Weekend Getaway From Nairobi 2026: 8 Parks, Fees

Updated 2 November 2026

The cheapest weekend getaway from Nairobi is a national park in the Rift Valley or Machakos: Hell’s Gate, Mt Longonot and Ol Donyo Sabuk charge Kenyan adults KSh 500 per day, Lake Nakuru charges KSh 1,500, and Aberdare KSh 800, under the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) conservation fees that took effect in October 2025. Camping inside a park costs KSh 200 to KSh 500 per adult a night, and a car with fewer than six seats pays KSh 600 a day.

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This Weekend Ledger guide lists eight KWS destinations that suit a two-day trip from the city, with every fee for citizens, residents and children, so you can budget before you leave. Fees from the KWS Conservation Fee schedule (October 2025), read 2 November 2026.

Weekend getaway from Nairobi: KWS park fees 2026

Non-resident visitors pay in dollars: USD 50 for scenic parks, USD 70 for Aberdare and Mt Kenya, USD 80 for Nairobi National Park and USD 90 for Lake Nakuru. A daily fee covers one entry of up to 24 hours. You pay through eCitizen; see how to pay KWS park fees through eCitizen.

Camping and activity costs

• Public campsite: KSh 250 per citizen adult a night at Lake Nakuru (premium), KSh 200 at all other parks; children KSh 150 to 200.
• Special campsite: KSh 500 per citizen adult at Lake Nakuru, KSh 250 elsewhere, plus a non-refundable KSh 10,000 reservation fee per week.
• Cycling: KSh 300 a day on top of entry at Hell’s Gate, Ol Donyo Sabuk, Mt Longonot and Lake Elementaita.
• Private horse riding: KSh 1,500 a day at Hell’s Gate, Longonot and Ol Donyo Sabuk.
• Night game drive: KSh 3,000 per person in selected parks; lake boating KSh 1,500 per person an hour.
• Picnic at a KWS station: KSh 100 per person.
• Drone: KSh 5,000 per drone a day for citizens, with a KCAA licence.

Vehicle fees

KWS charges your car separately: KSh 600 a day for fewer than six seats, KSh 1,500 for 6-12 seats and KSh 3,000 for 13-24 seats, which matters if a group hires a van. A motorcycle costs KSh 500 at Hell’s Gate, Longonot and Ol Donyo Sabuk.

Sample weekend budget for two

Two Kenyan adults driving a saloon car to Hell’s Gate on Saturday, camping overnight in the park and leaving on Sunday would pay KWS about KSh 4,200: entry for two people on two days (KSh 2,000, since one daily fee covers up to 24 hours), vehicle fees for two days (KSh 1,200), one night at a public campsite for two (KSh 400) and the cycling fee for two (KSh 600). Fuel, food and bike hire from private operators are extra. The same weekend at Lake Nakuru costs more because entry is KSh 1,500 per adult per day.

Before you go

1. Pay entry on eCitizen before you reach the gate and keep the receipt on your phone.
2. Carry your ID or resident permit; the citizen, resident and non-resident rates depend on it, and students need documents from their institution.
3. Leave single-use plastics at home: KWS says all its parks, reserves and sanctuaries are single-use plastic free zones.
4. Book special campsites early, because the KSh 10,000 weekly reservation fee is non-refundable.
5. If you plan an event or photo shoot, budget separately: KWS charges KSh 20,000 per group for wedding or graduation photo sessions, on top of entry.

Who gets in free

KWS exempts Kenyan citizens aged 70 and older, persons with disability, children aged five and younger, and registered tour drivers, guides and porters. “Child” means ages five to 17.

Is an annual pass worth it?

A KWS adult annual pass costs KSh 45,000, a couple’s pass KSh 80,000 and a family pass (two adults, up to five children) KSh 130,000. At KSh 500 a day in scenic parks, a single adult would need 90 park days to break even, so the pass makes sense only for frequent visitors to premium parks.

Turn it into a longer break

If you want a hotel rather than a tent, see Naivasha venues and published rates, or head to the coast with our Mombasa and Diani hotel prices and the SGR booking guide. Diani Chale and other marine parks charge citizens KSh 500.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest weekend getaway from Nairobi?

KWS scenic parks such as Hell’s Gate, Mt Longonot and Ol Donyo Sabuk, at KSh 500 per Kenyan adult per day and KSh 200 a night for public camping.

How much is Lake Nakuru National Park entry for Kenyans?

KSh 1,500 per adult and KSh 750 per child or student per day.

Do I pay for my car in KWS parks?

Yes. A vehicle with fewer than six seats pays KSh 600 a day.

How do I contact KWS?

Toll-free 0800 597 000, +254 726 610 509, or customerservice@kws.go.ke.

Source: Kenya Wildlife Service, Park Fees, Other Charges, Conservation Fees (October 2025), read 2 November 2026.