Tsavo National Park Fees

Tsavo National Park Fees

Tsavo National Park Fees in 2025-2026

Tsavo National Park Fees: Tsavo National Park, which consists of the Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks, is the largest wildlife reserve in Kenya. By 2025-2026, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) had new fee arrangements in the form of Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) (Fees)

These charges are the same in both the Tsavo East and the Tsavo West. Passing through the broad savannahs of the East or in the less tamed volcano of the West, the entry charge is now uniform. The following is the breakdown of the existing rate, payment methods and other charges to consider.

There are no restricted membership fees

Under the 2025 tariff, the entry fee is classified depending on the type of visitor: East African citizen, Kenyan resident (non-citizen of Kenya but living there), non-resident African visitor, and international (non-resident) visitor.

Classification of Visitor Type

  • East African citizen (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan): KES 1,000 for adults and KES 500 for children
  • Kenyan resident (foreign national resident in Kenya) KES 1,350 for adults and KES 675 for children
  • African citizen (non-EAC) $40 for adults and $20 for children
  • Foreign tourist (non-resident) $80 for adults and $40 for children

Children below five years come free.

These charges apply within 24 hours. Should you continue, such as for two days or several visits, you will have to pay again on a 24-hour basis.

What the 2025 Fee Change Means

The 2025 update substituted a long-established regime of fees that had remained the same for almost 20 years.

To a large number of visitors, this will represent a great increase in expenses over the preceding years. As an example, the citizens of East Africa used to pay approximately KES 430; today, they pay KES 1,000, which is more than twice as much.

The fee change is included in the attempts of KWS to raise finance for conservation, anti-poaching patrols, infrastructure repair, and protection of wildlife.

Other charges for activities.

Other than the entry, you will incur additional expenses depending on the way you visit the park, either by vehicle, by camping, by guided safari or by special activities. As per the schedule of fees in 2025:

  • Public campsite: East African citizens (adults) pay KES 200, while non-residents pay $20
  • Camping site: East African citizens (adults) pay KES 250; non-residents pay $35.
  • Night game drive (per person) East African citizens pay KES 3,000; non-residents pay $50.
  • Guided tour (up to 4 hrs) East African citizens pay KES 2,000; non-residents pay $25.
  • Guided tour (over 4 hrs) East African citizens pay KES 4,000; non-residents pay $40
  • Guided walking safari (guided): East African citizens pay KES 3,000; non-residents pay $50.
  • Klein wild (rhino) (Tsavo West): East African citizens pay KES 3,000 or $70 (non-resident)

These fees go beyond entry fees for activities such as walking safaris, night drives, guided tours, and camping. So, it is your itinerary that plays a crucial role in determining how much you spend and not the length of stay.

Vehicle Entry Fees

Park entry is also separately billed on a 24-hour basis, vehicle by vehicle. Depending on the size of the vehicle, the fee will be:

Small privatised vehicles (6 seats) pay KES 600. A minibus/tour van (6-12 seats) pays KES 500. Small tour buses (13-24 seats) pay KES 000. Medium group bus (25-44 seats) pays KES 4,500; large buses (45 and above seats) pay KES 5,000

Therefore, whether you would be travelling in a small group or on a self-drive, it would be prudent to budget the vehicle fee, particularly when you remain for many days.

Game drive in Tsavo National Park
Game drive in Tsavo National Park

How to make payments

Park fees have to be paid online using KWSPay (eCitizen portal). No longer accepting cash payments at the gate.

The different ways of payment are M-Pesa, Visa/MasterCard or eCitizen wallet/bank transfer.

You have to put your name, nationality, date of entry, name of the gate of entry (Voi, Manyani, and Mtito Andei), vehicle details and any additional activity. Print (or save) your QR-coded receipt and show it at the gate together with a passport or national ID.

After the injunction, the KWSPay system is still showing and imposing the new 2025 rates, and KWS has instructed visitors to go ahead and make payment.

Due to the legal grey area, it would be a good idea to check with KWS or your tour operator right before you go.

Discounts or Exemptions?

The following types of visitors can be exempt or receive reduced charges:

Children below 5 years are free of charge.

Individuals with disabilities (who are well documented) can be offered concessions.

Older visitors (more than 70 years old) can be exempt or receive a discount.

Registered tour guides, porters, boat crew (when doing a bird/boat tour), and official government guests can also receive free or discounted access, at least on presentation of valid identification or with authorisation.

Important to note: This still requires registering to KWSPay and then entering the park, even with exemptions.

Tips

In the case of group travel, costs in terms of vehicle fees and guide fees can be summed up, so cost sharing (like 4-6 people) is also a common solution to cost management.

Since everything is through the internet, it is important to make sure to pay in advance and carry print or digital receipts

Conclusion

Tsavo East and Tsavo West are still among the best and most popular safari destinations in Kenya. But the 2025 price does vary; although controversial, there are new financial realities in conservation and park management. Thoughtful entry, vehicle, activities, and camping can all make the Kenya safari a world-class experience without any unpleasant surprises on arrival by paying attention to the entire cost structure, paying through the official portal, and smart itinerary planning.

Regardless of the price rises, Tsavo remains a good value to many safari tourists who also find it a better place to visit than more expensive spots such as the Maasai Mara or the Serengeti. The cost is also comparatively low compared to most of the large parks in East Africa, with immense wilderness, large herds and stunning scenery.