Tourists during a visit to a Kenyan park/ KWS X


The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has recorded more than 300,000 visitors to national parks and reserves during the December 2025 festive season.

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KWS said the move underscores the growing appeal of domestic tourism and Kenya’s wildlife offerings.

According to KWS, a total of 231,000 Kenyan citizens and residents visited parks across the country, reaffirming the central role of domestic tourism in sustaining the sector.

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An additional 82,500 non-resident visitors toured the parks during the same period, reflecting continued international interest in Kenya as a leading safari destination.

The surge in numbers was recorded during the “iachilie in Kenya Parks” festive campaign, which encouraged Kenyans and visitors to explore protected areas as part of end-year celebrations.

KWS said the performance aligns with the governments, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife’s target of attracting five million visitors annually by 2028.

The agency noted that it remains committed to supporting tourism growth through wildlife conservation, adventure tourism, and sustainable park experiences.

“As we close the festive season, we appreciate every visitor who chose Kenya Parks. Domestic tourists remain the backbone of our tourism sector, while international visitors continue to boost our global profile,” KWS said in a statement.

Looking ahead to 2026, KWS announced plans to enhance visitor experiences, improve access to parks, and strengthen conservation efforts, while encouraging more Kenyans to take advantage of park offerings.

The agency reiterated its call for responsible tourism, urging visitors to protect nature and support conservation initiatives as part of their park experiences.

In a move to encourage 

domestic tourism and making parks more accessible to families and local visitors, KWS reintroduced its bus shuttle service for the festive season, offering affordable transport to selected national parks on weekends and public holidays.

The service ran from December 20 through the holiday period as part of the Jiachilie in Kenya Parks campaign.

On October 1, KWS rolled out the implementation of new conservation fees for access to the country's national parks, reserves, and sanctuaries.

This followed the approval of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Regulations 2025 by the Parliament on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Erastus Kanga said measures had been put in place to facilitate visitors who had already booked and paid for their trips through the eCitizen platform before the announcement.

According to KWS, this was the first comprehensive review of conservation fees in 18 years, despite rising costs in park management and the need to expand tourism infrastructure.

The reviewed regulations aimed to strengthen the financial sustainability of wildlife conservation, improve visitor experience, and ensure Kenya's parks remain competitive globally while preserving the country's unique wildlife heritage.

The fee schedule classifies charges by visitor categories: East African citizens, Kenyan residents, non-residents (international tourists), and African citizens from other countries. Prices vary depending on the park.

Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Parks now charge Sh1,500 for East African citizens, Sh2,025 for residents, USD 90 for non-residents, and USD 50 for African citizens.

Access to Nairobi National Park now costs Sh1,000 for East African citizens, Sh1,350 for residents, USD 80 for non-residents, and USD 40 for African citizens. 

A special Nairobi package including access to Nairobi National Park, Nairobi Animal Orphanage, and Nairobi Safari Walk costs Sh1,300 for East African citizens, Sh1,750 for residents, USD 105 for non-residents, and USD 55 for African citizens.