Which place is cheaper, Kampala 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 Kampala?
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 Kampala. 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 Kampala?
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.
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
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Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesKampala Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $133Kampala $78
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $78. 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 Kampala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Kampala $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Kampala $122
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Kampala
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Kampala? 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: Kampala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Kampala $2.58
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 Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
- The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $65
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
- Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
- Jinja 1 Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Kampala?
Prices for flights to both Kampala 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 $57Kampala $15
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
- Nairobi National Museum and Carnivore Restaurant Food Tour: $275
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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Lunch for 2$1.65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Cooking class Experience in Kampala Uganda: $35
- Matoke Moments Kampala Food Tour 12+ Tastings: $49
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Kampala Kitchens Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $99
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
- Kampala cooking tour: $133
- uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ): $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Kampala -
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: $38
- 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
- Giraffe Center and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour: $72
- Nairobi National Park Half Day Tour From Nairobi: $75
- Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
- Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
- Ngong Hills Adventure from Nairobi: $85
- Nairobi National Park Guided Day Tour From Nairobi: $95
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- African Fabric Market Tour: $13
- Kampala walking city Tours Experiences: $20
- Kampala City Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $20
- Entebbe Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Zoo and Botanical Gardens Options: $25
- Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
- Complete Kampala Tour Experience: $25
- Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $25
- Kampala’s Best Experience walking tour: $26
- Cook and Dine like a local Tour Kampala: $26
- Steve Kampala Walking tours (Airpals Safaris tour): $26
- Kampala Walking City Tours (Women-Guided): $27
- 3 Hours Walking Tour in Kampala: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Kampala -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Kampala, we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampala 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 Kampala.
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 Kampala 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.