An all-inclusive African safari usually combines your safari lodge or camp, meals, house drinks, guided game drives or other wildlife activities, and local transfers into one rate. Complete all-inclusive African safari vacation packages can go further by connecting several lodges, regional flights, road transfers, and destinations into one itinerary.
That does not mean absolutely everything is included. International flights, tips, premium drinks, visas, travel insurance, private vehicles, and some park or conservancy fees may still be separate. The best way to compare all-inclusive safaris is to look at the complete trip cost and exactly how much wildlife time you are getting for it.
Travelers often search for African safari resorts, but most safari properties describe themselves as lodges or tented camps. I use all three terms here because the booking experience matters more than the label: some travelers want one all-inclusive lodge for three or four nights, while others want a complete African safari vacation package with multiple stops and all the logistics handled for them.
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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 |
| 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 relatively clear information about rates, inclusions, activities, or all three. I have not personally stayed at every property on this list, so this is a researched planning shortlist rather than a collection of firsthand hotel reviews. Prices and inclusions below were checked on July 26, 2026.
What does an all-inclusive African safari include?
At an all-inclusive safari lodge, the room is only one part of what you are paying for. The rate may also cover guides, safari vehicles, wildlife activities, meals, drinks, transfers, and the staff required to operate a lodge in a remote location.
| 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 term “all-inclusive” is not standardized. One lodge may include conservation fees while another adds them to the final invoice. One package may include regional flights while another begins only after you reach the local airstrip. My guide to what is included in an African safari breaks down the individual expenses in more detail.
All-inclusive African safari resorts vs vacation packages
There are two different types of trips hiding behind searches for all-inclusive African safaris. You can book a lodge where nearly everything is included once you arrive, or you can book a complete safari vacation package that connects several lodges and destinations.
| Booking format | What it normally covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single all-inclusive safari lodge | 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 several habitats over seven to ten nights |
| Escorted safari vacation | Fixed itinerary, transport, guide, and selected meals and activities | Travelers who prefer a structured group trip |
| Private custom safari package | Lodges, transfers, flights, activities, and a route designed around you | Couples, families, photographers, and special-interest trips |
| Safari-and-beach vacation | Safari camps, beach resort, and some connecting transportation | Honeymoons and longer vacations |
If you want the entire vacation organized, ask for one itemized quote that starts at your international arrival airport and ends there. It should list every lodge, road transfer, regional flight, park fee, meal plan, and included wildlife activity.
For travelers who prefer a more standardized package, my Costco Travel African safari guide covers another way to bundle safari accommodations, transfers, game drives, and other trip logistics.
7 all-inclusive African safari resorts, lodges, and camps to compare
1. Thornybush Game Lodge, South Africa
Thornybush Game Lodge is a useful starting point if you want a high-comfort Greater Kruger safari without immediately moving into the highest luxury price tier. Its published rate includes accommodation, meals and snacks, local drinks, morning and afternoon game drives with guides and trackers, Wi-Fi, and laundry.
The rate 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 particularly useful because the inclusions and extras are clearly separated.
2. Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, South Africa
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge is a considerably more expensive option in the Sabi Sand area. It makes more sense for travelers who want the lodge itself to be a major part of the experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep between game drives.
Sabi Sabi’s inclusive tariff covers day and night game drives, walking safaris, meals, selected beverages, South African wines, and limited laundry. A nightly reserve conservation levy is additional. You can compare Earth Lodge with the operator’s other properties on the official Sabi Sabi rates page.
3. Wilderness Mombo, Botswana
Mombo is the wildlife-focused splurge on this list. It is on Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta, and its 2026 rate includes meals, twice-daily camp activities, park fees, laundry, and local drinks.
The major expense to check separately is access. Remote Botswana safari itineraries often depend on light-aircraft flights, so confirm whether every flight appears in your quoted total. The official Wilderness Mombo page lists seasonal pricing and inclusions.
4. Mahali Mzuri, Kenya
Mahali Mzuri is a strong option 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.
The published package includes meals, drinks, twice-daily game drives, transfers from Olare Orok airstrip, laundry, taxes, and levies. Flights to the local airstrip and premium activities such as ballooning still need to be priced separately. Current package information is available through the official Mahali Mzuri update.
5. Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Tanzania
Singita Sasakwa is the premium Serengeti option here. Standard cottage rates include meals and beverages, twice-daily game drives, return road transfers from Sasakwa airstrip, laundry, and Wi-Fi.
The headline rate does not include several wildlife, park, concession, tourism, and carbon-related fees, and transportation to the reserve is separate. Singita lists those additions alongside its seasonal tariffs on the Sasakwa Lodge information page.
6. Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia
Hoanib is different from the classic Big Five safari resorts on this list. It is more about desert-adapted wildlife, huge landscapes, and access to Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
The scheduled coastal excursion is included, and Wilderness describes its camps as fully inclusive of meals, house drinks, scheduled activities, and guiding. Because the camp is reached by light aircraft, confirm the cost of the Wilderness Air segment when comparing it with more easily accessible lodges. The official Hoanib camp page explains access and activities.
7. Time + Tide Chinzombo, Zambia
Chinzombo is the strongest fit on this shortlist if South Luangwa and guided walking safaris are priorities. 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, activities can include game drives, walking safaris, cultural visits, and seasonal boating. Park fees and the conservation levy are charged separately, as are flights, premium drinks, some spa treatments, and tips. Time + Tide publishes its rates and inclusions on its official rates page.
