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South Africa on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
South Africa is a good-value country on a budget, especially with self-drive. Plan on about R1,400 per person per day (bed R500, food R350, sights R300, transport R250), excluding internal flights.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | R500 | R1,200 | R4,500 |
| Food & drink | R350 | R700 | R1,500 |
| Sights & tickets | R300 | R650 | R1,200 |
| Local transport | R250 | R500 | R1,200 |
| Per person, per day | R1,400 | R3,050 | R8,400 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our South Africa day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk Cape Town's Sea Point Promenade
- Explore the colourful Bo-Kaap
- Hike Lion's Head (go in a group and at busy times)
- Watch the sunset from Signal Hill
- Visit Muizenberg's beach huts and surf beach
- Drive Chapman's Peak (small toll) and stop at viewpoints
Cheap eats
- Gatsby sandwich in Cape Town: about R80–150
- Bunny chow: about R60–120
- Fish and chips in Hout Bay: about R100–180
- Braai meat from a supermarket: about R100–200
- Bobotie at a café: about R120–180
Where to sleep for less
Guesthouses in Cape Town's City Bowl and huts or safari tents in Kruger's rest camps cost about R900–1,800 a double; hostels in Cape Town offer dorms at roughly R250–450.
Getting around cheaply
Rent a car for the Cape Peninsula, winelands and Kruger (about R400–800 a day). Use Uber in cities and MyCiTi buses in Cape Town. Fly between Cape Town and the Kruger area.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Table Mountain cableway (about R450–500)
- Lunch: Gatsby or fish and chips (about R120)
- Afternoon: Bo-Kaap and Sea Point Promenade (free)
- Evening: sunset at Signal Hill and dinner on Bree Street (about R200)
- Total: about R800–900 plus your bed, roughly R1,300–1,400
More ways to save
- Visit in the shoulder months (April–May, September–October).
- Cook braais at self-catering accommodation.
- Use self-catering huts in Kruger rest camps.
- Hike up Table Mountain instead of taking the cableway if fit and in a group.
- Buy wine at estates or supermarkets, which is cheap.
- Tip 10–15% in restaurants and keep small notes for car guards.
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Common questions
Can I visit South Africa on a budget?
Yes, with self-drive, rest camps and self-catering, at about R1,400 a day.
Is self-drive safariing allowed in Kruger?
Yes, on paved and gravel roads, with speed limits up to 50 km/h.
What is free in Cape Town?
The Sea Point Promenade, Bo-Kaap, Lion's Head hike and Signal Hill sunset.