Which place is cheaper, Hibiscus Coast or Masai Mara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Masai Mara or Hibiscus Coast?
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 Hibiscus Coast. 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 Hibiscus Coast?
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.
Hibiscus Coast
The Hibiscus Coast, or KwaZulu-Natal, is located on the southeast coast of South Africa, just south of Durban. The area is rich in beautiful beaches and lush nature reserves which offer fantastic opportunities for hiking, swimming, and other outdoor adventures. The Hibiscus Coast experiences their summer from December-February, with temperatures in the 70's Fahrenheit, making these the best months to visit.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $111Hibiscus Coast $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $111, while the average daily cost in Hibiscus Coast is $57. 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 Hibiscus Coast in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $38Hibiscus Coast $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $76Hibiscus Coast $60
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Hibiscus Coast
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Hibiscus Coast? 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 and Hibiscus Coast Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $48Hibiscus Coast $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:
- Airport Transfers: $40
- Private One-Way Nairobi Airport Transfer: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Hibiscus Coast?
Prices for flights to both Hibiscus Coast 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
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Food Meals for one dayMasai Mara $34Hibiscus Coast $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $61Hibiscus Coast $4.82
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $35
- Half Day Tour Elephant Orphanage,Giraffe CenterKobe Beads Factory: $38
- 1Day Tour Nairobi Park ,Giraffe Center,karen Blixxen Guided tour: $45
- A day tour to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center: $52
- Nairobi African Shopping Tour: $55
- Nairobi City Tour: $68
- Lake Nakuru National Park; Admission Ticket: $75
- Lake Nakuru National Park Day Tour from Nairobi: $75
- Karen Blixen Museum & Giraffe Centre Half day tour: $90
- Day tour to Hell's gate and optional boat ride at lake naivasha : $98
- Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage, Beads Center & Bomas of Kenya Tour Nairobi: $115
- Day trip - Lake Nakuru National Park Tour From Nairobi: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $27Hibiscus Coast $5.31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Hibiscus Coast, we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Hibiscus Coast much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hibiscus Coast would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hibiscus Coast 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 Masai Mara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Masai Mara than you might in Hibiscus Coast.
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 Hibiscus Coast 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.