Full board vs all inclusive safari rates differ mainly in drinks and extras: full board covers your room and three meals, while all inclusive usually adds soft drinks, house wine, beer, local spirits and often laundry and activities. A game package sits in between, adding the camp’s shared game drives to full board.
Sense of Adventure is a licensed, Nairobi-based safari operator (TRA licence TRA1/47/C01/77087), and we read camp rate sheets every day. This guide explains the full board vs all inclusive safari question in plain terms, what a game package really includes, how the terms vary between camps, which plan suits which traveller and the questions to ask before you pay.
Table of Contents
✅ Full Board vs All Inclusive Safari: The Quick Answer
- Full board (FB): accommodation plus breakfast, lunch and dinner; drinks are usually extra, apart from tea, coffee and drinking water.
- Game package (GP or FBA): full board plus the camp’s scheduled shared game drives, sometimes with airstrip transfers.
- All inclusive: meals, most drinks (house brands), activities and often laundry; premium drinks are usually extra.
- Park and conservancy fees: usually separate on every plan unless stated, and they can be a large part of the cost.
- Definitions vary: every camp writes its own terms, so always read the inclusions line by line.
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Full Board vs All Inclusive Safari: Side-by-Side Comparison
The clearest way to understand full board vs all inclusive safari rates is to compare them item by item. The table shows what is typical in Kenya; individual camps may differ.
| Item | Full board | Game package | All inclusive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tea, coffee and drinking water | Usually | Usually | Yes |
| Soft drinks, beer, house wine | Usually extra | Sometimes | Usually yes |
| Premium wines, spirits, champagne | Extra | Extra | Usually extra |
| Shared game drives with camp guides | No | Yes | Usually yes |
| Bush breakfasts and sundowners | Rarely | Often | Often |
| Laundry | Sometimes | Sometimes | Often |
| Park and conservancy fees | Usually extra | Usually extra | Sometimes included |
| Balloon safari, spa, private vehicle | Extra | Extra | Extra |
If you are comparing whole safari quotes rather than camp rates, read our guide to what is included in a Kenya safari, which covers vehicles, guides, transfers and park fees too.
What Does Full Board Mean on Safari?
In any full board vs all inclusive safari comparison, full board means your room plus three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, usually served at the camp or packed for game drives.
Because safari camps are remote, almost every safari camp and lodge sells at least full board; bed and breakfast is rare outside towns. Meals are usually generous: a cooked or continental breakfast, a buffet or set lunch, and a two- to four-course dinner. Tea, coffee and filtered water are normally included. Soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits are usually charged to your room, and you settle the bill at check-out, often by card or cash in US dollars or Kenyan shillings.
When full board works best
- You are on a road safari with your own driver-guide and vehicle, so you do not need the camp’s game drives.
- You drink little or no alcohol.
- You are watching your budget and prefer to pay only for what you use.
Most of our road safaris are built this way. On our 3-day Masai Mara safari, for example, game drives are in your safari vehicle with your guide, meals are as listed in the itinerary, and soft and alcoholic drinks are not included.
What Is a Game Package?
A game package, sometimes written GP, FBA (full board plus activities) or “safari package”, is full board plus the camp’s own scheduled game drives in shared vehicles with camp guides, a middle ground in the full board vs all inclusive safari debate.
This is the usual basis for fly-in safaris, where you arrive by light aircraft and have no vehicle of your own. The camp collects you from the airstrip, takes you on morning and afternoon drives and often adds a bush breakfast or sundowner stop. Some camps also include house drinks on a game package, which blurs the line in any full board vs all inclusive safari comparison.
Game package details to check
- Shared or private vehicle: drives are normally shared with other guests; a private vehicle costs extra.
- Number of drives: usually two a day; ask whether full-day drives with a picnic lunch are possible.
- Airstrip transfers: often included, but not always.
- Other activities: guided walks, night drives or cultural visits may or may not be included.
For the difference between shared and private game drives, see private vs group safari in Kenya.
What Does All Inclusive Mean on Safari?
On the other side of the full board vs all inclusive safari comparison, all inclusive normally means meals, most drinks, activities and some services are covered, so you rarely sign a bar bill.
Typical all-inclusive rates in Kenya cover soft drinks, local beer, house wines and local or selected spirits, plus scheduled activities and often laundry. Higher-end camps may also include park or conservancy fees and airstrip transfers. Premium drinks, such as champagne, single malts and fine wines, are nearly always extra, as are balloon flights, spa treatments, gift shop purchases and tips.
