Full Board
Definition
Within the Kenya safari industry, Full Board is a meal plan in which your accommodation rate includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, usually served at set times. Because it can be packaged in different ways by different lodges and operators, understanding exactly what Full Board covers is essential: it influences the total cost of your trip, how your days are structured, and how easily you can compare one safari offer with another.
To avoid confusion, ask your operator to explain in clear terms what Full Board includes: which meals are provided, whether drinks or snacks are extra, how long your overall stay lasts, how many guests are covered, what type of vehicle and activities are bundled with the rate, and any rules on luggage or time spent inside the park. On itineraries that pass through busy parks or well-known attractions, find out how Full Board will affect your daily schedule, whether mealtimes are flexible, and if departures can be adjusted to avoid long waits at gates. Reliable providers will distinguish between elements that can be adapted and those that are fixed by the property or park regulations.
The price of a Full Board package is largely driven by how exclusive the camp or lodge is, the distances you travel, and any park or conservation fees included in the offer. Understanding these cost drivers helps you judge whether to allocate more of your budget to extended wildlife viewing or to higher-end accommodation and dining. If you are traveling as a small party, ask whether pairing Full Board with a private vehicle offers better overall value and flexibility than joining a larger shared group with a tighter schedule and fewer options.
When you speak with your operator, work through a simple checklist: confirm first and last meal times, approximate hours of travel each day, how wildlife sightings are shared among guests, and what happens if road or weather conditions slow the journey. Discuss how often guides may change, which languages they speak, and whether you will have the same team throughout the trip. These details help set expectations and foster trust, especially for first-time safari guests. When collecting quotes, request that the meaning of Full Board be put in writing, along with departure times, included services, and any extra charges for drinks, special meals, or optional activities, so that nothing important is left unclear.