Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg 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.
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Should you visit Masai Mara or Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg. 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 Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $133Johannesburg $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $122. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Johannesburg $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Johannesburg $124
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Johannesburg $18
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- JNB Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $12
- Private Transfer in Johannesburg OR Tambo and Lanseria: $19
- 24 hour Airport Shuttle and Transfer: $29
- 24 Hour Private Transfer Sandton to OR Tambo: $29
- O R Tambo Airport Sedan Transfers: Sandton, Rosebank and Melrose: $34
- Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport JNB Private Transfer: $37
- Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- OR Tambo Airport Private Transfer To Sandton: $38
- Airport Shuttle and Private Transfers: $39
- 1-4 Passenger Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $40
- Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport (JNB) Departure Transfer: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $57Johannesburg $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $78
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $96
- Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $98
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $112
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $125
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $133
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience: $138
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $145
- Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Johannesburg $24
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
- Giraffe Center Guided Tour from Nairobi: $65
- Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $70
- 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
- Tour to Fairview Coffee Farm Tour with Coffee Testing: $98
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Mapatiza Mine Guided Tour with Showroom: $4.63
- Mandela House Entry Ticket: $6.08
- Mapatiza Gemstone Mine Tour Discover Gemstone Transformation: $6.23
- Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option: $19
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $22
- Architectural Walking Tour: $25
- Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $28
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $32
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $32
- Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour: $34
- Soweto Township Tour: $35
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Johannesburg $5.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $9.44
- Wine Tasting: $12
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $162
When comparing the travel costs between Masai Mara and Johannesburg, we can see that Masai Mara 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 Masai Mara Expensive? and Is Johannesburg 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.