One of the most important things while on vacation: Food
When you are on a Safari trip, dining will be a little bit different, as in most national parks you will not find restaurants like you would on a typical holiday. This is why meal plans are an important part of your booking options when organizing and booking a safari trip.
We have broken down all the major dining options you will find when planning and booking a safari trip.
Full board meal plan
Most lodges will offer a full board option, and often make it mandatory as it’s also a major part of their own costs and supply planning.
Full board will usually mean that breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, and some lodges will even offer an afternoon snack with tea and coffee. Some lodges also include all beverages, although in most cases these would be added to your tab once you are there.
Depending on the lodge you select, the main meals will either be part of a buffet, or a la carte, depending on how they organize their service. If you are particularly interested in one or the other, you can always reach out to us and we can specify the type of dining experience each of our lodges offer.
Due to the limited dining alternatives in our national parks, we usually recommend that our guests select the full board option for the best experience.
Half board meal plan
Half board will typically mean that you have 2 meals included in your plan, and those will usually be breakfast and dinner unless you select otherwise.
Some lodges will allow guests to chose this option in case they wish to skip a meal or explore eating options at other lodges, but the difference in the cost is very small.
Keep in mind that a typical day on a safari trip will start early in the morning to catch a sunrise game drive and will end with dinner after sunset, therefore chances are you will get hungry.
Self catering accommodation
There are certain types of accommodations that will allow self catering. This is a more budget friendly option but requires a lot more planning in advance as you will have to carry your own supplies to the park.
Lodges that allow self catering will usually have a communal cooking area where the guests can store and prepare their meals.
Dining in the bush
The most exciting part of dining on Safari is the opportunity to actually take your meal in the wild surrounded by nature and animals. There will be rangers protecting you so you don’t have to worry!
Here are some of the typical bush dining experiences you will be able to find. You can either add them to your trip directly through Tukio, or ask about them when you arrive at the lodge.
Picnic Lunch
Picnic lunches are typically proposed when you are planning to do an all day game drive. The kitchen will prepare a lunchbox for you and your group, and after the morning game drive you will stop at a nice picnic location and have the opportunity to relax and have your lunch. Higher end lodges will also pack tables and chairs for you, while the more budget ones will offer you a blanket to sit on.
Picnic lunches will usually be at an extra cost, or included in the cost of a full day game drive.
Sundowner
Sundowners are the scenes you imagine when dreaming of a Safari: watching the sun go down while sipping your favorite beverage under an iconic acacia tree.
What it means is that when you opt for a sundowner in your trip, on one of the afternoons your safari guide will also pack drinks and snacks for you and your group to enjoy while watching the sunset.
Sundowners are usually an add-on, and you can add them directly to your trip in the activities section. Some lodges will also offer one complementary sundowner as part of the full board package – look out for this in the description or reach out to us to learn more.
Bush Dinner
The ultimate Safari dining experience is a bush dinner. Imagine a private dinner under the stars where your lodge’s chefs have prepared a unique meal for you and your group to enjoy while listening to the wildlife in the background.
Only lodges that are in conservancies will be able to offer them as it is prohibited to be driving inside the main parks at night.
Bush dinners are usually at an added cost and you can find them under the extras section, unless otherwise stated in the meal plan description.
Lodges that are inside the parks will often have dining areas that are very close to the wildlife, so this is also a unique dining experience.
Dining at neighboring lodges
Walking in to a different lodge than the one you are staying at and having lunch is rare but could be arranged if you ask your guide. As lodges are in remote places, they often plan their supplies based on the number of guests staying, which is why it is not typical to dine outside your lodge.
