Tourists entering national parks will have to dig deeper into their pockets to access the sites after KWS tripled charges from Sh500 to Sh1,500.
The new rates agreed during a validation forum in Nairobi will take effect from January 2024.
The Kenya Wildlife Service had wanted the charges increased fourfold but reviewed it downwards after stakeholders raised concerns that arbitrary hikes had the risk of chasing tourists to other countries.
Key players raised concerns during a forum to validate the new fees at KWS headquarters that the hike in the fee was not commensurate with visitors' experience.
“Some of the parks such as Serengeti have clean toilets, while some of our facilities are horrible,” one of the key stakeholders said.
During the forum, players said they support the increment by KWS but urged that it be made by minimal margins.
Of concern to them is the Sh2,000 to gain access to Nairobi National Park by Kenyans.
They also raised concerns with charges for Amboseli and Nakuru National Park.
Veteran hotelier, Mohamed Hersi, said the move will create shock among Kenyans that will take time to recover.
“The vehicle charges are encouraging small vehicles at the expense of those with drivers who have gone to school and practice responsible tourism,” Hersi said.
Hersi called for the imposition of hefty penalties for those who misbehave inside national parks.
“We want to support KWS. We proposed seasonal rates and we are happy it was incorporated,” Hersi said.
Hersi said as the sector looks up, there is no need to rock the boat with a hike in charges.
KWS DG Erustus Kanga said the hike at Nairobi National Park is due to high ecological footprints, which is not sustainable.
Following the deliberations, charges for Nairobi National Park were reviewed downwards to Sh1,500.
The DG said KWS resources not only support conservation, security and market research but also bolster the education and livelihood of local communities.
Kanga said KWS has a shortfall of Sh2 billion.
He said the service needs money to improve customer experience as well as for operations as money for the government has been dwindling.
All children below the age of five years will have free entry to all parks countrywide.
Previously, only children below the age of three years were allowed free access to parks across the country.
Senior citizens above the age of aged 70 years and Kenyan persons living with Disability, as defined by the Persons Living with Disability Act, will also be exempted from park fees.
KWS conducted nationwide public participation forums between January 30 and February 23 to get public input on the revision of conservation fees for national parks and reserves.
During the validation forum, players also raised concerns that the new fees will be implemented when they have already gone into contract with visitors thronging into the country.
Kanga, however, said he will consult with the state to see how the issue will be addressed.
He further said young people will be empowered to produce conservation films using drones that will be closely monitored to avoid intruding into wildlife in their habitats.
This was after young people raised concerns about the number of hurdles they undergo to fly a drone in protected areas.
According to the proposed conservation fees running from January 2024 to December 2025, an adult EAC Citizen/Kenya Resident will part with Sh1,000 to gain entry into Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Parks during high season (July to March).
A child/student will part with Sh500.
Adults from the rest of Africa will part with Sh7,207, while a child will part with Sh2,882 during high season.
Adult international visitors will pay $100, while children will pay Sh5,045 to access Amboseli and Nakuru national parks during high season.
During the low season, which is at April to June, EAC Citizen/Kenya Resident will pay Sh800 to access Amboseli and Lake Nakuru national parks. Children will pay Sh250.
An adult from the rest of Africa will pay Sh5,045, while a child or student will pay Sh1,441 during the low season to access Amboseli and Nakuru during the low season.
For international visitors, accessing Amboseli and Nakuru will cost Sh11,531 for adults and Sh2,882 for a child or student during the low season.
Accessing Nairobi National Park will now cost Sh2,000 for an adult EAC Citizen/ Kenya Resident during high season, while a child or student will part with Sh500.
For adults, it has, however, been reduced to Sh1,500.
For the rest of Africa, an adult will part with Sh7,207, while a child or student will pay Sh2,882 during high season.
The international visitors will pay Sh14,414, while a child or student will pay Sh5,045 during high season.
Interestingly, EAC Citizen/Kenya Resident were to part with Sh2,000 during low season to access Nairobi National Park, while a student or child will pay Sh500.
For the rest Africa, an adult will pay Sh3,603, while a child or student will pay Sh1,441.
An adult international visitor will part with Sh14,414 while a child or student will pay Sh2,882 to access Nairobi National Park during low season.
During the high season, the package for Nairobi National Park that includes access to the park, Nairobi Orphanage and Nairobi Safari Walk will cost Sh2,250, while a child or student will pay Sh650.
An adult from the rest of Africa will part with Sh9,369, while a child or student will pay Sh4,324.
Adult international visitors will part with Sh18,018, while a child or student will part with Sh7,207.
During high season, the Nairobi Sanctuary package for an adult is Sh400, while a child or student will pay Sh250.
An adult from the rest of Africa will part with Sh3,459, while a child or student will part with Sh2,162, adult international visitor (Sh5,765) and child/student (Sh3,603).
To access Tsavo East and Tsavo West National parks during the high season, an adult EAC Citizen/ Kenya Resident will part with Sh500, while child/ student will part with Sh250.
The rest of Africa will part with Sh4,324 (adult), Sh2,882 (student/child).
An adult international visitor will now pay Sh11,531 to access Tsavo East and West, while a child or a student will part with Sh5,045 during the high season.
A two-day package, including a camp in Mount Kenya, will cost Sh1,200 for an adult EAC citizen/Kenyan resident, while a student or child will pay Sh650 during high season.
An international adult visitor will part with Sh20,180 while a student or child will part with Sh7,927.
Three-day package including camping will cost Sh1,900 for adult EAC citizen/Kenyan resident, and 1,050 for child/student.
A vehicle with less than six seats will be charged Sh500 to access the park, six to 12 seats (Sh 1,500), 13-24 seats (Sh3,000), 25-44 seats (Sh4,500) and 45 seats and above (Sh5,000).
Aircraft with less than three seats will be charged Sh500, three to six seats Sh1,000, seven to 14 seats Sh1,500, 15-20 seats Sh2,500 and 21 seats and above Sh3,500 per landing.
Helicopter landing in Mount Kenya and South Island National Parks will be slapped with Sh43,243 landing fees.
In water sports, the annual licensing fees, inclusive of crew and guests, will attract Sh240,000 for large-sized companies, Sh120,000 for medium-sized, Sh60,000 for small-sized and Sh12,000 for sole traders.