The spectacular Table Mountain on a beautiful sunny day!
How Much Does it Cost to Travel South Africa With Kids?
This is a summary of costs for 34 days in South Africa with our family of 4 including all airfare, car rental, transportation, accommodations, excursions, food, groceries and everything down to a stick of gum:
- Total cost for 34 days: $5,221.40 Â USD
- Daily average: $153.57
- Accommodation: 1,795.58
- Transport (including 34 day rental car): $904.71
- Excursions: $1,128.21
- Restaurant: $495.92
- Groceries: $360.16
What would this trip cost today?
We drove South Africa in August and September 2014. US prices have risen about 42% since then, so inflation alone would turn our $5,221 into roughly $7,400. In South Africa itself prices rose faster (about 77% in rand), but the rand also fell from about 10.6 to 16.6 per US dollar, which softens the jump for American families. Here’s what the same things cost in late 2026 for a family of four with two kids under 12.
| What | We paid (2014) | Same thing in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Table Mountain Cableway, return | R535 (2 adults + 1 child, ~$50) | R1,410 for 2 adults + 2 kids online (~$85) |
| Robben Island tour | R740 (~$70) | about R1,820 for 4 (~$110); check, prices vary by tour |
| Boulders Beach penguins | R160 (~$15) | R840 for 4 (~$51) |
| Cape of Good Hope / Cape Point entry | R310 (~$29) | R1,760 for 4 (~$106) |
| Addo Elephant Park entry | R600 (~$56) | R1,696 for 4 per day (~$102) |
| Shark cage diving, per adult | R1,500 (~$141) | about R3,805 (~$230) |
| uShaka Marine World, one park | R547 (~$51) | R966 for 4 (~$58) |
| Durban hotel, per night | ~R918 (~$87) | about $41–110 |
| Rental car, per day | ~$20 | about $32 (estimate) |
| Petrol (95, coast), per liter | R14.10 (~$1.33) | R29.38 (~$1.77) |
The bottom line: national park fees rose the most, because South Africa now charges international visitors a much higher rate than locals. Hotels and car rentals are still good value for dollar earners. A family traveling like we did should budget roughly $200–240 a day in 2026, and more if you add big-ticket adventures like shark diving.
2026 prices checked in October 2026 from SANParks (rates from 1 November 2026), Table Mountain Cableway, Robben Island Museum, operator and booking sites, and recent news reports. Dollar figures use about R16.6 per US dollar. Some figures are estimates; always confirm before you book. US passport holders don’t need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
South Africa Family Expense Worksheet
| Date | What we bought | Category | Local price | US$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8 | San Francisco lunch airport | Restaurant | ZAR 28 | $28.00 |
| Aug 10 | Taxi from airport | Taxi | ZAR 350 | $32.92 |
| Aug 10 | Dinner outdoor market eastern food bazaar | Street food | ZAR 94 | $8.84 |
