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

Should you visit Lake Nakuru or Kruger National Park?

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 Kruger National Park. 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 Kruger National Park?

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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in South Africa, and The Best 10-Day Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Kruger National Park or Lake Nakuru?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Nakuru is $113, while the average daily cost in Kruger National Park is $79. 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 Kruger National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lake Nakuru $44
    Kruger National Park $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lake Nakuru $88
    Kruger National Park $94
Compare Hotels in Lake Nakuru and Kruger National Park

Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru or Kruger National Park? 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 Kruger National Park


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lake Nakuru $40
    Kruger National Park $24

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: $184

Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Nakuru or Kruger National Park?

Prices for flights to both Kruger National Park 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 $40
    Kruger National Park $15

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: $137

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lake Nakuru $36
    Kruger National Park $21

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: $178
  • 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $677
  • Kruger Safari Tour - Morning Half Day: $52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lake Nakuru $7.46
    Kruger National Park $4.05


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Nakuru and Kruger National Park, we can see that Lake Nakuru 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 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 Kruger National Park.

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 Kruger National Park Expensive?.