An all-inclusive African safari usually bundles your lodge or camp, all meals, house drinks, guided wildlife activities, and local airstrip transfers into one rate. It rarely includes absolutely everything: international flights, tips, premium drinks, visas, travel insurance, and some park or conservancy fees may still be separate.
Although travelers often search for “safari resorts,” most properties call themselves lodges or tented camps. The important distinction is not the label. It is whether you are booking one all-inclusive lodge or a complete vacation package that connects several camps, flights, transfers, and destinations.
Table of Contents
Best all-inclusive African safaris at a glance
| Best for | Safari lodge or camp | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A more approachable luxury price | Thornybush Game Lodge | South Africa |
| Design and high-end Greater Kruger luxury | Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge | South Africa |
| Wildlife-focused Okavango luxury | Wilderness Mombo | Botswana |
| A Maasai Mara conservancy stay | Mahali Mzuri | Kenya |
| Premium Serengeti service and families | Singita Sasakwa Lodge | Tanzania |
| Desert wildlife and remote landscapes | Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp | Namibia |
| Walking safaris in South Luangwa | Time + Tide Chinzombo | Zambia |
I chose these as useful comparison points because their operators publish clear information about rates, inclusions, activities, or all four. I have not personally stayed at every property on this list, so this is a researched planning shortlist rather than a set of firsthand hotel reviews. Prices and inclusions below were checked on July 26, 2026.
What does an all-inclusive African safari include?
At a true all-inclusive safari lodge, the room is only one part of the rate. You are also paying for the guides, vehicles, wildlife access, meals, drinks, and staff needed to operate in a remote area. That is why a safari’s nightly rate cannot be compared directly with a normal resort room.
| Commonly included | May be included | Usually extra |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Park or conservancy fees | International flights |
| All meals and snacks | Transfers from the nearest airstrip | Visas and travel insurance |
| Morning and afternoon activities | Laundry | Tips |
| Guides and shared safari vehicles | Walking, boating, or night drives | Private vehicle or guide |
| Water, soft drinks, and house alcohol | Domestic or inter-camp flights | Premium wine, spirits, and champagne |
| Taxes | Emergency evacuation cover | Spa, balloon, or helicopter activities |
The words “all-inclusive” are not standardized. One lodge may include conservation fees and flights from the nearest hub, while another adds both to the final invoice. My guide to what is included in an African safari explains the individual line items in more detail.
All-inclusive safari resort vs complete vacation package
This is the most important distinction to understand before comparing prices. A lodge can be fully inclusive after you arrive but leave you responsible for getting there. A complete safari package connects the separate pieces of the trip.
| Booking format | What it normally covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single-lodge stay | Room, meals, drinks, scheduled activities, and often local airstrip transfers | Three or four nights in one wildlife area |
| Multi-camp safari package | Several lodges plus scheduled inter-camp flights or road transfers | Seeing different habitats over seven to ten nights |
| Escorted safari tour | Fixed itinerary, transport, guide, and selected meals and activities | Travelers who prefer a group and set schedule |
| Safari-and-beach package | Safari camps, coastal hotel, and some connecting transport | Honeymoons and longer vacations |
For a complete package, ask for one itemized quote that starts at your international arrival airport and ends there. It should show every lodge, transfer, regional flight, park fee, meal plan, and activity. If you prefer a fixed mainstream package, my Costco African safari guide explains how that option differs from booking a lodge directly or using a safari specialist.
7 all-inclusive African safari resorts, lodges, and camps to compare
1. Thornybush Game Lodge, South Africa
Thornybush Game Lodge is the most useful starting point on this list if you want a high-comfort Greater Kruger safari without immediately moving into the highest price tier. Its published rate includes accommodation, meals and snacks, local drinks, morning and afternoon drives with guides and trackers, Wi-Fi, and laundry.
The trade-off is that “all-inclusive” still leaves a few additions. Thornybush lists reserve levies separately, and premium alcohol, spa treatments, gratuities, and some gate or landing fees are excluded. The official Thornybush rates are unusually clear, which makes this a good property for learning how to read other safari quotes.
2. Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, South Africa
Earth Lodge is a design-led option in the Sabi Sand area for travelers who want the lodge itself to be a major part of the trip. Sabi Sabi’s inclusive tariff covers day and night game drives, walking safaris, meals, selected beverages, South African wines, and limited laundry.