| Aug 10 | Restraint at. Birds | ZAR 180 | $16.93 | |
| Aug 11 | World of birth | Zoo & Aquariums | ZAR 230 | $21.63 |
| Aug 11 | Hop on hop off buss 2 day pass for 2 adults | Bus | ZAR 540 | $50.79 |
| Aug 11 | Breakfast | Restaurant | ZAR 95.5 | $8.98 |
| Aug 11 | Taxi | Taxi | ZAR 60 | $5.64 |
| Aug 11 | Table top 2 adults 1 kid | Excursions | ZAR 535 | $50.32 |
| Aug 11 | Dinner | Restaurant | ZAR 197 | $18.53 |
| Aug 11 | Table picture | Souvenir | ZAR 180 | $16.93 |
| Aug 11 | Groceries | Groceries | ZAR 167 | $15.71 |
| Aug 12 | Robbin island | Excursions | ZAR 740 | $69.60 |
| Aug 13 | Taxi | Taxi | ZAR 60 | $5.64 |
| Aug 13 | Eastern food bazaar | Street food | ZAR 133 | $12.51 |
| Aug 14 | Penguin tip parking | Tips | ZAR 20 | $1.88 |
| Aug 14 | Headbands | Souvenir | ZAR 90 | $8.46 |
| Aug 14 | Boulders Simmons cove penguin | Excursions | ZAR 160 | $15.05 |
| Aug 14 | Dinner Oscars | Restaurant | ZAR 248 | $23.32 |
| Aug 14 | Cape of good hope | Excursions | ZAR 310 | $29.16 |
| Aug 14 | Lucca’s bracelet | Souvenir | ZAR 15 | $1.41 |
| Aug 15 | Hermanous shark | Excursions | ZAR 900.53 | $84.69 |
| Aug 15 | Parking Hermanus pool | Transport | ZAR 6 | $0.56 |
| Aug 15 | Beer | Groceries | ZAR 26.97 | $2.54 |
| Aug 15 | Phone 500 min and data | Phone | ZAR 609 | $57.28 |
| Aug 15 | Hermanus esplanade 2 nights fishing cottage | Accommodation | ZAR 1,180 | $110.98 |
| Aug 15 | Shark diving | Excursions | ZAR 1,500 | $141.07 |
| Aug 16 | Buffeldrift dinner | Restaurant | ZAR 280 | $26.33 |
| Aug 16 | Ice cream | Street food | ZAR 20 | $1.88 |
| Aug 16 | Plug converter | Gear | ZAR 16.9 | $1.59 |
| Aug 16 | Layla’s magic scarf | Souvenir | ZAR 100 | $9.40 |
| Aug 16 | Groceries Oudsthorn | Groceries | ZAR 425.95 | $40.06 |
| Aug 16 | Extra min 300 | Phone | ZAR 15 | $1.41 |
| Aug 16 | Gas 27.26 liters | Transport | ZAR 384.65 | $36.18 |
| Aug 18 | Tip elephants | Tips | ZAR 40 | $3.76 |
| Aug 18 | Elephant I counter | Excursions | ZAR 353.5 | $33.25 |
| Aug 18 | Bufflsdrift milk shakes | Restaurant | ZAR 88 | $8.28 |
| Aug 18 | Cango wildlife | Zoo & Aquariums | ZAR 350 | $32.92 |
| Aug 19 | Cocomo dinner | Restaurant | ZAR 191 | $17.96 |
| Aug 19 | Karoo soul 3 nights oudtshoorn cash | Accommodation | ZAR 1,950 | $183.40 |
| Aug 19 | Gas | Transport | ZAR 412.85 | $38.83 |
| Aug 20 | Kynesna lunch kid play area falcon creek spur | Restaurant | ZAR 205.1 | $19.29 |
| Aug 20 | Kynesna township visit | Excursions | ZAR 900 | $84.64 |
| Aug 20 | Milk | Groceries | ZAR 35.6 | $3.35 |
| Aug 20 | Surf board rental buffles bay 1hr | Entertainment | ZAR 100 | $9.40 |
| Aug 20 | Beach house backpackers wilderness 2 nights | Accommodation | ZAR 900 | $84.64 |
| Aug 21 | Moby dick lunch plettenberg | Restaurant | ZAR 234 | $22.01 |
