Kenya’s national parks and reserves have welcomed 3.5 million visitors this year, up sharply from 2 million, as the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reports a threefold increase in revenue driven by stronger marketing, improved revenue management, and a booming domestic tourism sector.
The figures were announced by KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga during a live edition of Fixing the Nation on the NTV Kenya podcast, broadcast from Tsavo West National Park.
Prof. Kanga said the growth reflects a deliberate shift in how the country’s conservation areas are marketed and managed, alongside a notable change in who is visiting them. Kenyans now account for 60 percent of all park visits, making domestic travellers the single largest group behind the country’s tourism recovery.
“Kenyans remain the backbone of conservation, crediting the rise in local visitor numbers to growing public appreciation for the country’s natural heritage” Prof. Kanga said.
The jump from 2 million to 3.5 million visitors in a single year marks one of the most significant increases in park attendance in recent memory, and comes as KWS works to strengthen its revenue systems and expand outreach to both local and international tourists.
Prof. Kanga also paid tribute to the rangers who safeguard Kenya’s wildlife, describing them as central to the milestone.
“These milestones would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our rangers, the men and women on the frontlines who protect Kenya’s wildlife and wild spaces every day. To all our rangers, thank you for your courage, sacrifice, and service.” he said.
The announcement underscores a broader push by KWS to position conservation as a shared national effort one increasingly powered by Kenyans choosing to explore their own country’s parks and reserves.