A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lake Nakuru vs. Hermanus for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lake Nakuru or Hermanus?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lake Nakuru and Hermanus. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Lake Nakuru or Hermanus?

Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's 23 National Parks, also qualifying as one of the two Premium Parks in the country. Located in central Kenya, about 90 miles west of Nairobi, the area encompasses a large lake as well as the surrounding wooded grasslands. A naturalist's paradise, Lake Nakuru is home to wildlife like flamingos, other water birds, and the black and white rhinoceros.

Hermanus

Hermanus is located on the southern coast of the Western Cape region of South Africa, situated right on the Atlantic Ocean. The area is famous for being the summer home to the Southern Right Whales who migrate there from the Antarctic every September. Hermanus offers incredible natural scenery and great opportunities for adventure seekers. The best time to visit is during their winter and spring, which runs from April through October. This is the driest time of year, meaning wildlife is easier to spot and the heat is much more bearable!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in South Africa, and The Best Luxury Tours to South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Hermanus or Lake Nakuru?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Nakuru is $117, while the average daily cost in Hermanus is $67. 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 Lake Nakuru and Hermanus in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lake Nakuru $45
    Hermanus $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lake Nakuru $90
    Hermanus $50
Compare Hotels in Lake Nakuru and Hermanus

Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru or Hermanus? 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 Lake Nakuru


Hotels in Hermanus


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: Hermanus Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lake Nakuru $41
    Hermanus $8.04

Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Nakuru or Hermanus?

Prices for flights to both Hermanus and Lake Nakuru 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
    Lake Nakuru $41
    Hermanus $38

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lake Nakuru $37
    Hermanus -

Tours and Activities in Hermanus

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hermanus are as follows:

  • Half-Day Private Tour to Cape Peninsula with Local Guide: $268
  • Hermanus Food and Culture Tour: $73
  • Hermanus Land based Whale Walking Tour with Dave de Beer: $69
  • Hermanus Whale Watching Day Tour: $24
  • Boat Based Whale Watching Experience: $71
  • Shark Cage Diving - Adventure Meets Conservation!: $134
  • Whale Watching Walking Tours (Land-Based) - from JUNE 2024: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lake Nakuru $7.74
    Hermanus -

Sample the Local Flavors in Hermanus

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

  • Vineyard Safari and Wine Tasting in Hermanus with Guide : $24
  • Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Tour: $80
  • Private Family Vineyard Safari and Wine Tasting: $146
  • Whale Watching Boat Trip and Wine tasting ,Penguin: $162


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lake Nakuru Expensive? and Is Hermanus Expensive?.