“All inclusive” does not always mean everything
The phrase sounds complete, but it is a marketing term with no fixed legal definition in the safari industry. One camp’s all-inclusive rate may include park fees; another may not. That is why the full board vs all inclusive safari decision should be based on the written list of inclusions, not the label.
Expert tip from our Nairobi team: ask for the exact list of exclusions, not just inclusions. The exclusions line, especially park fees, conservancy fees, premium drinks and private vehicles, tells you far more about the real cost of a full board vs all inclusive safari rate.
Other Meal Plan Terms You May See
Beyond the full board vs all inclusive safari choice, you may see a few other abbreviations on quotes and rate sheets.
| Term | Meaning | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| BB (bed and breakfast) | Room and breakfast only | Nairobi and coast hotels |
| HB (half board) | Room, breakfast and dinner | Beach hotels, some town lodges |
| FB (full board) | Room and three meals | Most safari lodges and camps |
| GP or FBA | Full board plus game drives | Fly-in camps and conservancies |
| AI (all inclusive) | Meals, house drinks, activities | Higher-end camps and beach resorts |
| Fully inclusive | All inclusive, often with park fees and transfers | Luxury camps |
A trip often mixes several plans: bed and breakfast in Nairobi, full board or a game package on safari, and half board or all inclusive at the beach. Our guide to combining a safari with a beach holiday explains beach hotel options.
Which Is Better Value? Full Board vs All Inclusive Safari Costs
In full board vs all inclusive safari value terms, all inclusive wins if you would otherwise spend a fair amount on drinks and extras; full board wins if you drink little and already have your own vehicle.
Drink prices at remote camps are usually higher than in towns, because everything is driven or flown in. A couple who enjoy a sundowner, wine with dinner and soft drinks during the day can easily spend a meaningful sum each night, so the full board vs all inclusive safari difference may pay for itself. Rates vary widely by camp and season, so message us for a quote that compares both options for your dates.
A simple way to compare
- Ask for the full board rate and the all-inclusive rate for the same room and dates.
- Work out the nightly difference per person.
- Estimate what you would spend on drinks, laundry and activities each day.
- Add any items the all-inclusive rate covers that you would otherwise pay for, such as park fees or transfers.
- Choose the option that costs less for the way you actually travel.
For overall budgets, see our Kenya safari cost guide and Masai Mara safari cost breakdown.
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Which Meal Plan Suits You?
The right answer to full board vs all inclusive safari depends on how you travel, so match the plan to your style.
| Traveller | Usually best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Road safari with own guide | Full board | Your vehicle and guide are already included |
| Fly-in safari | Game package or all inclusive | You need the camp’s vehicles and guides |
| Honeymooners and celebrations | All inclusive | Relaxed, no bills, sundowners included |
| Families with children | Full board or all inclusive | All inclusive helps if children drink many sodas |
| Non-drinkers | Full board | You would not use the drinks allowance |
| Budget travellers | Full board | Lowest nightly rate |
Honeymooners may like our Masai Mara honeymoon safari or best honeymoon lodges in Kenya guide. Families can start with our Kenya Family Safari, and fly-in travellers with our fly-in Masai Mara luxury safari.
Road Safaris vs Fly-In Safaris: Why the Plan Changes
How you travel between parks has a big effect on the full board vs all inclusive safari decision, because it decides who provides your game drives.
- Road safari: you travel in a safari vehicle with your own driver-guide for the whole trip. You do not need the camp’s drives, so full board is normal, and you avoid paying twice for game drives.
- Fly-in safari: you fly to an airstrip and the camp provides vehicles and guides, so a game package or all-inclusive rate is usual.
- Mixed trips: some itineraries drive to one park and fly to another, so the meal plan may change from camp to camp.
Learn more in our guides to safari vehicles in Kenya and tented camp vs lodge. Light aircraft also have strict soft-bag luggage limits, often around 15 kg.
What Is Never Included, Whatever the Plan
Some costs sit outside every meal plan, so budget for them whichever side of the full board vs all inclusive safari choice you pick.
- Tips: for guides and camp staff; see our Kenya safari tipping guide.
- Optional activities: hot-air balloon flights, cultural visits and spa treatments.
- Premium drinks: champagne, imported wines and top-shelf spirits.
