The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has released a draft regulation that seeks to revise entry fees to government-owned and managed parks. First gazetted on July 9th, the proposal, which is titled Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation Fees) Regulations, 2025, aims to introduce significant fee increases in Kenyan parks for the first time in 18 years.
If approved, the revised rates will take effect before the end of 2025, raising access fees to national parks and reserves for both resident and international visitors. The draft is currently open for debate, with public consultation set to run from July 29th to August 8th across 18 counties countrywide, giving Kenyans, travelers, and tourism stakeholders a chance to voice their opinions.
What’s Changing?
The draft regulation proposes increases of between 30% and 60% across Kenya’s major national parks and reserves that are owned and managed by the government through the KWS. Although non-resident fees will increase the steepest, Kenyan and East African residents will also be slapped with higher rates. Resident rates, which are applicable to citizens of Kenya and the EAC, are capped at around 50% higher while international travelers will pay up to 60% more than the current rate.
For example:
- Lake Nakuru and Amboseli National Parks:
- Non-resident:
- Current fee: USD 60 (approx. Kes. 7,721)
- Proposed fee: USD 90 (approx. Kes. 11,580)
- Resident:
- Current fee: Kes. 860 (approx. USD 6.7)
- Proposed fee: Kes. 1,290 (approx. USD 10.0)
- Non-resident:
- Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks:
- Non-resident:
- Current fee: USD 52 (approx. Kes. 6,690)
- Proposed fee: USD 78 (approx. Kes. 10,040)
- Non-resident:
- Nairobi National Park:
- Resident:
- Current fee: Kes. 430 (approx. USD 3.3)
- Proposed fee: Kes. 645 (approx. USD 5.0)
- Resident:
The proposal also introduces additional ticketing categories for groups and children, including:
- A discounted rate for children under five. While this is not a new discount, it was limited to children under three
- Family passes
- Annual passes
- Passes for conference delegates
- Passes for tour drivers
- Passes for African Union (AU) nationals.
What Does This Mean to Travelers?
If the draft proposal is adopted, both resident (Kenyan and EAC citizens) and non-resident (international, non-EAC citizens) travelers will pay higher fees to access Kenya’s national parks and reserves. This is likely to be implemented later in 2025, possibly aligning with the 2025/26 fiscal year. The KWS has not yet indicated whether the increments will be phased gradually over time or at once.
Why Now?
The proposed fee revision comes following a Kes. 11.87-billion funding gap. The KWS reported generating a revenue of Kes. 7.92 billion against a required budget of Kes. 19.79 billion in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The organization says that the current fees, which have remained unchanged since 2007, no longer meet its financial demands, which include:
- Protecting wildlife and strengthening anti-poaching efforts
- Building and maintaining park infrastructure
- Compensating individuals and communities affected by human-wildlife conflicts
- Supporting conservation education
By reviewing access fees upwards, the KWS hopes to increase revenue collection from the current Kes. 7.92 billion to Kes. 16.58 billion by 2028. These fees are expected to be channeled towards sustaining the ecological integrity of Kenya’s national parks, supporting rangers, and ensuring the long-term viability of conservation.
A Delicate Balance
While the reasons for raising park fees are valid, hiking prices does not always lead to higher revenue. The KWS risks pricing out both local and international tourists – more so the latter, who already view Tanzania as an alternative destination to Kenya when it comes to safari holidays. Some of the parks in Tanzania, including the Serengeti and Tarangire, offer similar experiences as Kenya’s iconic national parks like Maasai Mara, Tsavo, and Amboseli. When the government revised Maasai Mara rates from USD 70 to USD 200 per non-resident traveler in 2024, the price hike sent tourists to the Serengeti.
Beyond competition, domestic tourists are particularly sensitive to price changes. Kenya’s own recent tax experiences point to a populace that is willing to significantly cut on spending when new fees and levies are introduced. In recent years, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) raised several tax bands yet missed its collection target as customers adjusted their spending habits and businesses cut budgets.
Not a First in East Africa
Kenya is not the first East African country to revise its tourism fee structure. Neighboring countries like Tanzania and Rwanda have made similar moves in the recent past, citing the need to improve infrastructure, conserve wildlife, and position themselves as premium safari destinations.
- Tanzania gradually phased new rates for Serengeti national park, culminating in a USD 70 entry fee in 2021. Despite the increased rate, non-resident tourist numbers soared to 1.8 million in 2023 (post-COVID), generating a revenue of USD 3.3 billion.
- Rwanda doubled its gorilla trekking permits in 2017 from USD 750 to USD 1,500 to reduce human traffic in the parks and position itself as a premium destination for trekking. Although there were cancellations initially, official records show that permit sales remained strong and revenue doubled.
Public Engagement Invited
KWS has opened the proposed draft to public scrutiny and is encouraging the general public, tour operators, and conservationists to air their opinions. The feedback window runs from July 29th to August 8th and spans 18 counties. You can submit comments to the KWS or Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife directly via email or by attending scheduled public forums as follows:
| Region | Venue | Date | Time |
| Hola | Hola Primary School | 29th July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Homa Bay | Tom Mboya University Hall | 29th July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Marsabit | Marsabit National Park-Museum Hall | 29th July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Kisumu | Tom Mboya Hall | 30th July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Lamu | Mwanarafa Hall (Lamu Island) | 30th July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Meru | Imenti North CDF Hall | 30th July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Chogoria | Chogoria Social Hall | 31st July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Kitale | Kitale Polytechnic Hall | 31st July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Watamu | Turtle Bay Beach Club Hotel | 31st July 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Eldoret | Uasin Gishu County Hall | 1st August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Mombasa | Mombasa Beach Hotel | 1st August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Nanyuki | CDF Hall | 1st August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Embu | Kenya School of Government | 4th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Nakuru | Nakuru County Hall | 4th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Ukunda | County Social Hall – Bongwe | 4th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Machakos | Machakos University Hall | 5th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Nyeri | Nyeri Cultural Center | 5th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Voi | Dan Mwazo Hall | 5th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Wote | Wote Green Park Social Hall | 6th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
| Nairobi | Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) Amphitheater | 8th August 2025 | 9:00 am |
Stay Informed, Share Your Voice
Gemini Expeditions will continue to monitor the process and provide updates as necessary. Further, we recognize the importance of striking a balance between sustainable tourism, wildlife and environmental conservation, and accessible travel.
As tour operators, we are always on the side of lower fees and levies that can make tourism affordable and accessible to all Kenyans. We need to find that sweet spot where prices are modest and the environmental impact of tourism is minimal.
Nelson.
Director, Gemini Expeditions.
Have thoughts on the proposed fee changes? We encourage you to participate in the public consultation process or share your views with us at [email protected].