National Park during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In the autumn, Kruger National Park is a little warmer than Cape Town. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kruger National Park in April average around 24°C (76°F), and Cape Town averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Kruger National Park usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Cape Town. Kruger National Park gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Kruger National Park 24°C (76°F) 
    Cape Town 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Kruger National Park or Cape Town in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kruger National Park and Cape Town.

In July, Kruger National Park is generally a little warmer than Cape Town. Daily temperatures in Kruger National Park average around 18°C (64°F), and Cape Town fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In July, Kruger National Park usually receives less rain than Cape Town. Kruger National Park gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Kruger National Park 18°C (64°F) 
    Cape Town 13°C (55°F)

Should I visit Kruger National Park or Cape Town in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kruger National Park as well as Cape Town.

Kruger National Park is much warmer than Cape Town in the spring. The daily temperature in Kruger National Park averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Cape Town fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Kruger National Park usually gets more rain in October than Cape Town. Kruger National Park gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Cape Town receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Kruger National Park 25°C (77°F) 
    Cape Town 16°C (61°F)

Typical Weather for Cape Town and Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park Cape Town
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 21°C (70°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 98 mm (3.9 in) 21°C (70°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 20°C (68°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Apr 24°C (76°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
May 21°C (69°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jun 17°C (63°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 13°C (56°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 13°C (55°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Aug 20°C (67°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Sep 23°C (73°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 14°C (58°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 16°C (61°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 19°C (65°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Dec 28°C (82°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 20°C (68°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)