You’ve booked your safari. Then the question hits you at 11pm while you’re double checking the packing list: are drinks included, or are you about to get hit with a bar bill the size of a second game drive?
That’s the real question behind most “are drinks included safari price” searches, and most guides stop at “it depends.” We won’t. Below is exactly what “included” tends to mean at each price tier in Kenya, what it costs when it isn’t included, and how to work out if paying extra for a drinks package actually saves you money.
What’s typically included in an all-inclusive safari price
“All-inclusive” almost always covers your room, three meals a day, and game drives with a guide. Most camps also throw in local bottled water, tea, and coffee at meals, no matter your budget level.
Where it gets fuzzy is alcohol and soft drinks. Many mid-range and luxury camps in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo West include house wine, local beer, and soft drinks with dinner. Budget camps and basic tented camps usually don’t, and you pay for anything beyond water and tea.
The word to watch for is “full board” versus “all-inclusive.” Full board means meals only, no drinks. All-inclusive should mean drinks too, but ask which drinks. That single question saves arguments at checkout.
What’s usually excluded
Even at camps that call themselves all-inclusive, a few categories almost always cost extra:
- Premium and imported spirits (Johnnie Walker Black, single malts, imported gin)
- Champagne and sparkling wine
- Imported wine, as opposed to South African or local house wine
- Minibar items in your room, if you have one
- Specialty cocktails made by the bar team
Budget camps along the road between Narok and the Mara, and most mobile camping trips, treat all alcohol as pay-as-you-go. That’s not a downgrade, it’s just a different pricing model, and it usually means a cheaper base rate for you.
Are Drinks Included Safari Price? How It Differs by Tier
Here’s how it breaks down across the three tiers we book most often for travelers heading into the Mara, Amboseli, and Lake Naivasha circuits.
| Tier | Typical setting | What’s usually included | What costs extra | Indicative price per night (USD, per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget / camping | Public campsites, mobile tented camps near Narok or Amboseli gate | Meals, water, tea and coffee | All alcohol, soft drinks, sometimes bottled water | 40-90 |
| Mid-range lodge | Fixed lodges in the Mara Triangle, Amboseli, Tsavo West | Meals, water, house beer or wine at dinner in some cases | Imported spirits, champagne, premium wine | 150-300 |
| Luxury camp | Private conservancies bordering the Mara, exclusive Amboseli camps | Meals, most local drinks, sometimes full open bar | Rare vintage wines, top-shelf imports, balloon champagne | 450-900+ |
These are indicative ranges. Exact rates depend on season and which camp your operator uses, so always confirm the drinks list in writing before you pay a deposit. For the full picture of where your money goes, our full breakdown of what a safari actually costs walks through every line item, not just drinks.
Local brands versus imported brands
This is where a lot of budget travelers save real money without noticing the difference. Kenyan beers like Tusker, White Cap, and Balozi are widely available and often included or cheap even when not included. Kenya Cane, a local sugarcane spirit, is a fraction of the price of imported vodka or gin.
Imported brands, from South African wine upward, cost more everywhere, not just on safari. If your goal is a good trip on a tight budget, drink local. The beer is cold, the price is fair, and you’ll be doing what most Kenyan guides drink after a long day too.
How much drinks cost if they’re not included
Prices vary by camp and how remote it is, since everything has to be trucked or flown in. As a rough guide across mid-range camps in the Mara and Amboseli areas:
| Drink | Price range (KES) | Price range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Local beer (Tusker, White Cap) | 300-600 | 2.30-4.60 |
| Kenya Cane or local spirits, single serve | 350-700 | 2.70-5.40 |
| House wine, glass | 600-1,200 | 4.60-9.20 |
| Imported spirits, single serve | 800-1,800 | 6.10-13.80 |
| Soft drink or bottled water | 150-400 | 1.15-3.10 |
| Champagne, glass | 1,500-3,500 | 11.50-27 |
If you drink two beers and a glass of wine most evenings, that’s roughly 1,200-2,400 KES a day, around 9-18 USD. Over a seven night safari, that’s 65-130 USD extra if drinks aren’t included.
How bar tabs work at lodges and camps
Almost every fixed lodge runs an open tab system. You sign for each drink at the bar or with your waiter, and settle the full bill on your last morning, usually by card or cash. Camps rarely take card payments mid-trip, so don’t expect to pay per round.
Mobile camping trips work differently. Many operators sell drinks from a cooler on an honesty basis, or ask you to bring your own from a supermarket in Nairobi or Narok before you head into the bush. If you’re joining a group departure, check our guide on how group safari pricing and inclusions work, since drink policy is often set per group, not per traveler.
Questions to ask before you book
Ask your operator these before you pay a deposit:
- Are house beer, wine, and spirits included, or only soft drinks and water?
- Which specific brands count as “house” versus “premium”?
- Is there a daily drink limit, or is it genuinely unlimited?
- Is champagne included on sundowner drives or balloon safaris?
- Can I bring my own alcohol into camp, and is there a corkage fee?
Getting these answers in writing avoids a surprise bill at checkout. It also tells you a lot about how transparent an operator is generally.
Special cases: sundowners and balloon breakfasts
Sundowner stops, where your guide parks somewhere with a good view for a drink at sunset, are a Mara classic. At mid-range and luxury camps, this is usually included, with a cooler of beer, wine, and soft drinks packed by the camp staff.
Hot air balloon safaris over the Mara are a different story. The champagne breakfast afterward is often included in the balloon price itself, which typically runs 450-550 USD per person, separate from your camp cost. Confirm this when booking the balloon add-on, since a few operators still charge for it separately.
Should you bring your own alcohol on a mobile camping safari?
If you’re on a budget camping trip, yes, it usually makes sense. A six-pack of Tusker from a Nairobi supermarket costs a fraction of camp prices, and most mobile operators are relaxed about guests bringing their own bottles, sometimes for a small corkage fee. Ask your operator first, since a handful of private conservancies restrict outside alcohol.
Is it worth paying extra for a drinks-included package?
Do quick math before you upgrade. If you drink two or three drinks a day, a drinks-included package usually breaks even or saves you money, especially at camps where imported spirits and wine are on the house list. If you drink less than that, or you’re happy with local beer at pay-as-you-go prices, skip the upgrade and put that money toward an extra night instead.
The Valley Safaris Difference
We tell you exactly what’s on the drinks list before you pay anything, camp by camp, not a vague “drinks may be included” line. Our team has stayed at the lodges and camps we book, so when we say house wine and Tusker are included at dinner but imported gin isn’t, that’s from checking the bar menu ourselves, not guessing.
We also build group safaris with public transport connections from Nairobi in mind, and we’re upfront about which nights are camping and which are fixed lodges, since that changes your drinks budget more than almost anything else. And if you’re wondering what to leave for the staff pouring those drinks, our guide on how to tip bar and waitstaff at your camp covers it in plain numbers.
Plan your trip with us
If you want a straight answer about what’s included before you book, not after, get in touch through our contact page or browse our group safari departures to see camp-by-camp drink details for yourself.
