Which place is cheaper, Masai Mara or Lake Nakuru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lake Nakuru or Masai Mara?
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 Masai Mara. 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 Masai Mara?
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.
Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Adventure Tours to Kenya, and The Best Camping Tours in Kenya.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Nakuru $116Masai Mara $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Nakuru is $116, while the average daily cost in Masai Mara is $109. 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 Masai Mara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Nakuru $45Masai Mara $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Nakuru $90Masai Mara $74
Compare Hotels in Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara
Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru or Masai Mara? 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: Masai Mara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Nakuru $41Masai Mara $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:
- Airport Transfers: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Nakuru or Masai Mara?
Prices for flights to both Masai Mara 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
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Food Meals for one dayLake Nakuru $41Masai Mara $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Nakuru $36Masai Mara $61
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- 1Day Tour Nairobi Park ,Giraffe Center,karen Blixxen Guided tour: $50
- 5 hours Nairobi national park Private tour: $150
- Kibera Slum Guided Tour from Nairobi: $97
- 2-Hour Private Tour in Giraffe Centre in Nairobi: $44
- 3-Days Maasai Mara Camping Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $285
- 5 Hour Private Tour Nairobi National Park Or Evening Game Drive: $100
- Airport Layover Tour to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center: $225
- Amboseli National Park Day Tour from Nairobi: $150
- Day Tour To Hells Gate and optional boat ride at Lake Naivasha: $120
- Day Tour To Mt. Kenya : $285
- Day Tour at Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Centre: $62
- Day Tour to Amboseli National park and Masai Village Tour: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Nakuru $7.63Masai Mara $26
When comparing the travel costs between Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, we can see that Lake Nakuru 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 Lake Nakuru Expensive? and Is Masai Mara 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.