It is substantially more expensive than Thornybush, and Sabi Sabi adds a nightly reserve conservation levy. The operator publishes dated prices for each of its four lodges on its official Sabi Sabi rates page, making it easy to compare Earth Lodge with Bush Lodge, Selati Camp, and Little Bush Camp.
3. Wilderness Mombo, Botswana
Mombo is the wildlife-first splurge on this list. It sits on Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta, and its 2026 rate includes meals, twice-daily camp activities, park fees, laundry, and local drinks. That inclusion of park fees matters because it makes the published rate more complete than some lower-looking alternatives.
The main extra is access: a remote Botswana itinerary normally involves light-aircraft flights, and you should confirm whether every flight appears in the quoted total. Mombo’s official page publishes both seasonal prices and inclusions in one place; see the Wilderness Mombo rates.
4. Mahali Mzuri, Kenya
Mahali Mzuri is a strong fit if your idea of an all-inclusive African safari centers on the Maasai Mara ecosystem. The camp is in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy rather than the busier national reserve, and the published package includes meals, drinks, twice-daily game drives, transfers from Olare Orok airstrip, laundry, taxes, and levies.
There is a dedicated family tent, but children under six need a private closed vehicle to join game drives. Flights to the local airstrip and premium add-ons such as ballooning still need to be priced. The property’s current starting price and package details are published in the official Mahali Mzuri update.
5. Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Tanzania
Sasakwa is the premium Serengeti choice here. Standard cottage rates include meals and beverages, including premium wine and spirits, twice-daily game drives, return road transfers from Sasakwa airstrip, laundry, and Wi-Fi. Children of all ages are welcome, and larger cottages can make sense for families or groups comparing the total cost rather than the per-adult rate.
The headline rate does not include the wildlife, park, concession, tourism-development, or carbon-offset fees, and transport to the reserve is separate. Singita clearly lists those exclusions beside the 2026 seasonal tariffs on its Sasakwa Lodge information page.
6. Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia
Hoanib is the outlier, and that is its appeal. Choose it for desert-adapted wildlife, enormous landscapes, and access to the Skeleton Coast rather than the highest number of classic Big Five sightings. The scheduled coastal excursion is included, and Wilderness describes its own camps as fully inclusive of meals, house drinks, scheduled activities, and guiding.
This camp is accessible by light aircraft, so the transfer plan matters as much as the room rate. Confirm the Wilderness Air segment and whether it is bundled into a longer Namibia itinerary. The official Hoanib camp page explains the access and included coastal experience.
7. Time + Tide Chinzombo, Zambia
Chinzombo is the best match on this shortlist for travelers interested in South Luangwa and guided walking safaris. Its rate includes accommodation, meals, standard drinks, transfers from the local airport, inter-camp road transfers, laundry, service, and two daily activities. Depending on conditions, those activities can include game drives, walks, cultural visits, and seasonal boat trips.
Park fees and the conservation levy are shown as a separate per-person charge. Flights, premium drinks, spa treatments beyond the included welcome massage, and tips are also extra. Time + Tide publishes its seasons, rates, inclusions, and exclusions together on its official 2026 rates page.
Current 2026 all-inclusive safari prices
These published examples show why the phrase “all-inclusive safari cost” needs context. Some prices are per person sharing, some are per suite, and some include park fees that another lodge lists separately. I have kept each operator’s original currency rather than using exchange-rate conversions that will quickly become outdated.
| Property | Published 2026 rate | Important addition |
|---|---|---|
| Thornybush Game Lodge | ZAR 19,800 per person sharing per night | ZAR 550 per person per day in 2026 reserve levies |
| Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge | ZAR 44,000 per person sharing per night | ZAR 450 per person per night reserve levy |
| Wilderness Mombo | USD 2,889–5,043 per person per night, depending on dates | Confirm light-aircraft flights |
| Mahali Mzuri | From USD 3,100 per tented suite per night | Confirm flights to Olare Orok airstrip |
| Singita Sasakwa Lodge | USD 2,550–3,525 per adult per night, depending on dates | Wildlife, park, concession, tourism, and carbon fees |
| Wilderness Hoanib | From USD 1,190 per person per night on the current camp listing | Confirm required light-aircraft transfers |
| Time + Tide Chinzombo | USD 1,330 green season or USD 1,840 safari season per adult per night | USD 100 per adult per night park fees and conservation levy |
Do not choose a package from the lowest number in this table alone. Compare the same travel dates, number of guests, room type, transfers, park fees, and activities. A more expensive nightly rate can produce a lower final total when conservation fees and regional flights are already included. For a wider budget breakdown, see how much an African safari costs.
