Kenya Park Entry Fees 2026
Complete fee breakdown for every KWS national park, Masai Mara, and private conservancy — with citizen, resident, and non-resident rates.
Kenya's national parks and game reserves use a tiered pricing system with different rates for Kenyan citizens, East African residents, and international visitors. Since October 2025, KWS has reorganized parks into seven categories — Premium, Urban, Wilderness, Mountain, Scenic, Special Interest, and Marine — each with different fee levels. The Masai Mara, managed by Narok County (not KWS), sets its own rates with significant seasonal variation. This guide covers every park and reserve you are likely to visit on a Kenya safari.
All prices in KES (Kenyan Shillings). As of March 2026, 1 USD ≈ 129 KES. KWS fees are quoted in USD for non-residents but payable in KES at the prevailing rate.
Key Takeaway
A non-resident adult visiting a premium park like Amboseli pays USD 90/day (KES 11,610), while a Kenyan citizen pays just KES 1,500 — an 87% discount. The Masai Mara is the most expensive at USD 200/day in peak season (Jul–Dec). Budget travellers should target green season (Jan–Jun) when Mara fees drop to USD 100 and many parks are less crowded.
binocularsMasai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara — Non-Resident Adult (Peak: Jul–Dec)
KES 25,800USD 200/day. 12-hour ticket (6am–6pm). Peak season covers the Great Migration (Jul–Oct) and holiday period. Children 9–17: USD 50, under 9 free.
Masai Mara — Non-Resident Adult (Green: Jan–Jun)
KES 12,900USD 100/day. 12-hour ticket. Fewer tourists, lower lodge rates, but no migration herds. Children 9–17: USD 50.
At Sekenani and Talek gates, touts may offer to 'help' with entry tickets for a fee. Pay directly at the gate or through your tour operator.
Masai Mara — Kenyan Citizen Adult (Peak: Jul–Dec)
KES 2,000Children 3–17: KES 800. Residents of Narok County get further discounts.
Masai Mara — Kenyan Citizen Adult (Green: Jan–Jun)
KES 1,500Children 3–17: KES 600. Best value period for citizen visitors.
Masai Mara — EA Resident Adult (Peak: Jul–Dec)
KES 5,000For residents of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi. Children: KES 1,500.
Masai Mara — EA Resident Adult (Green: Jan–Jun)
KES 2,500Children: KES 1,000.
treesWilderness Parks (Tsavo, Meru, Aberdare, Mt Kenya)
Tsavo East / Tsavo West — Non-Resident Adult
KES 10,320USD 80/day (Wilderness A tier). Children USD 40. Combined, Tsavo is the largest park system in Kenya at 22,000 km².
Tsavo East / Tsavo West — EA Citizen Adult
KES 1,000Children KES 500. Significantly cheaper than premium parks.
Meru / Aberdare National Park — Non-Resident Adult
KES 9,030USD 70/day (Wilderness B tier). Children USD 40. Meru is uncrowded with excellent wildlife; Aberdare offers mountain forest scenery.
Meru / Aberdare — EA Citizen Adult
KES 800Children KES 500.
Mount Kenya National Park — Non-Resident Adult
KES 9,030USD 70/day (Mountain tier). Children USD 35. Multi-day trekkers pay per 24-hour period — a 4-day climb costs 4x the daily fee.
Mount Kenya — EA Citizen Adult
KES 800Children KES 400.
Nairobi National Park — Non-Resident Adult
KES 10,320USD 80/day (Urban tier). Children USD 40. Only 7 km from Nairobi CBD — the world's only national park bordering a capital city.
Nairobi National Park — EA Citizen Adult
KES 1,000Children KES 500.
shieldPrivate Conservancies
Ol Pejeta Conservancy — Non-Resident Adult
KES 14,190USD 110/day. Children USD 55. Home to the last 2 northern white rhinos and over 150 black rhinos. Gates are fully CASHLESS — card or M-Pesa only.
Ol Pejeta is cashless — do not believe anyone offering to handle cash payment on your behalf at the gate.
Ol Pejeta — EA Citizen Adult
KES 2,000Children KES 1,000. Includes access to the conservancy and Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Samburu National Reserve — Non-Resident Adult
KES 10,965USD 85/day. Children USD 50. County-managed reserve (not KWS). Cash in USD or KES still accepted at gates alongside cards and M-Pesa.
Samburu — EA Citizen Adult
KES 800 – KES 1,500Rates vary. County reserve with separate fee structure from KWS parks.