- Travel documents and insurance: your Kenya eTA from the official eTA portal, plus travel insurance; the UK government’s Kenya entry requirements page explains the current rules.
- Park fees, in most cases: for example, KWS fees rose on 1 October 2025 and are set by Kenya Wildlife Service, while the Masai Mara charged non-resident adults USD 100 a day from January to June and USD 200 from July to December in 2026.
Conservancy fees are often bundled into conservancy camp rates, which helps explain why those camps look more expensive at first glance; our Masai Mara reserve vs conservancies guide explains why.
Food, Diets and Drinks on Safari
Whichever way you settle full board vs all inclusive safari, the food is usually fresh, plentiful and adapted to dietary needs if you give notice.
- Dietary needs: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy-friendly meals can usually be arranged with notice; tell us when you book.
- Packed meals: on full-day drives, camps provide picnic breakfasts or lunches as part of full board.
- Water: filtered or bottled drinking water is normally free, and many camps offer refill bottles to cut plastic.
- Alcohol limits: some all-inclusive rates set reasonable limits or exclude minibar items; ask if this matters to you.
Our full food and dining on safari guide describes what you will actually eat, and the Kenya Tourism Board’s Magical Kenya site introduces Kenyan dishes you may try along the way.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose
These questions settle the full board vs all inclusive safari decision quickly and prevent surprises at check-out.
Full board vs all inclusive safari checklist
- Which drinks are included, and are any brands excluded?
- Are game drives shared or private, and how many are there each day?
- Are park and conservancy fees included?
- Are airstrip or road transfers included?
- Is laundry included, and are there limits?
- Are bush breakfasts, sundowners or walks included?
- Does the rate change for children or for single travellers?
- How do I pay for extras at the camp, and in which currency?
For more pre-booking checks, see our questions to ask before booking a safari, and if you travel alone, our guide to the single supplement on safari.
Expert tip from our Nairobi team: if you are unsure, choose full board on road safaris and a game package or all-inclusive rate on fly-in safaris. That simple rule settles most full board vs all inclusive safari decisions, and you can still upgrade drinks at the camp if you wish.
Full Board vs All Inclusive Safari FAQs
What is the difference between full board and all inclusive on safari?
In a full board vs all inclusive safari comparison, full board covers your room and three meals a day, usually with tea, coffee and water, while drinks are extra. All inclusive adds most drinks, such as soft drinks, beer, house wine and local spirits, and often activities and laundry. Premium drinks and optional extras are usually charged on both plans.
What does game package mean at a safari camp?
A game package, sometimes written GP or FBA, means full board plus the camp’s scheduled game drives in shared vehicles with camp guides. It often includes airstrip transfers and may add bush breakfasts or sundowners. It is the usual basis for fly-in safaris, where you have no vehicle of your own.
Are drinks included on a full board safari?
Usually not, apart from tea, coffee and drinking water. Soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits are normally charged to your room and paid at check-out. A few camps include house drinks in their full board or game package rate, so always check the written inclusions before you book.
Is all inclusive worth it on a Kenya safari?
All inclusive is worth it if you enjoy sundowners, wine with dinner or several soft drinks a day, because drink prices at remote camps are often high. If you drink little, or you are on a road safari with your own vehicle and guide, full board usually offers better value.
Are park fees included in all inclusive safari rates?
Sometimes, but not usually. Many all-inclusive rates still exclude national park, reserve or conservancy fees, which are charged per person per day. Some luxury and conservancy camps include them. Always check the exclusions line, because park fees can make a big difference to the total cost of your safari.
Do I pay for drinks at the end of my stay?
Yes, on full board drinks are usually signed to your room and paid at check-out. Most camps accept major cards, US dollars or Kenyan shillings, though card machines can be slow in remote areas. Carry some cash as a back-up, and keep receipts if your safari company settles bills for you.
Can I upgrade from full board to all inclusive at the camp?
Often you can, if the camp offers both plans and you ask on arrival, but rates are usually better when booked in advance. Some camps only sell one basis. Ask your safari company to price both options when you request a quote, so you can decide before you travel.
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Related Safari Guides
- ›What Is Included in a Kenya Safari?
- ›Food and Dining on Safari
- ›Tented Camp vs Lodge
- ›Kenya Safari Tipping Guide
- ›How Much Does a Kenya Safari Cost?
Official travel & park resource: Kenya Wildlife Service ↗
