A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Serengeti National Park vs. Johannesburg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Serengeti National Park or Johannesburg?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Serengeti National Park or Johannesburg, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Serengeti National Park or Johannesburg?

Serengeti National Park

Sprawling across 5,700 square miles of northern Tanzania in East Africa, Serengeti National Park makes up one of the oldest ecosystems in the world-one whose climate, vegetation, and fauna has barely changed over the past million years.  Today the park is a major wildlife destination, especially during the Great Migration when over a million hoofed animals are on the move.

Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Serengeti National Park?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Serengeti National Park Prices
    Tanzania Prices
    Johannesburg Prices
    South Africa Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Serengeti National Park $148
    Johannesburg $122

The average daily cost (per person) in Serengeti National Park is $148, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $122. 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 Serengeti National Park and Johannesburg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Serengeti National Park $55
    Johannesburg $62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Serengeti National Park $110
    Johannesburg $124
Compare Hotels in Serengeti National Park and Johannesburg

Looking for a hotel in Serengeti National Park or Johannesburg? 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.

Hotels in Serengeti National Park


Hotels in Johannesburg


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: Johannesburg Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Serengeti National Park $20
    Johannesburg $18

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.68

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:

  • 1-4 Passenger Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $75
  • 1-4 Passenger Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $39
  • Airport & Private Shuttle and Transfer Services in Johannesburg: $78
  • Airport Shuttle and Private Transfers: $39
  • Airport Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB by Luxury Van: $82
  • Airport Transfers Johannesburg: $103
  • Airport Transfers Johannesburg-Pretoria-Sandton: $75
  • Airport Transfers OR Tambo to Sandton Hotels: $58
  • Arrival Transfer: JNB Airport to Johannesburg by Business Car: $76
  • Comfort Private Airport Transfer: OR Tambo Airport (JNB): $44
  • Departure Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Business Car: $77
  • Executive Airport Transfers - OR Tambo to Sandton: $77

Is it cheaper to fly into Serengeti National Park or Johannesburg?

Prices for flights to both Johannesburg and Serengeti National Park 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Serengeti National Park $65
    Johannesburg $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.

  • Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
  • Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $96
  • Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $98
  • Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $113
  • Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $125
  • Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $133
  • Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience: $138
  • Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $145
  • Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $217

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Serengeti National Park $51
    Johannesburg $24

Tours and Activities in Johannesburg

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:

  • Mapatiza Mine Guided Tour with Showroom: $4.63
  • Mandela House Entry Ticket: $6.08
  • Mapatiza Gemstone Mine Tour Discover Gemstone Transformation: $6.29
  • Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option: $18
  • Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $22
  • Architectural Walking Tour: $25
  • Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $28
  • Ponte Experience: $31
  • Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $32
  • Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $32
  • Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour: $35
  • Soweto Township Tour: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Serengeti National Park $15
    Johannesburg $5.38

Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:

  • Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $9.37
  • Wine Tasting: $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Serengeti National Park and Johannesburg, we can see that Serengeti National Park is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Johannesburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johannesburg 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 Serengeti National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Serengeti National Park than you might in Johannesburg.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Serengeti National Park Expensive? and Is Johannesburg Expensive?.