Kenya: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reduces entry fees to all game parks and reserves!

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Najib Balala, has announced that entry fees to all Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) game parks and reserves have been reduced. This applies to all local (citzens and residents) and international tourists effective 01 July 2020, for one year. The discounted rates are aimed at bolstering Kenya's tourism sector and help it recover from the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Cabinet Secretary further announced a one-year moratorium on rent for all lodges and camps in game parks and reserves mangaged by the KWS. Filmmakers have also been given a 50% discount on filming fees in KWS parks to help market Kenya both at local and international stage.

Kenya: Sections of Nairobi National Park temporarily closed!

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), a state corporation with the mandate to conserve and manage wildlife in Kenya, announced the temporary closure of some sections of the Nairobi National Park, located approximately 7km south of the centre of Nairobi. Ongoing heavy rains have damaged the following roads (highlighted on map below):

• Between Junction 4A and 6
• Between Junction 18A and 5

Visitors are advised to avoid these roads. The rest of Nairobi National Park's, circuits are still accessible, however the Kenya Wildlife Service is recommending visitors use four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Kenya: KWS makes all entry fees to National Parks "non cash"!

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) changed their payment policy on 27 January 2017 by making all entry fees to all KWS Parks, Reserves and Sanctuaries in Kenya to be paid with Visa Card, MPesa (a popular mobile money service in Kenya), by direct bank deposit (Kenya Commercial Bank and Standard Chartered Bank only) or with corporate cheques. Payments in cash are not accepted anymore!

Kenya introduces new incentives to boost tourism!

Kenya's president Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta has unveiled an incentive package to revitalise the tourism industry in Kenya at the opening of the English Point Marina in Mombasa, the first luxury yachting marina in Kenya.

• Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) fees will be capped at $60 (down from $90) for the 2016/17 financial year
• Value Added Tax (VAT) charges on National Park fees will be removed for the 2016/17 financial year
• Visa fees for children under 16 will be scrapped indefinitely from 01 February 2016
• The Ksh1.2bn charter incentive scheme continues until 30 June 2018. This waives landing fees at Moi International Airport (MBA) in Mombasa and Malindi Airport (MYD) in Malindi for all charter aircraft and provides at $30.00 (thirty dollar) rebate for all disembarking tourists
• expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi and Malindi Airport (MYD) in Malindi to handle greater numbers of visitors
• construction of the Port-Reitz-Airport Road in Mombasa 
• construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass that will allow tourists to travel to the South Coast (Diani) without using the ferry
• Kenya Ferry Service (KFSL) will buy and operate two new ferries for the Likoni Channel crossing

Kenya lost 59 rhinos & 302 elephants to illegal poaching in 2013

According to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spokesman Paul Mbugua, Kenya has lost at least 59 rhinos to illegal poaching in 2013, almost double that of the previous year (2012: 30). About 1030 rhinos are now left in Kenya. The number of elephants poached in Kenya dropped from 384 killed in 2012 to 302 in 2013, so that the country is currently home to some 38,000 elephants. Africa's elephant population is estimated at 500,000 animals, compared with 1.2 million in 1980 and 10 million in 1900. According to statistics released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in early 2013, Africa's rhino population (black & white) was estimated at 25,460 animals.

South Africa: 1004 rhinos got killed by poachers in 2013 >>