A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Masai Mara vs. Ghent for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Masai Mara or Ghent?

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 Masai Mara and Ghent. 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: Masai Mara or Ghent?

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.

Ghent

Ghent is a large city in the northern part of Belgium (the Flanders region) with a population of about 250,000. This city was one of the most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, which is portrayed today, mostly through architecture. There is a large university in Ghent with over 60,000 students, and a large portion of the population are young students. However, among the natives and students, there are also many foreigners and artists that you will find walking the streets of the city. Ghent is also Belgium's second largest port city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Belgium.


Which place is cheaper, Ghent or Masai Mara?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Ghent is $167. 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 Masai Mara and Ghent in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Masai Mara $37
    Ghent $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Masai Mara $74
    Ghent $166
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Ghent

Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Ghent? 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 Masai Mara


Hotels in Ghent


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 and Ghent Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Masai Mara $47
    Ghent $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:

  • Nairobi Airport (NBO) Private Transfer to Nairobi City/Hotels: $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ghent

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ghent:

  • Transfer Ghent Luxembourg (1 to 8 places): $250

Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Ghent?

Prices for flights to both Ghent and Masai Mara 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
    Masai Mara $57
    Ghent $69

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.

  • Nairobi Private Carnivore Dinner Experience: $125
  • Chiyo Japanese and Korean Restaurant Dinner with Cat Dance Show: $155
  • Nairobi National Museum and Carnivore Restaurant Food Tour: $275

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ghent

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ghent.

  • Walking Food Tour in Ghent: $95
  • Walking food tour: Introduction to Ghent through food: $109

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Masai Mara $60
    Ghent $10

Tours and Activities in Masai Mara

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

  • Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
  • David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $55
  • Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $60
  • Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
  • Nairobi full day shopping tour: $65
  • Giraffe Center Guided Tour from Nairobi: $65
  • Giraffe Center and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour: $72
  • Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
  • Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
  • Nairobi National Park Guided Day Tour From Nairobi: $95
  • Day tour to Giraffe center and Karen Blixen Nairobi: $95
  • Private Day Tour to Nairobi Arboretum and Nairobi National Museum: $109

Tours and Activities in Ghent

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

  • Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Gent: $3.50
  • Evening Tour of the Dark Side of Gent: $3.50
  • Gastronomic Walking Tour of Gent - Tasters included: $3.50
  • Guided tour of the medieval secrets of Ghent: $3.51
  • Ghent Highlights Walking Tour with Smartphone App: $5.00
  • TOP Ghent : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $5.85
  • Ghent Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour: $5.85
  • Ghent Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
  • Hidden A Self-Guided Audio Tour Of The Flemish City: $12
  • 40-Minute Historical Boat Tour of City Center: $13
  • 40 Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Tour: $13
  • Pub Trail Kortrijk: an adventure full of surprises: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Masai Mara $26
    Ghent $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Ghent

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ghent:

  • Brewery Visit in Ostend- Two 33cl Beers Included: $21
  • Brewery Visit in Ostend- 3 Beers & Breughel Plate Experience: $41
  • NEW Ghent Brewery Visit, Beer Tasting Tour & Chocolate Pairing: $88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Ghent, we can see that Ghent is more expensive. And not only is Masai Mara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Masai Mara is in Africa and Ghent is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Masai Mara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Masai Mara 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 Ghent would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ghent than you might in Masai Mara.

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