Best all-inclusive safari resorts in South Africa
South Africa is one of the easiest places to start if you are specifically looking for an all-inclusive safari. Many private reserves around Greater Kruger bundle accommodation, meals, drinks, morning and afternoon game drives, and other lodge activities into the nightly rate.
It also has a wider range of price points than some of the more remote fly-in safari areas in Botswana. Road access and relatively short regional flights can keep logistics simpler, especially for a first safari.
Thornybush and Sabi Sabi show the range well: both offer an inclusive lodge-based safari, but they sit at very different price points. For more options, see my guide to safari resorts in South Africa.
Luxury all-inclusive African safaris
Luxury all-inclusive safari rates can look extremely high compared with conventional resorts because the price often combines accommodation with private-reserve access, guiding, game drives, meals, drinks, remote logistics, and a high staff-to-guest ratio.
At the upper end, properties such as Mombo, Singita Sasakwa, and Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge are not simply selling a luxury room. A large part of the price is the wildlife location and the infrastructure required to operate there.
For a luxury safari, I would prioritize the wildlife area and quality of guiding before amenities such as a larger suite, private pool, or spa. The most expensive lodge is not automatically the best safari.
All-inclusive African safaris for families
An all-inclusive safari can work particularly well for families because meals, activities, and most daily logistics are already organized. The part to check carefully is the children’s policy.
A lodge may welcome young children but restrict them from shared game drives or walking safaris. Some require families with younger children to pay for a private safari vehicle. Family suites can also be priced differently from standard rooms, so comparing only the per-person adult rate can be misleading.
Before booking, confirm minimum ages for game drives and walks, whether a private vehicle is required, room occupancy limits, child rates, babysitting availability, and whether children can participate in the activities that matter to your family.
Current 2026 all-inclusive safari prices
There is no single all-inclusive African safari price. Some rates are quoted per person, others per room or tent, and some include mandatory conservation fees that another property adds separately.
| 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 an all-inclusive safari package from the lowest number in this table alone. Compare the same dates, number of guests, room type, transfers, park fees, and activities. A lodge with a higher nightly rate can sometimes produce a more competitive final trip price when mandatory fees and transportation are already included.
For a broader comparison across budget, midrange, and luxury trips, see my guide to how much an African safari costs.
How to compare all-inclusive African safari packages
Before paying a deposit, ask the lodge or safari company to answer these questions in writing:
- Where does the package begin and end? “Transfers included” may mean only the drive from a nearby bush airstrip rather than your flight from Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Arusha.
- Are park, conservancy, community, and tourism fees included? Ask for every mandatory charge, not just the nightly room rate.
- How many safari activities are included? Two shared activities per day are common, but arrival and departure times can reduce the actual number you receive.
- Will the safari vehicle be shared? A private vehicle can be a substantial extra expense, particularly for families and photographers.
- Which drinks are included? House or local drinks may exclude champagne, reserve wines, and imported spirits.
- Are flights included? Regional and inter-camp flights can add significantly to a Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, or Zambia itinerary.
- What are the deposit and cancellation terms? Remote camps may 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 compare the wildlife area and daily safari schedule before comparing room photos. My guide to choosing a safari lodge covers the factors that have the biggest effect on the actual game-viewing experience.
Do all-inclusive safari vacation packages include flights?
International flights are usually not included in a lodge rate. Complete safari vacation packages are more likely to include some regional flights, road transfers, or flights between camps, but you should never assume that airfare is included because the trip is described as all-inclusive.
Ask for the exact transportation plan from your international arrival airport to the first lodge and from the final lodge back to the airport. In Botswana and other remote safari areas, light-aircraft flights can be a meaningful part of the total vacation price.
All-inclusive African safari FAQs
Are all African safaris all-inclusive?
No. A self-drive park camp may include only accommodation, while a full-board lodge may include meals but charge separately for drinks or game drives. Look for an explicit list of inclusions rather than relying on the package name.
What is the cheapest way to book an all-inclusive African safari?
South Africa is a good place to start. Compare shoulder-season dates, shared safari vehicles, and lodges that can be reached by road or an inexpensive regional flight. Small-group safari packages can also cost less than private fly-in trips, but check what is actually included before comparing prices.
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 around five or six scheduled wildlife activities once arrival and departure are considered. Four nights gives you more breathing room. For a first trip combining two wildlife areas, seven to ten safari nights can work well. My guide to the best African safaris for first-time visitors can help with the broader itinerary.
Are there all-inclusive African safari and beach vacations?
Yes. Safari-and-beach packages commonly combine an East or southern African safari with destinations such as Zanzibar, the Kenyan coast, Mozambique, Mauritius, or the Seychelles. Check whether the connecting flights and beach meal plan are actually included because the beach portion may use different terms from the safari lodges.
Is an all-inclusive African safari worth it?
It can be worth it if you value simple logistics, good guiding, and a relatively predictable core trip cost. It is less compelling if you prefer self-driving, lower-cost park accommodation, or making every booking independently. The best package is not necessarily the one with the longest list of inclusions. It is the one that bundles the services you actually want in the wildlife areas you most want to visit.
Once you know whether you want one lodge or a connected vacation package, use my African safari planning guides to compare countries, seasons, costs, and safari styles.
