Which place is cheaper, Kruger National Park or Pretoria?
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 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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Pretoria Prices
South Africa PricesKruger National Park Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $70Kruger National Park $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $70, while the average daily cost in Kruger National Park is $108. 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 $29Kruger National Park $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $58Kruger National Park $112
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 $14Kruger National Park $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City Private Transfer: $246
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg Airport to Johannesburg: $35
- Private Airport Transfers to Sandton & Joburg CBD: $26
- Private Airport Transfers in Johannesburg: $63
- Half-Day City Tour with Hotel Transfer: $111
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $43
- Full-Day Pretoria City Tour with Guide and Transfers: $120
- Dinokeng Safari with Transfer: $154
- Airport Transfers and Private Tours: $45
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: $96
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 $30Kruger National Park $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Feisty Food Tour: $86
- Johannesburg: Carnivore Restaurant Dinner with Transfers: $123
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $132
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $137
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:
- Safari Game Drive and Dinner in the Bush near Hoedspruit: $164
- No1 Rated Sunset Game Drive and Bush Dinner: $176
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $17Kruger National Park $25
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1Day Pilanesburg Big 5 safari experience: $77
- 2 Days Historical Cultural and Sightseeing Tour in Johannesburg: $244
- 3 tours/ cradle human kind caves and Lesedi Cultural village: $166
- 3-Day Private Tour Johannesburg - See everything: $249
- 5 Hour Lesedi Cultural Village Tour: $120
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg: $144
- Aha Lesedi Cultural Village tour: $182
- Apartheid History of South Africa (Full day Experience with lunch: $118
- Apartheid Museum Guided Tour: $64
- Apartheid Museum and Soweto Tour in Johannesburg: $102
- Bicycle or Tuk Tuk Soweto Guided Experience: $107
- Boat Cruise and Aerial Cable in Johannesburg: $223
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:
- 1 Hour Quad Bike Safari Adventure and Zipline: $71
- Full-Day Guided Tour in the Kruger National Park: $96
- Half Day Sunset Tshukudu Safari Tour: $99
- Hoedspruit Kruger National Park Full Day Safari Tour: $164
- Johannesburg Highlights & Scenic City Tour: $128
- Kruger National Park Full Day Safari Tour: $254
- Kruger National Park Guided Day Tour including Hotel Pick-Up and Drop-Off: $154
- Kruger National Park Half Day Tour from Hoedspruit: $104
- Private Full Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Hoedspruit: $209
- Private Guided Panorama Full Day Tour: $280
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $36Kruger National Park $4.82
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.