KWS records 300,000 festive season park visits
Kenya Wildlife Service reported more than 300,000 visitors to national parks and reserves during the December 2025 festive season, including 231,000 Kenyan citizens and residents and 82,500 non‑residents. The performance highlights the strength of domestic travel and aligns with Government targets to reach five million annual visitors by 2028.
To spur access, KWS reintroduced a weekend and public‑holiday bus shuttle from 20 December under the Jiachilie in Kenya Parks campaign and plans further experience and access upgrades in 2026 alongside conservation measures. A new conservation fee structure took effect on 1 October 2025 – the first comprehensive review in 18 years – with differential pricing by visitor category; for example, Amboseli and Lake Nakuru now charge Sh1,500 for East African citizens, Sh2,025 for residents, US$90 for non‑residents and US$50 for other African citizens.
Source: The Star
