Which place is cheaper, Kruger National Park or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Kruger National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Kruger National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Pretoria or Kruger National Park?
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
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 Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $49Kruger National Park $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $49, while the average daily cost in Kruger National Park is $80. 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 Pretoria and Kruger National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $25Kruger National Park $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $50Kruger National Park $94
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Kruger National Park
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria 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: Kruger National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $12Kruger National Park $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City Private Transfer: $250
- Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $26
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: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Kruger National Park?
Prices for flights to both Kruger National Park and Pretoria 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 dayPretoria $15Kruger National Park $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kruger National Park
For Kruger National Park, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sabi Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Dinner: $135
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $14Kruger National Park $21
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Pilanesberg National Park Full Day Guided Tour( Safari Experience) : $176
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $53
- 1 Night 2 Days eSwatini ( Swaziland Tour): $292
- 2 Hours Bicycle Tour in Soweto(Johannesburg): $88
- 4-Hours Pretoria Private History Tour : $80
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $80
- Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg: $192
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $50
- City Tour of Pretoria: $133
- Constitutional Hill Highlight Tour: $100
- Cradle of Human Kind & Lion & Rhino Park Tour Full day Tour Private : $182
- Cradle of Humankind Caves Half Day Tour: $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:
- Kruger National Park Full Day Safari Tour: $185
- Kruger National Park Sunrise Half-Day Safari Tour: $174
- 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $668
- Kruger Safari Tour - Morning Half Day: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $31Kruger National Park $4.10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pretoria and Kruger National Park, we can see that Kruger National Park is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria 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.