Visitor numbers hit 3.38 million as national parks surpass revenue targets
Kenya’s national parks generated Sh7.92 billion in 2024/25, meeting targets on rising visitor numbers, even as a High Court order halted proposed park fee increases challenged by tourism stakeholders.
Kenya’s national parks have continued to generate strong revenue, with collections reaching Sh7.92 billion in the financial year ending June 2025, maintaining a three-year streak of outperforming targets despite ongoing debates over new park charges.
According to the State Department for Wildlife, the figure matched the annual goal and built on previous growth, following Sh7.74 billion collected in 2023/24 against a target of Sh7.53 billion.
In 2022/23, earnings were Sh5.37 billion, above the Sh5.27 billion benchmark. Officials attribute the increase to more tourists visiting parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and marine protected areas.
Visitor numbers hit 3.38 million in the year to June 2025, surpassing the projected 3.3 million.
The year before, parks welcomed 3.18 million visitors compared to a target of 2.7 million, while 2022/23 saw 2.4 million arrivals against a 2.1 million goal.
“Target [for revenue] surpassed due to increased visitors in parks and digitisation of revenue collection (e-Citizen),” the State Department explained.
It added that visitor growth was supported by marketing campaigns, refurbishment of park guesthouses, and measures aimed at restoring tourism after previous downturns.
Digitising park payments has also played a key role in improving collections.
With e-ticketing now in place for Nairobi National Park and other sites, cash payments are no longer required, and visitors can pay in advance through platforms like eCitizen.
In September, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said, “Through innovations such as TouristTap, which convert NFC-enabled smartphones into point-of-sale devices, foreigners can pay with Visa or MasterCard directly, or via mobile money, without the need for cash, foreign exchange, or traditional point-of-sale machines.”
The rise in revenue comes amid tension over proposed new fees. Kenya Wildlife Service had sought to introduce revised charges under the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation Fees) Regulations, 2025, to address a Sh12 billion budget gap.
The High Court, however, temporarily blocked the changes following a petition by the Kenya Tourist Federation, which argued that sudden fee increases would harm Kenya’s position as a top safari destination.
Justice John Chigiti said the matter required proper consultation with stakeholders. Tour operators had warned that the abrupt fees made it impossible to adjust pre-sold packages or seek input from clients.
Before the injunction, new fees would have raised charges for adult Kenyans and East African residents visiting Amboseli or Lake Nakuru National Park by 74.4 per cent to Sh1,500, while foreign visitors would pay $90 (Sh1,160), up from $60 (Sh7,740).
Students and children aged five to 17 were to pay Sh750, more than triple the current rates. At Nairobi National Park, local fees would have risen 132.5 per cent to Sh1,000, while foreign fees would increase by 86 per cent to $80 (Sh10,320).
Fees for Tsavo East and West were set to rise to Sh1,000 for citizens and $80 (Sh10,320) for foreigners.
KWS notes that these five parks, Nairobi National Park, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo East, and Tsavo West, generate over 78 per cent of its total park revenue.
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