How To Spend Two Weeks in South Africa On a Budget

Budgeting for a holiday is one of the hardest and most stressful parts of planning a holiday. Budget too little and you could be forced to dip into Credit Cards and avoid the attractions you came to see.

According to budget your trip, you should allow R18,000.00 per person for a 2-week trip. This is based on 2 people travelling and using local transport. This could be more expensive if you prefer to travel with more luxury transfers, meals, or accommodation.

In order to break down the main costs, I have broken it down to 3 sections: Accommodation, Food, and Internal Transfers. You should always allow extra money for unforeseen expenses, I would recommend around R200.00 – R500.00 per day.

Accommodation cost?

Accommodation varies widely in cost from cheap backpackers at R350.00 per person per night to a Luxury 5* hotel that can set you back around R7 000.00 per person per night. It really depends on your accommodation preference and budget.

A standard 4* hotel or Bed and Breakfast will cost you around R700.00 – R1 000.00 per person per night.

Another accommodation aspect to take into account is the cost of Safari Lodges. Safari Lodges cost between R2 000.00 – R3 000.00 per person per night for a standard lodge including Breakfast and Dinner.

Travel Cost within South Africa?

South Africa is a large country and one needs to factor in the cost of travelling within it when planning your travel budget.

Most travellers come to South Africa via Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport or Cape Town Airport. The most popular Safari Route is to fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to the lodge from there.

A flight between Cape Town and Johannesburg cost on average R1 000.00 per person each way. And Johannesburg to Hoedspruit costs R2 500.00 per person each way.

Self-driving is a popular and effective alternative to flying. A standard rental car will cost between R300.00 and R900.00 per day, with Manual transmissions being cheaper than automatic transmissions. You might want to have a look at Drive South Africa to find the best vehicle for your adventure!

Food Cost?

Food is the hardest part of a budget. As every country and every person is different and eats differently. I recommend allowing between R500.00 – R1 000.00 per day for food and drinks. This will cover all your meals at everyday restaurants. A premium restaurant can cost upwards of R500.00 per person per meal and with our celebrated chefs, you will be spoilt for choice in Cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town. 

Budgeting for a trip is hard, and there is no finite or correct answer. But take these points into consideration and you should be able to get a good idea. In the world of the internet, one can use platforms such as TripAdvisor and Zomato among others, to see other travellers’ experiences and suggestions. Use the internet to your advantage and make your dream trip a reality.