FYI,

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynati...p;newsid=72921

No comments.

I'm too lazy to register Is this about the Kenyan park fee increase to $40 effective July 1?

Sure is!

Patty, I never register at these kind of sites either - just go to www.bugmenot.com and see if they already have an account/ password registered for the site.

If they don't I'll sometimes make the effort to register so I can return the favour done by others...

I have no problem with price increases - why shouldn't we pay more to enter the parks given how much we pay for accommodation and travel?

It's a shame that the locals will have to pay more too - I know some people don't like pricing that gives reductions to nationals but I do feel it's important for locals to be able to afford to visit their own heritage if they are to develop a love for it and a desire to protect it.

Great site, Kavey. Thanks!

I think the rate should be increased further for overseas residents. The parks should run in the black, by a substantial margin, and the fees are ridiculously low ($40 per day, when some are paying ten times that for lodging). I'd prefer to see the fee equal a percentage of accomodation rate.

To avoid sounding stingy, I wasn’t going to comment, but now when it’s Friday evening I can’t refrain myself. I thinks the spoilt, ridiculously overpaid ex-pats (not jealous at all ) should pay the whopping $ 40 or more and overseas tourists should pay Sh 1000. Some arrangement could be made so that Tanzanians residing in Kenya wouldn’t have to pay the same as western ex-pats. Sh 100 more or less for citizens don’t make any difference as the cost of transport makes the parks inaccessible for normal Kenyans. Or, a percentage of accommodation rates would be nice in parks where there is reasonably priced accommodation. Or, if game drives weren’t included, 20 % of accommodation rates would be appropriate.

The Tsavos and Nairobi NP have been lifted to category A.

Personally, I don't think anyone would mind paying $40 IF.... and this is a big IF.... they could see the results of the payment.

The roads into the Mara are SOOOOO bad... the camp sites have no amenities... the bridges across the rivers looks like they could collapse at any point.... and the airstrips are paid for by the lodges.

If you calculate how much money gets taken in each day by the KWS...it's sad where all that money is actually going.

Note that in addition to the $40/daily fee, many of the luxury camps on private conservation lands charge an additional fee. This can range from $5 to $20/day which goes to the maintenace of the conservation area shared with the tribal group.

in comparison, look how much it costs to get into Disneyland, Universal Studios or even a half hour on the London Eye. $40.00 is a heck of a deal to spend a day on safari, even if the roads are bad, but yes the money should go where it's supposed to.