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

Should you visit Kruger National Park or Essaouira?

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

Where Should I go: Kruger National Park or Essaouira?

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.

Essaouira

Essaouira is a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The city has a pleasant medina that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is interesting to explore. It's an 18th century fortified town with a lot of character and charm. The city is rich and culture and you'll find a handful of art galleries throughout the town. The city is also a gathering place for artists and musicians, particularly during the Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which takes place the last week of June. This event attracts about 450,000 visitors yearly.

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 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Essaouira 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 $80, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $46. 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 Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kruger National Park $47
    Essaouira $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kruger National Park $94
    Essaouira $52
Compare Hotels in Kruger National Park and Essaouira

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


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 Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kruger National Park $24
    Essaouira $1.99

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: $180

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

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

  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
  • Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
  • Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
  • Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $262
  • Marrakech : Private Transfer from or to Marrakech Airoport: $22
  • From Scenic Diabat Horseback Ride with Transfer: $48
  • From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $150
  • From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
  • From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
  • From Beachside Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $70
  • Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80

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

Prices for flights to both Essaouira 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 $16
    Essaouira $14

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: $134

Typical Food Prices in Essaouira

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:


  • Baklava
    $1.40
  • Breakfast Crepes
    $0.50
  • Fish for Lunch
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira

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

  • Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
  • L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $55
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $170

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kruger National Park $21
    Essaouira $12

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: $174
  • 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $688
  • Kruger Safari Tour - Morning Half Day: $51

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.

  • Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $70
  • 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
  • Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
  • Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
  • Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $129
  • Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $65
  • Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $65
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
  • 3-Hour Quad Bike Tour: $87
  • Area Highlights 3 hours E-Bike Tour: $61
  • Atlantic Dune Buggy Adventure: $206
  • Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kruger National Park $4.10
    Essaouira $9.16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kruger National Park and Essaouira, we can see that Kruger National Park is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Essaouira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Essaouira 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 Essaouira.

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 Essaouira Expensive?.