NAIROBI, Kenya — A section of Kenyans will enjoy free entry offers to national parks, sanctuaries and marine parks after the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced a week-long festive promotion aimed at boosting domestic tourism during the holiday season.
In a notice issued on Friday, December 26, KWS said the special Boxing Day group offers will run until Wednesday, December 31, with the incentives strictly reserved for Kenyan citizens and subject to specific terms and conditions.
Under the promotion, families and groups visiting selected parks stand to benefit from discounted and free entries, particularly for children and group travellers.
“A family of five visiting sanctuaries and marine parks will receive free entry for one child aged between six and 17 years,” KWS said.
The service added that for every five passengers travelling in a five-seater vehicle, one child will be allowed free entry. Groups arriving in fully occupied 25-seater buses will receive free entry for two adults, while those using seven-seater vans or eight-seater Land Cruisers will be granted free entry for one adult.
In addition to entry incentives, KWS has also extended accommodation benefits within park facilities. Visitors who stay in park-managed accommodation for three nights will receive the fourth night free.
“As we unwrap the season’s wildest gift, gather your family and friends and enjoy special group offers across Kenya’s parks, sanctuaries and marine parks,” the service said in its festive message.
The initiative is part of broader efforts by KWS to stimulate domestic tourism during the end-of-year holiday period, traditionally one of the busiest seasons for travel and leisure activities.
The announcement comes barely a week after KWS reintroduced shuttle bus services in select parks to make wildlife experiences more accessible to Kenyans who do not own private vehicles.
In an earlier notice, the service said the shuttle buses are operating at Nairobi National Park, Aberdare National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park throughout the festive season.
“Starting this weekend, 20th December, we’re bringing back the bus shuttle service on weekends and public holidays only through the festive season as part of the Jiachilie in Kenya Parks holiday campaign,” KWS stated.
The shuttle services, which mainly operate on weekends and public holidays, allow visitors to enjoy guided game drives without using personal vehicles, an arrangement KWS says is affordable and convenient for families.
“Explore our parks with ease… Affordable, convenient, and perfect for family adventures this holiday season,” the service added.
The festive packages are also aligned with the government’s wider tourism growth strategy. Earlier this month, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced that KWS plans to significantly expand in-park accommodation facilities to meet rising demand from both local and international tourists.
According to Kindiki, the service intends to increase bed capacity within national parks from 1,800 to about 4,000, a move expected to create employment opportunities and economically empower communities living in and around protected areas.
Tourism sector players have welcomed the incentives, saying they could encourage more Kenyans to explore local destinations at a time when household budgets are under pressure.
KWS has urged visitors to check park-specific terms and conditions and to plan their visits early, noting that the offers are time-bound and only valid until the end of the year.
