Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a state corporation that conserves and manages Kenya’s wildlife. It conserves and manages national parks, wildlife conservation areas, and sanctuaries under its jurisdiction. It manages the biodiversity of the country, protecting and conserving the flora and fauna, and enforces related laws and regulations. KWS sets fees for East African citizens/Kenyan residents and non-residents, as regards to the parks and reserves under its mandate.
In the article
Park fees
a. High season (July to February)
Parks | E.A citizens/Kenyan Residents | Non-residents | ||
Adult | Child/student | Adult | Child/student | |
Premium parks | ||||
Amboseli and Lake Nakuru | Ksh 800 | Ksh 215 | $70 | $20 |
Urban safari | ||||
Nairobi | Ksh 500 | Ksh 215 | $60 | $20 |
Wilderness parks | ||||
Tsavo East & Tsavo West Meru, Kora, and Aberdare | Ksh 500 | Ksh 215 | $60 | $20 |
Mountain climbing | ||||
Mt. Kenya day trip | Ksh 430 | Ksh 250 | $52 | $20 |
Mt. Kenya 3-day package including camping | Ksh 1,880 | Ksh 1,200 | $215 | $105 |
Mt. Kenya 4-day package including camping | Ksh 2,500
| Ksh 1,600 | $285 | $140 |
Mt. Kenya 5-day package including camping | Ksh 3,100
| Ksh 2,000 | $355 | $175 |
Mt. Kenya 6-day package including camping | Ksh 3,750 | Ksh 2,400 | $430 | $205 |
Scenic parks | ||||
Hell’s Gate, Mt. Longonot, Mt. Elgon, and Ol Donyo Sabuk | Ksh 300 | Ksh 215 | $30 | $20 |
Special interest parks | ||||
Marsabit, Mwea, Ruma, Saiwa Swamp, Sibiloi, Cental Island, Kakamega, Shimba Hills, Ndere Island, Chyullu Hills, South Turkana, and South Island National Park | Ksh 300 | Ksh 215 | $25 | $15 |
Sanctuaries | ||||
Nairobi Orphanage, Nairobi Safari Walk, Kisumu Impala, and Elementaita | Ksh 250 | Ksh 125 | $25 | $15 |
Marine parks and reserves | ||||
Kisite Mpunguti, Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi, and Kiunga | Ksh 200 | Ksh 125 | $15 | $10 |
b. Low season (March – June)
Parks | E.A citizens/Kenyan Residents | Non-residents | ||
Adult | Child/student | Adult | Child/student | |
Premium parks | ||||
Amboseli and Lake Nakuru | Ksh 600 | Ksh 215 | $40 | $20 |
Urban safari | ||||
Nairobi | Ksh 400 | Ksh 215 | $40 | $20 |
Wilderness parks | ||||
Tsavo East & Tsavo West Meru, Kora, and Aberdare | Ksh 300 | Ksh 215 | $35 | $20 |
Mountain climbing | ||||
Mt. Kenya day trip | Ksh 250 | Ksh 250 | $30 | $20 |
Mt. Kenya 3-day package including camping | Ksh 1,350 | Ksh 1,200 | $150 | $105 |
Mt. Kenya 4-day package including camping | Ksh 1,800
| Ksh 1,600 | $200 | $140 |
Mt. Kenya 5-day package including camping | Ksh 2,250
| Ksh 2,000 | $250 | $175 |
Mt. Kenya 6-day package including camping | Ksh 2,700 | Ksh 2,400 | $300 | $205 |
Scenic parks | ||||
Hell’s Gate, Mt. Longonot, Mt. Elgon, and Ol Donyo Sabuk | Ksh 250 | Ksh 215 | $20 | $20 |
Special interest parks | ||||
Marsabit, Mwea, Ruma, Saiwa Swamp, Sibiloi, Cental Island, Kakamega, Shimba Hills, Ndere Island, Chyullu Hills, South Turkana, and South Island National Park | Ksh 250 | Ksh 215 | $20 | $15 |
Sanctuaries | ||||
Nairobi Orphanage, Nairobi Safari Walk, Kisumu Impala, and Elementaita | Ksh 200 | Ksh 125 | $20 | $15 |
Marine parks and reserves | ||||
Kisite Mpunguti, Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi, and Kiunga | Ksh 150 | Ksh 125 | $10 | $10 |
Camping fees
Parks | E.A citizens/Kenyan Residents | Non-residents | ||
Adult | Child/student | Adult | Child/student | |
Special campsites | ||||
Premium parks (Amboseli and Lake Nakuru) | Ksh 500 | Ksh 250 | $50 | $25 |
All other parks | Ksh 250 | Ksh 200 | $35 | $20 |
