New Kenya Park Fees Structure

Kenya’s recent move to increase park entry fees and mandate online payments starting January 1, 2024, is raising concerns among tour operators. As the State Organization responsible for managing national parks and Reserves, Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) has tripled the entry fees and introduced a centralized online payment system.

Despite the significant increase in entry fees, they are expected to have a positive impact on the parks:

Enhanced Conservation: The increased revenue will support conservation efforts, including more ranger patrols, anti-poaching initiatives, and wildlife protection measures.
Improved Infrastructure: The additional funds will lead to better-maintained roads and park infrastructure, enhancing visitor experiences.
Protection of Biodiversity: The parks can intensify their efforts to safeguard Kenya’s diverse and rich biodiversity.
Enriched Safari Experience: Guests can look forward to a more fulfilling safari experience in the high season, with the prospect of fewer vehicles, all while knowing their contributions support the preservation of this unique ecosystem.

Click here to view all 2024 fees released by Kenya Wildlife Service.

The Masai Mara Park Fee is now a 12-hour ticket.

Starting from July 1, 2023, there was an update to the validity duration of entry fees. Specifically, the daily park entry fee for Masai Mara was changed from 24 hours to 12 hours. Consequently, every visitor must have a valid park ticket for each night they stay in the Mara Reserve.

DEPARTURE BY ROAD: Guests departing from the Masai Mara by road must exit the reserve by 10am. Exiting after this time will result in an additional entry fee.

DEPARTURE BY AIR: Guests, whether residing inside or outside the reserve, departing by air must arrive at the airstrip by 10am. Staying beyond this time will incur an additional day in-park fee. Guests arriving from facilities outside the reserve will be issued a 2-hour transit ticket at the entry gate to allow them to reach the airstrips within the reserve.

The Narok County Government has confirmed that the Masai Mara Park Fees for 2024 will be adjusted as follows:

From January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, the fee for non-resident adults will be US$ 100 per person per day.
From July 1, 2024, onwards, the fee for non-resident adults will increase to US$ 200 per person per day.
Children will be charged US$ 50 per day per child throughout the year 2024.

The County government has emphasized that this fee adjustment is necessary to address the rising expenses associated with managing and conserving the reserve. However, Safaris that use the private conservancies around the Masai Mara, will be impacted the least.

Click here to view the new Masai Mara National Reserve 2024 park fees.

High Season Kenya National Park New Rates

	Kenyan Resident (Ksh)	Kenyan Resident (Ksh)	Rest of Africa (USD)	Rest of Africa (USD)	International (USD)	International (USD)
Park	Adult	Child	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
Nairobi National Park	2000	500	50	20	100	35
Amboseli National Park	1000	500	50	20	100	35
Lake Nakuru National Park	1000	500	50	20	100	35
Tsavo East National Park	500	250	30	20	80	35
Tsavo West National Park	500	250	30	20	80	35
Meru National Park	500	250	30	20	60	35
Aberdare National Park	500	250	30	20	60	35

Low Season Kenya National Park New Rates

	Kenyan Resident (Ksh)	Kenyan Resident (Ksh)	Rest of Africa (USD)	Rest of Africa (USD)	International (USD)	International (USD)
Park	Adult	Child	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
Nairobi National Park	2000	500	25	10	100	20
Amboseli National Park	800	250	35	10	80	20
Lake Nakuru National Park	800	250	35	10	80	20
Tsavo East National Park	300	250	18	10	35	20
Tsavo West National Park	300	250	18	10	35	25
Meru National Park	300	250	18	10	25	20
Aberdare National Park	300	250	18	10	25	20

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has also implemented a new policy requiring all visitors to The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to pay park fees for Nairobi National Park. This marks a departure from previous practices where such fees were not necessary for visitors to the Elephant Nursery. As indicated in the provided table, this fee amounts to US$ 100 per person, in addition to the entry fee of US$ 20 required to visit the elephant orphanage.

Procedure of Payment for Park Fees

KWS has transitioned to exclusively accepting payments for park fees through the eCitizen platform, discontinuing cash payments at its national parks. This shift aims to centralize government services, enhance accountability, and streamline the payment process for visitors to Kenya’s national parks.

To pay the Masai Mara park fees, international tourists can have their payments processed through their tour operator or travel agent. Alternatively, they can use credit cards for payment either in Nairobi city or at designated park gates such as Oloololo Gate, Purungat Bridge or Serena Airstrip.

Park fees are valid for 24 hours from the time of entry, and pricing can vary based on the guest’s accommodation location within Masai Mara. Guests staying at specific lodges like Mara Serena Lodge and Little Governor’s Camp are eligible for a $10 discount on park entry fees.

East African residents must present their national identity card or passport at the park gate to prove residency status. Payment for residents can be made in cash using either US Dollars or Kenya Shillings at the entry gates, excluding those entering through Mara Triangle.