Which place is cheaper, Masai Mara or Zanzibar?
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 Zanzibar or Masai Mara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Masai Mara 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: Zanzibar or Masai Mara?
Zanzibar
Just off the coast of Tanzania lies an entrancing archipelago known as Zanzibar. This gorgeous string of islands is the land of sultans, palaces beaches and spice-filled markets. Once an important trading center, many restorations have been done in recent years to restore Zanzibar to its ancient grandeur - earning its capital city UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.
Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, and The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesMasai Mara Prices
Kenya Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Masai Mara $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Masai Mara is $133. 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 Zanzibar and Masai Mara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Masai Mara $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Masai Mara $74
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Masai Mara
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Masai Mara? 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: Zanzibar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Masai Mara $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer Anywhere: $12
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $15
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers Pickup and Drop off/departure: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Zanzibar Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar airport/port - Pick & Drop off: $25
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer (ZNZ) - Private Taxi & Hotel Transfer: $30
- Airport /Hotel Transfers in Zanzibar: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:
- Nairobi Airport (NBO) Private Transfer to Nairobi City/Hotels: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Masai Mara?
Prices for flights to both Masai Mara and Zanzibar 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 dayZanzibar $28Masai Mara $57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Private Zanzibar Spices Tour with Traditional Swahili Cooking Lesson: $55
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Traditional Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $76
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $99
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $107
- Zanzibar Private Tour & Cooking Class: $110
- Fully Day Private Tour Spice Tour Cooking Class and Stone town: $130
- Spice Farm with Cooking Class + Lunch and Stone town (City tour): $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Masai Mara $60
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Stone Town Self Audio Guide Tour With Tourist Map: $6.00
- Stone town Private Walking Tour: $16
- Stone Town Guided Walking Tour: Shopping, Culture & History: $16
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $17
- City Tour with French guide: $18
- Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $18
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour: $19
- Zanzibar Green Tour Spice Farm and Butterfly Centre: $20
- Stone Town Hidden Gems: Historical Walking Tour with Local Guide: $20
- Best Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $20
- Fruits & Spices Adventure: $21
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $38
- Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
- Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $60
- Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
- Giraffe Center and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour: $72
- Nairobi National Park Half Day Tour From Nairobi: $75
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $75
- Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
- Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
- Nairobi Souvenir Shopping and Historical Half day Tour: $95
- Day tour to Giraffe Center and Karen Blixen Museum: $95
- Nairobi National Park Guided Day Tour From Nairobi: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Masai Mara $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Zanzibar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:
- Thrilling Pub Crawl In Zanzibar. Visit 3 Unique Bars: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Masai Mara, we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Zanzibar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zanzibar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zanzibar 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 Masai Mara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Masai Mara than you might in Zanzibar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Masai Mara 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.