For immediate release
Monday, December 15, 2008

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE SETS DATE FOR NEW PARK ENTRY FEES

It will cost slightly more to visit some of the government-owned
parks and reserves from January 1 2009.

The Board of Trustees reclassified Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
managed parks and adjusted their entry tariffs in a Legal Notice
Number 404 published on 26 November 2007. The new rates were
to be effected from July 1, 2008 but tourism industry players sought
a postponement.

At the same time, Sterling pounds and Euros will be accepted as
other currencies of payment besides the US dollar and Kenyan
shilling, in response to requests from international tourists.

The increment in rates has largely been driven by the high cost of
wildlife conservation and the need for a pricing strategy that
reflects the true value of our compelling tourism products.

KWS continues to invest heavily in infrastructure, upgrading of
facilities and high quality science led park management to
enhance visitor experience. The recent branding of 15 parks is
part of this investment.

The new pricing is based on market segmentation and regional
pricing levels. The segmentation of prices aims to disperse tourists
to less visited parks in the Western Circuit, especially Ndere Island in
Lake Victoria, Ruma National Park in Homa Bay, Kakamega Forest
National Reserve and Mt Elgon National Park.

Meanwhile, citizens of Burundi and Rwanda will be treated like
other East African Community members who pay the same heavily
subsidized rates like Kenyan citizens. Kenyan citizen tourists enjoy
similar treatment in Tanzanian and Ugandan parks. This is part of
the process of amalgamating the East African region into a more
diverse but single tourist destination.

Background
Roads and bridges in most parks have been improved at a cost of
Sh45 million and airstrips upgraded at a cost of Sh55 million in Meru
(Mulika, Kinna, Masanduku) and Lake Nakuru (Naishi) National
parks. KWS plans to spend a further Sh1 billion in the next two years
on improving roads, bridges and airstrips in national parks and
reserves across the country.

Opening up of the domestic airspace is one of the key cogs in a
drive to realise Kenya’s target of 5 million tourists per year by 2012.
Already, KWS is planning to build airstrips in Ruma National Park
(Homa Bay) and Mt Elgon National Park near Kitale Town. In the
near future, more airstrips will be upgraded at Voi in Tsavo East
National Park, Kamboyo in Tsavo West National Park and Mweiga
in the Aberdare National Park. Each region will have an aircraft for
patrols and other conservation activities.

The parks have been re-classified and priced accordingly into
various categories, including Premium (Amboseli, Lake Nakuru);
Urban Safari (Nairobi); Wilderness (Aberdares, Tsavo East, Tsavo
West, Meru, Chyullu Hills and Kora); Mountain (Mt Kenya); Scenic
and Special Interest (Hells Gate, Mt Elgon, Shimba, Shimba Hills,
Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Tana Primate, Kakamega Forest); Marine
(Kisite Mpunguti, Kiunga, Watamu, Mombasa, Malindi);
Sanctuaries (Nairobi Animal Orphanage, Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
and Nairobi Safari Walk).

Entry into the premium parks category will cost foreign tourists
US$60, up from the current US$40. Others like Nairobi National Park
will remain at the current rate of US$40. Scenic and special
interest parks like Hells Gate, Shimba Hills, Arabuko, Ndere,
Kakamega Forest will cost US$20 to encourage high visitor
turnover.

Kenya has the best tourist products and infrastructure in East Africa
to deserve the tag the true safari destination of the ‘Big Five’ yet
remains the cheapest destination. For instance, Serengeti in
Tanzania charges US$60 while Maasai Mara charges US$40. Tourists
are charged US$100 for a minimum of five days to climb Mt
Kilimanjaro while Mt Kenya requires a tourist to pay US$20 for a
minimum of three days yet it is more challenging. On the other
hand, Rwanda charges US$500 per person in a group of minimum
of eight people for an honour yet Kenya charges a flat rate of
US$40 for all it offers.

Special lower student rates will apply for individuals from
recognised secondary, government or private college or university
aged below 23 years visiting parks for purposes of learning about
conservation through a documented and organised arrangement
with that institution. KWS will require a minimum of two weeks
notice in order to issue written authorisation for student rates. This
special arrangement excludes students on personally arranged
holidays.

The new tariffs were arrived at after consultations involving various
key stakeholders in 2006, including the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS),
Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), Kenya Tourism
Federation (KTF), Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), Kenya Association of
Tour Operators and the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and
Caterers (KAHC).

As articulated in Vision 2030, the government has identified the
tourism sector as the key driver of Kenya’s economy. KWS
manages and conserves wildlife, which accounts for 75 per cent
of the tourism product. KWS has, therefore, embarked on a
rigorous programme to raise the profile of parks to world class
standards. The success of these programmes depends on the
enhancement of revenue collection to supplement government
resources.

Several activities continue to be carried out, including
the re-branding of the parks, improvement of infrastructure,
capacity building for scientific management of the parks and
various schemes to improve staff motivation and productivity.
We have also identified sites for investment in lodges and hotels to
increase tourists’ accommodation in the parks.

In order to cushion wildlife conservation activities from effects of
fluctuations in revenue collection, as in the case following the
election violence, KWS is setting up an Endowment Fund.
We would like to assure the public and stakeholders of our
commitment to further investment in the improvement of services
and products to enhance Kenya’s global position as a tourism
destination.

CONTACTS
Paul Udoto,
Corporate Communications Manager,
Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O Box 40241 00100 Nairobi
Tel +254-20-600800 ext 2122 or 2088
Fax +254-20-603792
Cellphone: +254-721-453981 or +254-733-391126
Telkom wireless: +254-020-243 3000
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it OR
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Website: www.kws.go.ke

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a State corporation established by an Act of Parliament, CAP
376, with the mandate to conserve and manage wildlife conservation in Kenya. It also has the
sole jurisdiction over 26 national parks and oversight role in the management of 33 national
reserves and private sanctuaries.