The decision by President William Ruto’s administration to increase national park fees without factoring in tourists who had already booked trips to Kenya has attracted heavy criticism.
According to Spectator Australia, a weekly news magazine on politics and culture, tourists lamented that they would not have made the trip had they known of the extra charges.
Tourists who had booked trips in advance are now expected to cough up more money than they had initially budgeted for.
The Australian publication revealed that a British couple was incensed after finding out that they were supposed to pay an extra Ksh32,000 (USD200) for one one-hour tour in an orphanage in Nairobi.
Both national and county governments increased park fees for August, October and December with the latest fee increments effected on January 1.
In response to the changes, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in August 2023 raised charges for all national sanctuaries including Nairobi Orphanage, Nairobi Safari Walk and Kisumu Impala Sanctuary which are most frequented by tourists.
At the time, KWS remarked that it was raising entry fees to be able to offer better services to visitors.
‘I am not sure we would have come to Kenya if we had known how much extra we would have to pay in fees especially if we were having to pay USD200 per person a day in the Maasai Mara,” the couple were quoted by Spectator Australia.
The extra charges at Maasai Mara were communicated by the Narok County Government in December 2023.
“Masai Mara Park Fees for 2024 will be increased to US$ 100 per non-resident adult per day from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2024, and US$ 200 per non-resident adult per day, from 1st July 2024 onwards,” a statement from the county read then.
Camps situated in various national parks were reported to be charging an additional Ksh8,100 (USD50) per day as community fees.
The High Court is expected to rule on whether the law to double park fees for tourists is legal. The ruling slated for February 7 will define the trajectory of Kenya's tourism, with many foreigners said to be considering other African countries as their travel destinations.
On January 9, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina threatened to sue his governor, Patrick Ole Ntutu, after claiming that tourists were now preferring Serengeti National Park in Tanzania over Maasai Mara.
