Which place is cheaper, Kruger National Park or Soweto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Soweto or Kruger National Park?
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 Soweto and Kruger National Park. 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: Soweto or Kruger National Park?
Soweto
The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.
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 Budget Tours to South Africa, The Best G Adventures Tours to South Africa, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Johannesburg, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySoweto $64Kruger National Park $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Soweto is $64, while the average daily cost in Kruger National Park is $85. 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 Soweto and Kruger National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSoweto $33Kruger National Park $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSoweto $66Kruger National Park $100
Compare Hotels in Soweto and Kruger National Park
Looking for a hotel in Soweto 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.Soweto $12Kruger National Park $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kruger National Park
Also for Kruger National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer from Greater Kruger to Gauteng: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Soweto or Kruger National Park?
Prices for flights to both Kruger National Park and Soweto 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 daySoweto $21Kruger 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:
- Sabie Game Reserve Sunset Safari Tour with Dinner: $144
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Soweto $17Kruger National Park $22
Tours and Activities in Soweto
For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $62
- Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $100
- Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $73
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:
- 90-minute Elephant Watching Experience in Hoedspruit : $76
- Full Day Kruger National Park Tour: $101
- 3-Day Safari Tour and Treehouse Stay: $723
- Kruger Safari Tour - Morning Half Day: $55
- Private 4x4 Safari Tour in Kruger National Park: $115
- Private Full Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Hoedspruit: $187
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySoweto $8.53Kruger National Park $4.32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Soweto and Kruger National Park, we can see that Kruger National Park is more expensive. And not only is Soweto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Soweto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Soweto 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 Soweto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Soweto 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.