TAITA TAVETA, Kenya — President William Ruto has announced an ambitious plan to construct five luxury hotels inside the newly expanded Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary, signalling a major policy shift toward high-end tourism as the government seeks to raise revenue from Kenya’s wildlife estate.
Speaking during the commissioning of the sanctuary in Ngulia, the President said the facilities will cater to premium international visitors, with accommodation charges expected to range between USD 500 and USD 1,000 per night—rates similar to those in the Maasai Mara’s top-tier conservancies.
“I have been briefed by the KWS that there will be five new hotels that will be built within this park,” President Ruto said. “Those will be high-end hotels that would mandate visitors to pay between USD 500 and USD 1,000 per day.”
Ruto issued a directive barring the establishment of low-cost hotels inside the sanctuary, saying the government is shifting to a model that maximises income to support both conservation programmes and surrounding communities.
“There will be no hotels here charging Sh2,000 or Sh3,000. We want to raise our revenue so that it can reach the local community,” he said.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Ministry of Tourism have been tasked with overseeing the rollout, including ensuring that all upcoming facilities meet international hospitality and environmental standards.
The President also directed the development of a unified carbon credits trading framework that will merge Tsavo East, Tsavo West, and Galana Kulalu into a single conservation and carbon-trading zone. The initiative is expected to unlock new revenue streams to support wildlife protection and community livelihoods.
“I also direct that the necessary team develop a carbon credits trading plan covering Tsavo East and West and Galana Kulalu to create a harmonised zone so that locals can benefit,” Ruto said.
The newly expanded sanctuary now covers more than 3,200 square kilometres, making it the largest rhino sanctuary in the world. Officials say the expansion is aimed at resolving congestion that has slowed breeding and increased territorial conflict among black rhinos.
Over 80pc of Kenya’s black rhinos have been living in overcrowded sanctuaries, posing risks to the country’s conservation gains.
“We have in our custody nearly 78pc of the global population of Eastern Black Rhino; this is not simply our conservation achievement—it is a sovereign responsibility of global significance,” the President noted.
The government says the expanded sanctuary is already generating thousands of jobs in ranger deployment, construction, logistics and road works. By 2030, the integrated tourism and conservation project is projected to create more than 18,000 jobs and generate over USD 45 million (about Sh6 billion) in annual tourism and conservancy revenue.
Local communities are expected to benefit through employment opportunities, improved infrastructure, and revenue sharing from tourism and carbon credits.
The Tsavo Rhino Sanctuary expansion marks one of Kenya’s most significant conservation investments in decades, with the government framing it as a model for balancing wildlife protection with economic growth.