Reservation fees for special campsite per week (Non-refundable) | Ksh 7,500 | |||
Cancellation fees for special campsite per week | Ksh 7,500 | |||
Public campsites | ||||
Premium parks (Amboseli and Lake Nakuru) | Ksh 250 | Ksh 200 | $30 | $25 |
All other parks | Ksh 200 | Ksh 150 | $20 | $15 |
Conferences
For lodges inside KWS parks | E.A citizens discount on park entry fees | Non-residents discount on park entry fees |
100 participants and above | 30% | 30% |
50-99 participants | 20% | 20% |
30-49 participants | 10% | 10% |
20-29 participants | 5% | 5% |
Conservation experiences
Activity | E.A Citizens/Kenyan residents | Non-residents |
Water sports in marine parks and reserves (per person) | Ksh 500 | $10 |
Sundowner, bush breakfast, bush dinner for park visitors not residing within the park or reserve (per person) | Ksh 1,000 | $10 |
Lion tracking in selected parks on prior arrangement (per person) | Ksh 10,000 | $100 |
Rhino tracking in selected parks on prior arrangement (per person) | Ksh 10,000 | $100 |
Guided hippo census in selected parks on prior arrangement (per person) | Ksh 5,000 | $80 |
Warden’s lecture (where available) minimum 10 pax. On prior arrangement (per group) | Ksh 3,000 | $25 |
Sport fishing in parks/reserves per line (per person per day) | Ksh 1,500 | $50 |
Entry to elephant orphanages in KWS parks/reserves and sanctuaries (per person) | Ksh 300 | $10 |
Event sites premium and urban parks (Park entry fees applicable) | ||
10-30 pax | Ksh 30,000 | $300 |
31-50 pax | Ksh 40,000 | $400 |
51-80pax | Ksh 50,000 | $500 |
Above 80 pax | Ksh 60,000 | $600 |
All other parks | Ksh 20,000 | $200 |
Guided nature walks and birdwatching (per person) | Ksh 300 | $15 |
Drone charges (KCAA licenses required) (per day) | Ksh 35,000 | $350 |
Commercial photography/videography for feature films, adverts, dramas (relevant licenses required) | 20% of the total park cost | 20% of the total park cost |
Music videos, vlogging, weddings, short features and commercial still photos (per day) | Ksh 5,000 | $80 |
Offroad driving restoration fees | 30% of total cost | 30% of total cost |
Picnic charges within KWS premises excluding vehicle (per person) | Ksh 100 | $10 |
Photo session (weddings, graduation for personal event, etc.) (per group) | Ksh 3,000 | $30 |
Vehicle parking charges – KWS HQ, Malindi, Mombasa, Shimoni, Mt. Longonot, Hell’s Gate, Lake Nakuru). Not applicable to park visitors with paid tickets (per car per day) | Ksh 300 | $5 |
Virtual tours at all KWS parks and reserves (per person per session) | 50% off park fee | 50% off park fee |
Night nature walk at Nairobi Safari Walk, Animal Orphanage, Saiwa Swamp, Elmenteita and Kakamega National Reserve (per person) | Ksh 1,500 | $20 |
Zuru Kids boot camp at Safari Walk and Orphanage (minimum 10 pax) prior booking required (per person per day) | Ksh 1,000 | $10 |
Guided cave exploration (Chyullu, Elgon, Aberdare, Tsavo West, and Mt. Kenya) (per person) | Ksh 500 | $20 |
Adult conservation boot camp (minimum 15 pax) – prior booking required (per person per day) | Ksh 2,000 | $20 |
Participation in scheduled lion, rhino and elephant research activities (per person) | Ksh 10,000 | $150 |
Other fees
Vehicle fees per day | |
Less than 6 seats | Ksh 300 |
6-12 seats | Ksh 1,030 |
13-24 seats | Ksh 2,585 |
25-44 seats | Ksh 4,050 |
45 seats and above | Ksh 5,000 |
Motorcycle fees | |
Motorcycle (not more than 250cc) to Hell’s Gate, Mt. Kenya, Aberdare, Mt. Longonot, Mt. Elgon, Ol Donyo Sabuk, and Sibiloi | Ksh 400 |
Aircrafts (per landing) | |
Less than 3 seats | $300 |
3-6 seats | $500 |
7-14 seats | $1,000 |
15-20 seats | $2,155 |
