Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kruger National Park or Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
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 PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKruger National Park $100Johannesburg $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Kruger National Park is $100, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $115. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKruger National Park $51Johannesburg $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKruger National Park $102Johannesburg $116
Compare Hotels in Kruger National Park and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Kruger National Park or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kruger National Park $26Johannesburg $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kruger National Park
Also for Kruger National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer from Greater Kruger to Gauteng: $65
- Transfer - Skukuza Airport to Southern Sabi Sand Reserve: $90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg HTL-APT (JNB): $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Johannesburg APT-HTL (JNB): $38
- Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $209
- Tour operator. airport and hotels transfers chauffeur and safari tours services.: $32
- Suncity Transfer: $206
- Shuttle and Transfers to Johannesburg and Pretoria: $74
- Private Van Airport Transfers : Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria: $48
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg by Sedan Car: $77
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg by Luxury Car: $118
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Sedan Car: $76
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $83
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Car: $113
Is it cheaper to fly into Kruger National Park or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $29Johannesburg $31
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 Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $60
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $96
- Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $98
- Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $105
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner : $106
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $107
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $110
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience : $130
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $133
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $145
- Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kruger National Park $23Johannesburg $23
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:
- Citrus farm tours with Primos gin tastings: $24
- 90-minute Elephant Watching Experience in Hoedspruit : $78
- Full-Day Guided Tour in the Kruger National Park: $89
- Private 4x4 Safari Tour in Kruger National Park: $119
- Full-Day Panorama Tour in Mpumalanga Province: $133
- Sabie Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Sundowners: $166
- Private Guided Panorama Full Day Tour : $182
- Kruger National Park Full Day Safari Tour: $237
- 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $781
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $242
- Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $130
- Private Full Day Johannesburg apartheid museum and Soweto Tour : $118
- Private soweto half day tour: $80
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $56
- 1 Day Pilanesberg Safari with Tour Guide: $271
- 2 Day Kruger Glamping Budget Adventure: $487
- 2-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $1,010
- 5 Days 4 Nights Safari Tour In Madikwe And Pilanersbeg: $2,402
- 6 Days Johannesburg and Kruger National Park Tour: $1,737
- Aerial cableway Hartebeespoort Halfday tour: $153
- African Food Tasting Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKruger National Park $4.45Johannesburg $5.05
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.85
- Wine Tasting: $12
- Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $13
When comparing the travel costs between Kruger National Park and Johannesburg, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Johannesburg Expensive?.
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.