Daily costs
| Typical daily cost | €40-70 / €120-250 |
|---|---|
| Budget level | $$ / $$$ |
| Trip length | 12 - 18 days recommended |
| Region | Southern Africa |
What things cost
Illustrative planning allowances for South Africa. These are not verified current prices. Replace these allowances with dated quotes before booking. Check whether each price is per person, room or vehicle.
| Hostel or guesthouse (per night, Cape Town) | ZAR 400–800 ($22–45) |
| Mid-range hotel or B&B (per night) | ZAR 1,400–2,500 ($78–140) |
| Bunny chow, boerie roll, cafe lunch | ZAR 60–130 ($3–7) |
| Restaurant dinner with wine | ZAR 350–600 ($19–33) |
| Kruger day safari (self-drive: park fee) | ZAR 124/day; guided drives ZAR 600–1,500 |
| Table Mountain cableway return | ZAR 400 (~$22) |
Daily budget by travel style
| Shoestring — ZAR 700/day ($39) | Hostels, self-catering or street food, self-drive Kruger, free hikes and beaches. |
| Comfortable — ZAR 1,800/day ($100) | Guesthouses, restaurant meals, guided safari days, wine tours. |
| Upside — ZAR 4,000+/day ($220) | Private reserve lodges (Singita-adjacent), fine dining, helicopter trips. |
The page-wide figure of €40-70 / €120-250 per day (at the $$ / $$$ level) matches the 12 - 18 days recommended. Flights are separate.
How to save money in South Africa
- Self-drive Kruger in a rented car: gate fees are ZAR 124/day and the same animals walk past — guided drives are comfort, not access.
- Eat the local classics: bunny chow, braai and supermarket braai packs cost a tenth of the wine-lands fine dining.
- Use the MyCiTi bus and minibus taxis in Cape Town; parking in the CBD is the hidden expense.
- May-August (winter) is low season for Cape Town hotels yet peak safari season — the two coasts price opposite each other.
Related guides
Ready-made itinerary · Best time to visit · General budget tips · Full South Africa guide
FAQ
Is South Africa a cheap destination?
For foreigners, yes: the exchange rate does the work. ZAR 700-1,800 per day covers everything from hostels to guesthouses, and safaris price 30-50% below East African equivalents.
How much does a safari cost?
Self-drive Kruger runs park fees plus car and camp: ZAR 400-800 per day. Private reserves with guided drives start near ZAR 3,500 per night and climb to the famous lodges.
Is Cape Town safe for tourists?
With neighborhood sense, yes: stay in the well-trodden zones (City Bowl, Sea Point), use Uber at night, keep phones off the table at cafes, and ask hosts about the two or three streets to avoid.
What does a 12-18 day trip to South Africa really cost?
Multiply the daily figure by your days: at the mid-range (€120 per day per person), on-ground costs for 12-18 days land around €1,400–€4,500, before international flights. The style table above shows which choices move you between the columns.
How to use these budget figures
These amounts are editorial allowances rather than a survey of current prices. Confirm the currency and whether the charge is per person, room, vehicle or group. Replace accommodation and activity figures with quotes for your dates. Flights, insurance and entry costs must be budgeted separately unless explicitly included.