Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) plans a major increase of park visit fees to bridge a Sh12 billion annual budget deficit, with entry costs to places such as Nairobi National Park set to more than double.
The State corporation, which is charged with conserving and managing Kenya's wildlife, says if approved, the proposed park fee will mark the first comprehensive review of conservation fees in 18 years. Several such attempts in the past failed.
The proposed new fee structure for accessing national parks, reserves, sanctuaries and marine protected areas is contained in the draft Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation Fees) Regulations, 2025.
In the proposal, entry fees to the country’s two premium parks —Amboseli National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park— will rise by 74.4 percent to Sh1,500 from the current Sh860 for adult locals and other East African Community (EAC) nationals while foreigners will see their charges rise by 50 percent to $90 (Sh11,660) from $60 (Sh7,770).
The proposed changes have not spared minors. For instance, Kenyans and EAC students and children aged above five but below 18 will pay Sh750 to enter Amboseli or Lake Nakuru parks, marking more than a tripling from the current rate of Sh215.
KWS Director General, Prof Erustus Kanga, said the proposed review reflects rising costs, evolving visitor expectations and increasing threats to wildlife —all which have put pressure on the entity’s budget.
“Today, more than 90 percent of our internal revenue comes from tourism-related activities. Yet we face a widening fiscal deficit that undermines not only conservation, but also the livelihoods of over one million Kenyans whose jobs depend on a thriving wildlife economy —ranging from community scouts and rangers to tour operators, hoteliers, and artisans,” said Prof Kanga.
KWS says about 78 percent of its operating budget is allocated to security operations, leaving only 22 percent for key operations such as human-wildlife conflict, wildlife monitoring and vehicle maintenance.
The proposed fee raises fears that Kenya may lose its appeal to local and foreign tourists. However, KWS projections show that revenue will rise from Sh7.14 billion that was booked in 2024 to Sh10.93 billion in the first year under the proposed rate and hit Sh16.58 billion in the fourth year.
KWS is proposing an even steeper increase in fees to access Nairobi National Park —a 132.5 percent rise (from the current Sh430 to Sh1,000) for locals and EAC nationals and 86 percent rise to $80 (Sh10,360) from $43 (Sh5,570) for foreigners.
Entry to Tsavo East and Tsavo West will see a 94.2 percent rise to Sh1,000 from Sh515 for locals and EAC citizens while that of foreigners will rise by 53.8 percent to $80 from $52 (Sh6,700).
The five parks —Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Nairobi National, Tsavo East and Tsavo West— make up 78 percent of KWS’ revenue from parks, according to the impact assessment report justifying the proposed revision.
Kenyans and other EAC citizens will pay Sh800 to access Meru, Kora and Aberdare national parks, in what will mark a more than doubling from the current Sh300 while the charges on foreigners will move to $70 (Sh9,070) from $52 (Sh6,724) if the proposals are implemented.
Scenic parks —Hells Gate, Mt. Longonot, Mt. Elgon, Ol Donyo Sabuk, Shimba Hills, Kakamega, Marsabit and Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary— will charge locals Sh500 from Sh300.
KWS is banking on a pricing study that found that 75 percent of all respondents indicated willingness to pay up to 50 percent more while 13 percent would accept increases of 51 percent and more —but only if tied to visible improvements in park services, infrastructure and conservation outcomes.
Further, KWS says compared to Tanzania National Park, it offers moderately priced experiences for foreigners —$60 (Sh7,770) at premium parks compared with Tanzania’s $70 (Sh9,070) to $100 (Sh12,950).