Mara Conservancies (Olare Motorogi, Naboisho, Mara North)
KES 10,320 – KES 16,770USD 80–130/person/night. Conservancy fees are typically included in lodge rates. These offer exclusive game viewing with vehicle limits, night drives, and walking safaris — unavailable in the main Mara reserve.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy — Non-Resident Day Visitor
KES 25,542USD 198/day for day trippers. Overnight guests pay USD 126/day. Kenya residents: KES 8,074 (day) or KES 2,800 (overnight). One of East Africa's premier rhino sanctuaries.
mountainScenic & Adventure Parks
Hell's Gate National Park — Non-Resident Adult
KES 6,450USD 50/day. Children USD 25. One of the few parks where you can walk or cycle. Dramatic gorge scenery and geothermal features.
Hell's Gate — EA Citizen Adult
KES 500Children KES 250. Popular weekend day trip from Nairobi.
Mount Longonot — Non-Resident Adult
KES 6,450USD 50/day. Children USD 25. Volcanic crater hike taking 3–4 hours round trip.
Shimba Hills — Non-Resident Adult
KES 6,450USD 50/day. Children USD 25. Coastal forest reserve near Diani Beach with sable antelope.
Scenic Parks — EA Citizen Adult
KES 500Covers Hell's Gate, Mt Longonot, Shimba Hills, Kakamega Forest, Mt Elgon, Ol Donyo Sabuk. Children KES 250.
carVehicle Entry & Marine Parks
Vehicle Fee — Private Car (under 6 seats)
KES 600Per vehicle per day at all KWS parks. Applies to saloon cars, SUVs, and small 4x4s.
Vehicle Fee — Safari Van (6–12 seats)
KES 1,500Standard safari minivan rate. Per vehicle per day.
Vehicle Fee — Tour Bus (13–24 seats)
KES 3,000Per vehicle per day.
Vehicle Fee — Large Bus (25–44 seats)
KES 4,500Per vehicle per day.
Vehicle Fee — Coach (45+ seats)
KES 5,000Per vehicle per day.
Marine Parks (Kisite, Watamu, Malindi) — Non-Resident Adult
KES 3,225USD 25/day. Children USD 15. EA citizens: KES 500/adult. Includes snorkelling in designated zones.
Budget Tiers
Budget
KES 15,000–KES 25,000/day
Budget camping or basic bandas, group joining safari, green season rates. Park fees are the biggest cost — budget everything else around them.
Sample day
Tsavo East entry (KES 10,320 non-resident) + basic campsite (KES 3,870) + vehicle share in group safari (KES 2,500) + packed meals (KES 1,500) = ~KES 18,190. Kenyan citizens can do the same day for under KES 5,000.
Mid-Range
KES 35,000–KES 65,000/day
Mid-range tented camp or lodge, private vehicle with guide, full board. The sweet spot for most safari visitors — comfortable without being extravagant.
Sample day
Amboseli entry (KES 11,610 non-resident) + mid-range tented camp full board (KES 25,800–38,700) + private game drive vehicle included in camp rate = KES 37,410–50,310.
Luxury
KES 80,000–KES 250,000/day
Premium lodge or exclusive conservancy camp, all-inclusive with private guide, game drives, bush meals. Conservancy fees often included in the nightly rate.
Sample day
Masai Mara conservancy (fee included) + luxury tented camp like Angama Mara (from USD 1,850/KES 238,650 per night all-inclusive) + private guide, game drives, bush breakfast, sundowners all included. Park entry fees are typically wrapped into the rate.
Money Tips
Visit during green season (Jan–Jun) to save 50% on Masai Mara entry fees — USD 100 vs USD 200 in peak season.
KWS parks now use the eCitizen/KWSPay digital payment system. Register online before your trip to avoid delays at the gate. Some parks no longer accept cash.
If you hold an East African passport (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi), always carry it — citizen rates are up to 87% cheaper than non-resident rates.
Kenya residents with a foreign passport should carry their alien registration card or work permit to qualify for resident rates (e.g., KES 2,025 vs USD 90 at Amboseli).
Multi-day safaris: park fees are charged per 24 hours (KWS) or per 12-hour day (Masai Mara). A 3-day Mara safari in peak season costs USD 600 in entry fees alone per adult.
Private conservancy fees (Olare Motorogi, Naboisho, Mara North) are almost always included in your lodge rate — confirm before booking to avoid surprise charges.
Vehicle fees are per vehicle, not per person — travelling in a group spreads this cost. A KES 600 car fee split 4 ways is just KES 150 each.
The KWS Smart Card (annual membership) offers unlimited park access and can save heavy visitors significant money — ask at any KWS gate or check kws.go.ke.
Avoid paying for park entry through unofficial intermediaries at the gate. Always use the official KWSPay portal, your tour operator, or the gate's own card/M-Pesa terminal.
Budget hack: Nairobi National Park (USD 80) offers Big Four sightings (no elephant) just 15 minutes from the city — great value for a half-day safari without the travel costs of reaching the Mara.