Which place is cheaper, Kruger National Park or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi or Kruger National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Kruger National Park can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Kruger National Park?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park, in northeast South Africa hugs the border of Mozambique in the east, Zimbabwe in the north, and the Crocodile River to the south. Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometers, it hosts a variety of habitats with a thriving population of wildlife and indigenous plant species, making it a safari destination like no other.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in South Africa, and The Best 10-Day Tours in South Africa.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesKruger National Park Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Kruger National Park $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Kruger National Park is $92. 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 Nairobi and Kruger National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Kruger National Park $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Kruger National Park $96
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Kruger National Park
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Kruger National Park? 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Kruger National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Kruger National Park $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transport from Nairobi transfer Masai Mara gates Sekekani Talek: $250
- Safe and Private Airport transfer in Nairobi : $20
- Safe and Executive Airport transfer in Nairobi: $40
- Return Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $120
- Professional Airport Transfer Service in Nairobi: $33
- Private Transfer in Nairobi: $180
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or city To Maasai Mara By Road: $135
- Private Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) to Nairobi: $40
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Private One-Way Transfer from Nairobi: $27
- Private Departure Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Airport transfer in Nairobi to Hotels: $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kruger National Park
Also for Kruger National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer - Skukuza Airport to Southern Sabi Sand Reserve: $86
- Shuttle Transfer from Greater Kruger to Gauteng: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Kruger National Park?
Prices for flights to both Kruger National Park and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Kruger National Park $27
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $50
- Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience : $68
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $85
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
- Traditional Kikuyu Cooking Class In My Village: $100
- Nairobi Nightlife and Safari Park Hotel Dinner Experience: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Kruger National Park $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1Day Tour Nairobi Park ,Giraffe Center,karen Blixxen Guided tour: $45
- Animal Orphanage Half Day Tour in Nairobi: $150
- Coffee Factory Private tour from Nairobi.: $75
- Coffee Farm tour from Nairobi: $90
- Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour: $95
- Half day tour to Elephant orphanage & Giraffe Centre Nairobi: $95
- Hells Gate Park & Lake Naivasha boat ride Day tour: $150
- Nairobi Giraffe Center Layover Tour with Pickup: $95
- Private Tour to Karunguru Coffee Farm : $140
- Shared 3Day Maasai Mara National Reserve Tour: $200
- Tour Hells gate National park day tour: $150
- 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha : $130
Tours and Activities in Kruger National Park
For Kruger National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Citrus farm tours with Primos gin tastings: $23
- Full-Day Guided Tour in the Kruger National Park: $85
- Kruger National Park Sunrise Half-Day Safari Tour: $183
- 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $737
- Private 4x4 Safari Tour in Kruger National Park: $113
- Private Full Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Hoedspruit: $183
- Private Guided Panorama Full Day Tour : $173
- Sabie Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Sundowners: $158
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Kruger National Park $4.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Kruger National Park, we can see that Kruger National Park is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Kruger National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kruger National Park than you might in Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Kruger National Park 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.