The Kenya Wildlife Service KWS has announced a proposal to revise national park entry fees across the board.
KWS says the move, detailed in the draft Wildlife Conservation and Management Access and Conservation Fees Regulations, 2025, is part of a broader effort to address a KSh12 billion 80 million annual funding shortfall that threatens the sustainability of Kenyas conservation efforts.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, KWS generated KSh7.92 billion 52.7 million in revenue, far below the KSh19.8 billion 131.8 million needed to meet its operational and conservation targets. The deficit has made it difficult for KWS to maintain protected areas, respond to human-wildlife conflict, manage anti-poaching operations, and restore degraded habitats.
For over a decade, our conservation fee structure has remained static, despite rising costs, evolving visitor expectations, and increasing threats to wildlife, said KWS Director General, Erustus Kanga . This review is not just about revenue it is about the survival of our wildlife and the resilience of our conservation systems.
If approved, the revised fee structure will cover access to national parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and marine protected areas. It is expected to double annual revenue from tourism-related activities to a projected KSh16.9 billion 112.5 million by 2028. KWS says the changes will enable it to modernise park infrastructure, expand conservation education, enhance security operations, and improve visitor experiences.