| Aug 22 | Monkey land and birds of Eden 2 adults2 kids | Zoo & Aquariums | ZAR 706 | $66.40 |
| Aug 22 | Candy | Street food | ZAR 12 | $1.13 |
| Aug 22 | Birds if Eden lunch | Restaurant | ZAR 142 | $13.35 |
| Aug 22 | Groceries Plettenburg | Groceries | ZAR 402.38 | $37.84 |
| Aug 22 | Beer | Groceries | ZAR 32.15 | $3.02 |
| Aug 22 | Swallows Nest 3 nights Plettenbergbaai | Accommodation | ZAR 2,400 | $225.72 |
| Aug 23 | Tenikwa wildlife awareness center plettenberg 2 adults 1 child | Zoo & Aquariums | ZAR 465 | $43.73 |
| Aug 23 | Laundry Plattenberg | Laundry | ZAR 100 | $9.40 |
| Aug 24 | Toll Plattenberg to Jbay | Transport | ZAR 40 | $3.76 |
| Aug 24 | Ice cream at bunggy jump | Street food | ZAR 36 | $3.39 |
| Aug 24 | Bunggy pictures | Excursions | ZAR 400 | $37.62 |
| Aug 24 | Bloukrans bungi 790 jump, 300 witnesses | Excursions | ZAR 1,090 | $102.51 |
| Aug 24 | Laminate picture | Excursions | ZAR 10 | $0.94 |
| Aug 24 | Gas | Transport | ZAR 452.76 | $42.58 |
| Aug 24 | Dinner Jeffrey bay Nina’s | Restaurant | ZAR 304 | $28.59 |
| Aug 25 | Groceries J Bay | Groceries | ZAR 171.2 | $16.10 |
| Aug 25 | Lunch pizza Jbay cafe portofinos | Restaurant | ZAR 146 | $13.73 |
| Aug 26 | Alcohol Jbay | Groceries | ZAR 75.45 | $7.10 |
| Aug 26 | Groceries Jbay sunblock | Groceries | ZAR 271.45 | $25.53 |
| Aug 26 | Dinner at hostel | Restaurant | ZAR 180 | $16.93 |
| Aug 27 | Addo park groceries | Groceries | ZAR 82.5 | $7.76 |
| Aug 27 | Addo park groceries | Groceries | ZAR 105.4 | $9.91 |
| Aug 27 | Addo elephant park entree | Excursions | ZAR 600 | $56.43 |
| Aug 27 | Crystals cove 3 nights | Accommodation | ZAR 2,100 | $197.50 |
| Aug 28 | Avaco breakfast | Restaurant | ZAR 150 | $14.11 |
| Aug 28 | Addo dinner Hazel’s kitchen | Restaurant | ZAR 258.5 | $24.31 |
| Aug 28 | Addo groceries | Groceries | ZAR 140 | $13.17 |
| Aug 28 | Groceries kirkwood /Addo | Groceries | ZAR 193.76 | $18.22 |
| Aug 29 | Avaco chalet Addo 3 nights cash | Accommodation | ZAR 1,950 | $183.40 |
| Aug 29 | Groceries Addo/kirkwood alcohol | Groceries | ZAR 47.98 | $4.51 |
| Aug 30 | Barefoot cafe dinner Chintsa | Restaurant | ZAR 211 | $19.84 |
| Aug 30 | Gas grahmstown to Chintsa | Transport | ZAR 522.88 | $49.18 |
| Aug 31 | Coke | Street food | ZAR 23 | $2.16 |
| Aug 31 | Gas coffe bay | Transport | ZAR 386.62 | $36.36 |
| Aug 31 | Coffe bay coffee shack kings cottage | Accommodation | ZAR 640 | $60.19 |
| Aug 31 | Breakfast coffee shack | Restaurant | ZAR 112 | $10.53 |
| Aug 31 | Chintsa buccaneers backpackers | Accommodation | ZAR 550 | $51.73 |
| Sep 1 | Groceries on the way to Durban | Groceries | ZAR 126.4 | $11.89 |
| Sep 1 | Dinner bluffs Durban Spurs | Restaurant | ZAR 223.55 | $21.02 |
| Sep 1 | Bluffs Durban 1night | Accommodation | ZAR 750 | $70.54 |
| Sep 1 | Gas Durban | Transport | ZAR 415 | $39.03 |
| Sep 1 | Toll Durban to st Lucia | Transport | ZAR 18.5 | $1.74 |
