KWS Slashes Entry Fees for Students at Select Parks [Details]

Schools planning trips to national parks and wildlife reserves have been offered discounted entry fees after the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced reduced rates for students.

In a notice on Wednesday, September 16, the agency said the discounted rates apply to learners from nursery school through tertiary institutions, including universities, and will remain in effect until November 30, 2026.

Under the new rates, students visiting premium parks will receive a 33 per cent discount. 

The category includes Amboseli National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park, where the entry fee has been reduced from Ksh750 to Ksh500.

The discount also covers urban and wilderness parks, with the student entry fee reduced by 20 per cent from Ksh500 to Ksh400.

The parks in this category include Nairobi National Park, Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park.

Students visiting scenic parks and selected national reserves will also benefit from a 20 per cent reduction in entry fees.

The discounted rate for these destinations has been reduced from Ksh250 to Ksh200. 

They include Hell's Gate National Park, Mount Longonot National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary, Shimba Hills National Reserve and Kakamega National Reserve.

KWS stated that the offers are exclusively available to schools and students, covering learners from nursery school through tertiary institutions.

The discounted rates are intended to make visits to the country's wildlife and conservation sites more accessible to learners during the promotional period.

In addition to the student discounts, children under the age of six years will continue to enjoy free entry to the listed parks and reserves.

Elsewhere, Kenya is intensifying efforts to position itself as a leading sports and wellness tourism destination following record growth in the country’s tourism sector.

According to data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife on Saturday, August 15, Kenya welcomed 2.76 million international visitors in the 2025/26 financial year, representing a 9.8 per cent increase from 2.52 million visitors recorded in 2024/25. 

The latest figures mark a significant rise from 1.21 million arrivals in 2021/22.

Tourism revenue also reached a record Ksh564 billion during the period under review, up 18.7 per cent from Ksh476 billion recorded the previous year.

Earnings have more than doubled from Ksh224 billion posted in 2021/22.

Domestic tourism also continued its upward trajectory, with bed nights increasing to 5.15 million from 5.02 million in 2024/25, reflecting growing local demand for travel and hospitality services across the country.

International arrivals increased from 1.21 million in 2021/22 to 1.76 million in 2022/23, before rising further to 2.34 million in 2023/24 and 2.52 million in 2024/25. 

Tourism revenue similarly grew from Ksh224 billion to Ksh297 billion, Ksh410 billion and Ksh476 billion over the same period before reaching the current record of Ksh564 billion.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the performance provides Kenya with an opportunity to expand the country’s tourism offerings beyond its traditional attractions.

The government said it is now focusing on diversifying tourism products by promoting sports and wellness experiences that leverage Kenya’s global reputation in athletics and its diverse natural landscapes.

"With Kenya welcoming over 2.76 million international visitors and total tourism activity surging to 7.9 million, generating a record Ksh564 billion- our tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented growth.

"As we welcome this booming wave of global travelers, we’re diversifying our tourism experiences beyond safaris and coastal getaways. We warmly invite you to consider exploring our world-renowned athletics and wellness destinations," she wrote.