NAIROBI, Kenya – Visiting Kenya’s world-renowned wildlife parks and reserves is set to cost more from October 2025 as the government introduces revised conservation fees aimed at plugging a Sh12 billion annual funding gap in wildlife management.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed that the new tariff structure, the first comprehensive overhaul in nearly two decades, will take effect later this year following extensive public consultations.
KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga said the changes are necessary to sustain operations across the country’s 51 national parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and marine protected areas.
“The cost of conservation has gone up sharply while park fees have remained unchanged since 2007. Without revision, the quality of conservation work and visitor experience will continue to decline,” he stated.
Under the new draft regulations, Kenyans and East African Community citizens will see significant increases.
For example, Nairobi National Park entry fees for residents will rise from Sh430 to Sh1,000. Foreign visitors, who currently pay about US$43, will be charged between US$80 and US$90.
Premium destinations such as Amboseli and Lake Nakuru will cost locals around Sh1,500 per visit, while foreigners will pay about US$90. Mid-tier parks, including Aberdare and Meru, as well as scenic parks like Hell’s Gate, will also see their charges raised.
Exemptions will apply for children under five, persons with disabilities, senior citizens over 70, and essential safari enablers such as guides and porters.
KWS currently generates about Sh7.9 billion annually, against conservation needs estimated at Sh19.7 billion. Officials say the higher fees will help fund anti-poaching patrols, infrastructure upgrades, habitat restoration, and community conservation programs.
But tour operators and civil society have voiced concerns. Some warn that higher costs could deter foreign tourists, particularly at a time when Kenya competes with regional destinations such as Tanzania, South Africa, and Botswana. Others fear local families may be priced out of enjoying their own heritage.
“We must strike a balance. The increases will support sustainability, but they should not make our parks inaccessible to ordinary Kenyans,” said conservationist Peter Gichohi during a recent stakeholder forum in Nakuru.
The proposed regulations have undergone public hearings in at least 20 counties, from Nairobi to Kisumu and Mombasa.
Tour operators, hoteliers, county governments, and community groups raised issues of transparency, equitable revenue sharing, and whether the additional funds will translate into visible improvements.
Jacqueline Mugo of the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) noted: “Businesses support conservation, but there must be accountability. If fees go up, we expect better roads, reliable ranger services, and improved safety for tourists and wildlife alike.”
If approved by Parliament and gazetted, the new fee structure will come into force in October, aligning with the high tourism season.
KWS projects that revenues could rise to Sh16.6 billion by 2028, significantly easing the agency’s reliance on government subsidies and donor support.
For communities living near parks, the expectation is that more resources will trickle down through compensation schemes, community ventures, and efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
As the October deadline approaches, the debate underscores Kenya’s delicate balancing act, making conservation sustainable without pricing out the very visitors whose entry fees sustain it.
