Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate?
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 Ouarzazate. 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 Ouarzazate?
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.
Ouarzazate
Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.
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Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesOuarzazate Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $133Ouarzazate $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $59. 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 Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Ouarzazate $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Ouarzazate $46
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Ouarzazate? 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 Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Ouarzazate $3.68
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 Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $29
- Private Ouarzazate Airport Transfer: $30
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $46
- Private transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou (round Trip): $80
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $119
- Private Transfert Between Marrakech & Ouarzazate: $187
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate 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 $57Ouarzazate $30
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
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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Dinner for Two$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.
- Private Berber Cooking Class at Fint Oasis with Lunch: $59
- Private Moroccan Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Ouarzazate $11
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 Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Skoura Oasis Walking Tour and Homemade Meal with Locals: $22
- Skoura Oasis Guided Bike Tour with Local Guide&Cultural Experienc: $23
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $23
- Half Day Private Tour in Sidiflah Gorge: $25
- Private tour in the oasis of Skoura with pottery workshop: $25
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- Ouzoud Waterfall Day Tour from Marrakech: $32
- Private half-day mountain bike tour discover Palmeraie Skoura: $33
- guided tour of the Skoura palm grove by mountain bike: $35
- Desert Adventure in Skoura: $35
- Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $41
- Guided tour of the Palmerie de Skoura by electric mountain bike: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Ouarzazate -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Ouarzazate, we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate.
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 Ouarzazate 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.