Which place is cheaper, Cape Town or Kruger National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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.
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Kruger National Park Prices
South Africa PricesCape Town Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKruger National Park $100Cape Town $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Kruger National Park is $100, while the average daily cost in Cape Town is $179. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKruger National Park $51Cape Town $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKruger National Park $102Cape Town $166
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kruger National Park $26Cape Town $18
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: $90
- Shuttle Transfer from Greater Kruger to Gauteng: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- West Coast Wonders Full Day Tour with Private Transfer: $253
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cape Town HTL-APT(CPT): $44
- Transfer from Cape Town City Center to Cape Town Airport: $18
- Transfer To Safari- Aquila From Cape Town Excluding Entry Fees Full Day: $147
- Township Tour by Lwafika Tours and Transfers in Cape Town: $71
- Table Mountain Tour with Round Trip Transfers: $99
- Table Mountain Tour with Cable Car Tickets and Transfers: $88
- Stellenbosch Winelands Connoisseur Day Tour with Private Transfer: $273
- Shopping Mall Transfers: $24
- Shark Diving Full Day Guided Return Transfer to Gansbaai from Cape Town: $159
- Shared Transfers to and from Safari Game Reserve (excluding entrance fees): $91
- Shared Return Transfer to Aquila Safari from Cape Town Day trip: $147
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
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Food Meals for one dayKruger National Park $29Cape Town $77
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:
- Safari Game Drive and Dinner in the Bush near Hoedspruit: $151
- Bush Braai Dinner and Game Drive Kruger Park Plus : $178
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:
- African Cooking with a Chef Founder: $30
- Private Indonesian & Cape Malay Cultural Cooking Class : $71
- From African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $72
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $75
- Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Class and Local Shopping in Salt River: $77
- South African Cooking Class in Cape Town with a Local Family: $82
- Sunset At Signal Hill Constantia Wine Tasting and Dinner: $83
- Cape Town African Taste-Safari & Live Entertainment Dinner Experience: $88
- Private Authentic Cape Malay Cooking Class in Manenberg with Locals: $92
- Food Tour in “Little Mogadishu,” Bellville, Cape Town: $94
- Half Day Cape Town African Dinner Restaurant with Live Music Show: $98
- Private Cape Malay Cooking Class in Cape Town with a Local Family: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kruger National Park $23Cape Town $25
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:
- 90-minute Elephant Watching Experience in Hoedspruit : $78
- Citrus farm tours with Primos gin tastings: $24
- Full-Day Guided Tour in the Kruger National Park: $89
- Full-Day Panorama Tour in Mpumalanga Province: $133
- Kruger National Park Full Day Safari Tour: $237
- 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $781
- Private 4x4 Safari Tour in Kruger National Park: $119
- Private Guided Panorama Full Day Tour : $182
- Sabie Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Sundowners: $166
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Days Private Guided Tour in Cape Town: $295
- 3 Wineries Private Tour in Stellenbosch, Paarl Tasting Included: $148
- Cape Agulhas Full Day Private Tour: $208
- Cape Agulhas, Hermanus Stony Point Penguins Colony Tour : $230
- Cape Point Full Day Tour: $206
- Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Penguins Experience: $88
- Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens and City Tour: $300
- Cape Town Central wine and cheese pairing private Tour Drive : $224
- Cape Town Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour: $33
- Cape Town, Destination for Wine and galery Lovers Private Tour: $283
- Cape Winelands From Cape Town Private Day Tour: $175
- Cape Winelands Tour to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKruger National Park $4.45Cape Town $22
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:
- Stellenbosch Small Group Wine Tasting Tour From Cape Town: $2.65
- Distillery Tour, rum and gin tasting: $12
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $14
- Craft Gin Tasting Experience and Distillery Tour: $14
- Indigenous Food and Wine Tasting: $26
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $28
- Urban Wine Tasting: $30
- Wine Tasting & Storytelling with SA Tapas add-on: $30
- Cape Town Hop- On Hop -Off Tour and Groot Constantia Wine Tasting: $31
- Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Babylonstoren Wine Tour: $38
- Wine Tour at Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl: $46
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $47
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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryKruger 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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilKruger 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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyKruger 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.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberKruger 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) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.