How to compare all-inclusive safari packages
Before paying a deposit, ask the lodge or provider to answer these questions in writing:
- Where does the package begin and end? “Transfers included” may mean only the five-minute drive from a bush airstrip, not the flight from Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Arusha.
- Are park, conservancy, community, and tourism levies included? Ask for every mandatory fee, not just the nightly room rate.
- How many safari activities are included? Two scheduled shared activities per day are common, but arrival and departure times can reduce the total.
- Will the vehicle be shared? A private vehicle can be a major extra expense, especially for families with young children or photographers who want more control.
- Which drinks are included? “Local” or “house” drinks usually exclude champagne, reserve wine, and imported spirits.
- What are the deposit and cancellation terms? Remote camps often require nonrefundable payments for flights and outside services.
- What changes for children? Ask about minimum ages, private-vehicle requirements, room occupancy, babysitting, and child rates.
I would also compare the wildlife area and daily safari format before comparing room photos. My guide to choosing a safari lodge covers the questions that affect the actual game-viewing experience.
Which providers have the clearest all-inclusive pricing?
For the properties compared here, Thornybush, Sabi Sabi, Time + Tide, Singita, and Wilderness publish the most useful combination of dated rates and inclusions. Mahali Mzuri publishes a clear starting suite rate and detailed inclusions, but you still need a quote for your dates and transport.
Transparent pricing does not necessarily mean the lowest price. It means the operator states the occupancy basis, dates, included activities, levies, and exclusions clearly enough that you can calculate the real total.
Are all-inclusive family safaris different?
Yes. A lodge may welcome children but restrict younger guests from shared game drives or walking safaris. That can force a family to pay for a private vehicle. Family suites can also be priced per unit rather than per person, so they sometimes compare better than two standard rooms. Confirm the policy for each child’s age before judging the rate.
Is South Africa the easiest place to find an all-inclusive safari?
South Africa is one of the easiest countries for comparing lodge-based packages because many Greater Kruger properties publish rates in rand and can be reached by road or a short regional flight. It also offers a wider spread of lodge prices than the most remote parts of Botswana. Start with my guide to safari resorts in South Africa if you want to narrow the search to one country.
All-inclusive African safari FAQs
Do all-inclusive African safari packages include flights?
International flights are usually excluded. Some complete packages include regional or inter-camp flights, while a lodge-only rate may include nothing more than the road transfer from its nearest airstrip. Ask for the flight numbers, baggage limits, and transfer costs in the itinerary.
Are all African safaris all-inclusive?
No. Self-drive park accommodation may cover only the room, while a full-board lodge may include meals but charge separately for drinks and game drives. Look for an explicit list of inclusions rather than relying on a package label.
What is the cheapest way to book an all-inclusive safari?
Start with South Africa, compare shoulder-season dates, use a shared vehicle, and choose a lodge with road access or an inexpensive regional flight. Small-group tours can cost less than private fly-in itineraries, but check how many meals, drinks, park fees, and activities are actually included.
How many nights should I spend at an all-inclusive safari lodge?
Three nights is a practical minimum at one lodge because it normally gives you about five or six scheduled activities after arrival and departure are considered. Four nights creates more breathing room. For a first trip that combines two wildlife areas, seven to ten nights works well; see my guide to the best African safaris for first-time visitors.
Is an all-inclusive African safari worth it?
It is worth considering when you value easy logistics, skilled guiding, and a predictable core cost. It is less compelling if you enjoy self-driving, cooking for yourself, or making every decision independently. The best package is not the one with the longest inclusion list; it is the one that bundles the parts you would otherwise pay for anyway.
Once you know whether you want one lodge or a connected itinerary, use the African safari planning guide to compare countries, seasons, costs, and trip styles.