| Sep 2 | Toll to st Lucia | Transport | ZAR 35 | $3.29 |
| Sep 2 | Lunch st Lucia reef / dune | Restaurant | ZAR 194 | $18.25 |
| Sep 2 | Towels | Gear | ZAR 255.95 | $24.07 |
| Sep 2 | Groceries St Lucia | Groceries | ZAR 452.76 | $42.58 |
| Sep 2 | Stokkiesdraai St Lucia 4 nights | Accommodation | ZAR 2,400 | $225.72 |
| Sep 3 | Boat safari | Excursions | ZAR 580 | $54.55 |
| Sep 3 | Bracelet turtle | Souvenir | ZAR 90 | $8.46 |
| Sep 3 | Pineapple | Street food | ZAR 15 | $1.41 |
| Sep 3 | Dinner tip | Restaurant | ZAR 20 | $1.88 |
| Sep 3 | St Lucia John Dory ‘s | Restaurant | ZAR 301 | $28.31 |
| Sep 3 | Rash guard | Gear | ZAR 159.95 | $15.04 |
| Sep 4 | Safari half day | Excursions | ZAR 2,850 | $268.04 |
| Sep 4 | Groceries st Lucia | Groceries | ZAR 338.42 | $31.83 |
| Sep 4 | Internet | Internet | ZAR 80 | $7.52 |
| Sep 4 | Internet with Joann | Internet | ZAR 30 | $2.82 |
| Sep 4 | Isimansaliso wetlands eastern shores | Excursions | ZAR 195 | $18.34 |
| Sep 5 | St Lucia stokkiesdraai | Accommodation | ZAR 600 | $56.43 |
| Sep 5 | Alcohol st Lucia | Groceries | ZAR 60.7 | $5.71 |
| Sep 6 | Markers balloons | School supplies | ZAR 46 | $4.33 |
| Sep 6 | Book | School supplies | ZAR 110 | $10.35 |
| Sep 6 | Notebooks | School supplies | ZAR 44 | $4.14 |
| Sep 6 | Groceries st Lucia | Groceries | ZAR 199 | $18.72 |
| Sep 6 | Goat farm cheese an tour | Excursions | ZAR 185 | $17.40 |
| Sep 6 | Dinner at Lucia John Dory | Restaurant | ZAR 228 | $21.44 |
| Sep 7 | Tolls st Lucia to Durban | Transport | ZAR 53.5 | $5.03 |
| Sep 7 | Gas to Durban | Transport | ZAR 390.2 | $36.70 |
| Sep 7 | Breakfast Durban hotel | Restaurant | ZAR 235 | $22.10 |
| Sep 7 | Stadium tram | Excursions | ZAR 140 | $13.17 |
| Sep 8 | Stupid dinosaur thing at stadium | Entertainment | ZAR 112 | $10.53 |
| Sep 8 | Hops dinner | Restaurant | ZAR 205 | $19.28 |
| Sep 8 | Riverside hotel and spa Durban 4 nights | Accommodation | ZAR 3,672 | $345.35 |
| Sep 9 | Bikes | Entertainment | ZAR 200 | $18.81 |
| Sep 9 | Groceries Durban | Groceries | ZAR 259.65 | $24.42 |
| Sep 9 | Dinner Durban Indian bunny chow | Restaurant | ZAR 160 | $15.05 |
| Sep 9 | Charity | Miscellaneous | ZAR 20 | $1.88 |
| Sep 9 | Groceries Durban | Groceries | ZAR 57.98 | $5.45 |
| Sep 10 | Groceries | Groceries | $7.50 | |
| Sep 10 | Silver spur Durban dinner | Restaurant | ZAR 262 | $24.64 |
| Sep 10 | Gas | Transport | ZAR 355.9 | $33.47 |
| Sep 10 | Milk snacks | Groceries | ZAR 77 | $7.24 |
| Sep 10 | Ushaka marine world and water park | Excursions | ZAR 547 | $51.44 |
| Sep 10 | Car rental 29 days | Transport | $578.00 | |
| Sep 10 | Breakfast Durban airport Spur restraint | Restaurant | ZAR 104.6 | $9.84 |
| Total | $5,221.38 | |||
132 line items, straight from our travel spreadsheet. Scroll inside the table to see them all.