KWS TO REVISE PARK ENTRY FEES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 YEARS

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has proposed a revision of park entry fees for the first time in 18 years, in a move aimed at bridging a KSh 12 billion funding shortfall and boosting wildlife conservation efforts.
The draft regulations, titled Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation Fees) Regulations, 2025, were gazetted on July 9 and are now open for public comment. If implemented, the new fee structure will affect national parks, game reserves, sanctuaries, and marine protected areas across the country.
According to KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga, the review is necessary to meet the agency’s rising operational and conservation demands. “This is not just about revenue – it's about the survival of our wildlife and the resilience of our conservation systems,” he said during a stakeholder briefing.
Currently, KWS generates approximately KSh 7.92 billion annually, against an operational need of KSh 19.79 billion. The agency hopes the proposed changes will increase revenue to KSh 10.9 billion in the first year and reach KSh 16.6 billion by 2028.
While specific rates have not yet been published, early reports suggest that park entry fees for both domestic and international tourists could rise by up to 50%. For instance, fees for adult Kenyan residents visiting top-tier parks like Amboseli and Lake Nakuru may rise from KSh 860 to KSh 1,500. Foreign tourists could pay up to $90 (approximately KSh 11,660), up from the current $60.
This is the fifth attempt by KWS to revise park fees, with previous proposals in 2023 being blocked by legal and public resistance. The new proposal comes with a promise of transparency and broader stakeholder engagement, including a 14-day window for public submissions.
If approved, the new rates will take effect later this year, coinciding with KWS's long-term conservation and tourism development strategy.
KWS is also set to hold public auctions of obsolete assets in Voi and Nairobi in July as part of broader fundraising efforts.