21 seats and above | $3,015 |
Helicopter landing in Mt. Kenya National Park | $260 |
Trucks and delivery vehicles per day | |
1-3 tons | Ksh 515 |
4-7 tons | Ksh 2,155 |
More than 7 tons | Ksh 3,015 |
Boats | |
Fees per day | Ksh 300 |
Annual pass for private non-commercial boat | Ksh 5,170 |
Annual pass for commercial vessel stationed or operating in the park (less than 13 seats) | Ksh 15,080 |
Vehicles stationed in the park per year | |
TSV’s less than 6 seats & commercial vehicle less than 2 tons | Ksh 10,000 |
TSV’s 6-12 seats & commercial vehicle 2-5tons | Ksh 10,000 |
TSV’s 6-13 seats and commercial tour vehicles not stationed in the park | Ksh 60,000 |
TSV’s more than 13seats & commercial vehicles more than 5 tons | Ksh 100,000 |
Annual passes | |
Adult annual pass | Ksh 43,100 |
Child annual pass | Ksh 10,340 |
Corporate annual pass | Ksh 103,440 |
Tour driver personalized annual pass | Ksh 6,000 |
Marine park annual pass | Ksh 10,340 |
Couple’s annual pass (Any two adults) | Ksh 80,000 |
Family annual pass (Two adults and up to 5 children under the age of 18 years) | Ksh 130,000 |
Special services | |
Event security per section of rangers | Ksh 75,000 |
Vehicle recovery inside the park | Ksh 7,500 |
Special activities | |
Night game drive (per person per trip) | Ksh 2,155 |
Lake boating (per person per hour) | Ksh 1,290 |
Security/Guided tours (per guide up to 4 hours) | Ksh 1,720 |
Security/Guided tours (per guide over 4 hours) | Ksh 3,015 |
River rafting (per person) | Ksh 1,720 |
Horse riding KWS horse (excluding rider per day) | Ksh 2,585 |
Horse riding private horses (excluding rider per day) | Ksh 1,030 |
Fishing in Mt. Kenya (per line per day) | Ksh 1,550 |
Bicycle hire (per day) | Ksh 500 |
Cycling (per day per hire) | Ksh 215 |
Walking Safaris (per person-per day) | Ksh 1,500 |
KWS parks and reserves guidelines
- East African citizen – A native or inhabitant of East Africa countries with valid identification documents or passport
- Kenyan resident – Refers to persons of other nationalities residing in Kenya with valid documentation from the Kenyan government
- Daily fee – Fee paid for a single entry to a national park, national reserve or sanctuary and which shall be valid for not longer than twenty four hours
- Student – Is as an individual from a recognized secondary, government or private college or university aged up to twenty-three years old visiting the parks for purposes of learning about conservation through a documented and organized arrangement with that institution. It excludes students on personally arranged holidays. KWS will require a minimum of two (2) weeks to issue a written authorization for the student rates
- Children – Refers to persons from three years but below 18 years
- High season – Shall be from 1st July to 29th February
- Low season – Shall be from of 1st March to 30th June
- Mt. Kenya high season – Shall be July, August, September, December, January, and February
- Mt. Kenya low season – Shall be October, November, March, April, May, and June
- Mt. Kenya packages is inclusive of camping fees
- Corporate pass may be issued to eligible utility providers having installations within KWS managed parks/reserves
- Special activity fees do not include park/reserve entry fees
- Security fee for one section of rangers applicable for event sites after 6.30 pm
- All other parks and reserves include: Marsabit, Mwea, Ruma, Saiwa Swamp, South Turkana, Sibiloi, Central Island, South Island, Kakamega, Shimba Hills, Ndere Island, and Chyullu Hills
- All KWS parks, reserves and sanctuaries are single use plastic free zones
