Park Fees to go up on May 1st
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 01:52PM

We mentioned back in November that Park Fees were set to rise in line with Kenya Wildlife Service guidelines, which came into effect from January 2009. This rise has now been approved by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government for the Mara Triangle, and from 1st May onwards the following prices will be in place:

Daily Entry Fees

Non-Resident Adult US $60

Non Resident Child US $30

Resident Adult 1,000 KSh

Resident Child 500 KSh

Vehicles Capacity >6 1,000 KSh

Vehicles Capacity <6 300 KSh

Citizen Adult 300 KSh

Citizen Child 100 KSh

Non-Resident Studnt US $20

Resident Student 200 KSh

Citizen Student 100 KSh

Vehicles Capacity 13-24 2,500 KSh

Vehicles Capacity 25-44 4,000 KSh

Vehicles Capacity 45 + 8,000 KSh

Trucks 1-3 tons 500 KSh

Trucks 4-7 tons 2,000 KSh

Trucks 8 tons + 3,000 KSh

Delivery Vehicle - Single Entry 500 KSh

Gliders & Microlites 1,000 KSh

Camping Fees

Private Campsite - Booking Fee 7,500 KSh

Private Campsite - Cancellation Fee 7,500 KSh

Non-Resident Adult US $25

Non-Resident Child US $20

Resident Adult 500 KSh

Resident Child 300 KSh

Citizen Adult 300 KSh

Citizen Child 150 KSh

Non-Resident Student US $20

Resident Student 300 KSh

Citizen Student 150 KSh

Article at: http://www.maratriangle.org/blog/2009/4/27/park-fees-to-go-up-on-may-1st.html#entry3817012

Family of 4 - to enter the park for 1 day... 240.00 Dollars..... Normal safari that is 3 days.... 720.00 Dollars.

Crazy!!!

INSANE! At least for the results!

When we drove Kruger NP in South Africa we payed 560ZAR (roughly 60US$) for 2 days/2 adults and the car!
In Kruger you have tarred roads, excellent tracks, picknick sites, rest camps which offer moderately priced self catering accommodation, super markets, post office, fuel stations, other recreation facilities!
Here we pay happily these fees because one can see where the money goes.

In Kenya one pays a fortune in park fees and the money seemingly goes into pockets which simply don't care about tourist infrastructure. Therefore the whole system in East Africa should be revised!

We wanted to go in Sep but have already decided against it due to the fees which sum up enormously - . It's kind of street robbery!

And as far as consultancy is concerned: Many clients who have been to the Mara once won't return for the reasons we have discussed here and elsewhere numerous times: mass tourism, lack of monitoring at crossing points etc.. And I support this opinion. There are so many great safari destinations. Just make your choice!
Obviously the reserves are much more interested in checking park fee tickets than in monitoring the tourism.

Welcome back Pippa. Hope the trip was a great one.

I just read on wildlifedirect.org/Mara Triangle that the park/reserve increase has been postposed to July 1st.

Kat and I both feel that park authorities ought to come up with a reduced rate for those who stay 10 - 14 days in the parks, similar to frequent flyer miles. Both of us are in the parks for 2 - 3 weeks at a time so the rates become exorbitant. If lodges and camps can give frequent visitors a price break - why can't the parks also?

I understand parks are hurting from lack of tourism and they are in business to make money, but frequent/
long-term visitors are tourists worth keeping. I know, I'm dreaming but one can hope

Upon approval for my research last year, Kenya Wildlife Service told me that I would have to pay regular park fees, so that I should allow for this in my budget. I had known that many other park researchers were not required to... so by simply letting them know that I will not be able to conduct the research, if charged fees, they explained to me that ' something could likely be worked out... ' but we don't have a lot of money right now'

Jan - I suspect you will have to present a strong, persuasive argument, if you intent to propose some sort of 'frequent flyer' discount plan to the Kenya Wildlife Service. I would expect they would react with humor athough I am in agreement.