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

Should you visit Kruger National Park or Diani?

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 Diani can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Kruger National Park or Diani?

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.

Diani

Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.

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 Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.


Which place is cheaper, Diani 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kruger National Park is $93, while the average daily cost in Diani is $69. 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 Diani in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kruger National Park $48
    Diani $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kruger National Park $96
    Diani $46
Compare Hotels in Kruger National Park and Diani

Looking for a hotel in Kruger National Park or Diani? 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 Diani


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 Diani Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kruger National Park $25
    Diani $15

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: $186
  • Shuttle Transfer from Greater Kruger to Gauteng: $61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani

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

  • Private transfer to Diani Beach from Mombasa: $65
  • Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $69
  • From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $65
  • Taxi and Airport transfers: $70

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

Prices for flights to both Diani 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 $27
    Diani $35

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Diani

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

  • Nairobi:Carnivore Restaurant Romantic Dinner With Transfer.: $38
  • Diani Beach: Special Dinner with a Local: $50
  • A ROMANTIC BEACH BONFIRE DINNER SET UP: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kruger National Park $21
    Diani $15

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:

  • Full-Day Guided Tour in the Kruger National Park: $84
  • Kruger National Park Sunrise Half-Day Safari Tour: $181
  • 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $735
  • Private Guided Panorama Full Day Tour : $171
  • Sabie Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Sundowners: $156

Tours and Activities in Diani

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

  • 1 day Shimba Hills Tour: $185
  • Diani Beach: 2-Hour Glass Bottom-Boat Cruise: $28
  • Diani Beach: Children's Homes Visit And Donation Tour.: $39
  • Diani Beach: Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $42
  • Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
  • Diani Beach: Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour: $42
  • Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $32
  • Diani Beach: Village tour on a bike with hotel pick-up: $64
  • Diani bush tour: $75
  • Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $27
  • Kisite Private Boat Tour with Snorkeling and Lunch: $120
  • Market and Street Food Walking Tour: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kruger National Park $4.13
    Diani $8.91


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

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 Diani Expensive?.