Tourists visiting national parks across the country using personal vehicles have been cautioned against driving off designated routes due to the ongoing rains that have made several parks wet and prone to floods.
In a notice on Tuesday, December 30, the service reported that multiple vehicles have already gotten stuck in different parks while attempting to go off-road.
According to the service, deviating from the designated routes not only puts the motorists at risk but also overwhelms rangers, whose core duty is to protect wildlife.
KWS spotlighted the Nairobi National Park as one of the most affected parks by the ongoing rains, which have rendered some of the paths impassable.
"Due to ongoing heavy rains, several parks are extremely wet with flash floods. Motorists are strongly advised not to go off-road. Several vehicles have already gotten stuck, and rescue requests are overwhelming our teams," the service said.
"For your safety and to allow our rangers to focus on wildlife protection, please stick to designated roads at all times, Asante," it added.
National parks across the country are currently experiencing a surge in visitors as Kenyans leverage the festive season to travel and unwind.
Traditionally, Christmas and the New Year holidays have always been considered a peak period for local tourism, with families, tour groups, and individual motorists flocking to different parks across the country for game drives and other outdoor recreation.
Two weeks ago, the service introduced bus shuttle services in three national parks, to allow tourists to access game drives without the need to use their own vehicles.
According to a statement by KWS on Tuesday, December 16, the buses began services on Saturday, December 20, and will be available throughout the festive season, which is ending this week.
KWS said the buses were deployed at Nairobi National Park, Aberdare National Park, and Lake Nakuru National Park.
"Starting this weekend, December 20, we’re bringing back the bus shuttle service on weekends and public holidays only through the festive season as part of the Jiachilie in Kenya Parks holiday campaign," KWS stated.
"Explore our parks with ease at: Nairobi National Park, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park. Affordable, convenient, and perfect for family adventures this holiday season," it added.
Kenya Met predicts that Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii, Narok, Kajiado, Makueni, Machakos, Nairobi, Kericho, Bomet, the southern parts of Kitui, as well as Taita-Taveta and Kwale counties, are expected to experience intensified rainfall through the New Year, areas that host some of the country’s most prominent game reserves.
