National park entry fees across East Africa’s four main safari countries — Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda — follow different pricing structures and change periodically. This guide provides the comprehensive 2025 fee list for all major parks, including park entry (per person per day), vehicle fees, and the cost of premium activities (gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits, crater descent fees). All fees in USD unless otherwise stated, at prevailing 2025 rates.
Uganda National Park Fees 2025 (UWA)
- Bwindi Impenetrable NP entry: USD $40/person/day (in addition to gorilla permit)
- Gorilla trekking permit: USD $800/person (single trek, 1-hour encounter)
- Gorilla Habituation Experience (GHEX): USD $1,500/person (full-day, 4-hour encounter — Rushaga sector only)
- Kibale Forest NP: USD $45/person/day; Chimp trekking permit USD $250/person
- Queen Elizabeth NP: USD $40/person/day
- Murchison Falls NP: USD $40/person/day
- Kidepo Valley NP: USD $40/person/day
- Mgahinga Gorilla NP: USD $40/person/day; Gorilla permit USD $800; Golden monkey tracking USD $100
- Lake Mburo NP: USD $40/person/day
- Rwenzori Mountains NP: USD $40/person/day + trekking fees (circuit dependent USD $70–100)
- Budongo Chimpanzee trekking: USD $120/person
- Kyambura Gorge (QENP): USD $50/person
- Uganda vehicle fee: USD $30 (foreign-registered)/UGX 30,000 (Uganda-registered) per vehicle per day
Kenya National Park Fees 2025 (KWS)
Planning your East Africa self-drive circuit? Car Hire 4×4 Drive provides fully-equipped 4×4 vehicles for Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda with COMESA insurance and cross-border documentation included. See how the booking process works or send a circuit enquiry for a quote within 24 hours.
- Masai Mara NR (county fee): USD $70/person/day (peak Jul–Oct) or USD $60/person/day (low season)
- Amboseli NP: USD $60/person/day
- Tsavo East NP: USD $52/person/day
- Tsavo West NP: USD $52/person/day
- Lake Nakuru NP: USD $60/person/day
- Aberdare NP: USD $35/person/day
- Mount Kenya NP: USD $52/person/day
- Hell’s Gate NP: USD $4.60/person/day (KSh 600)
- Lake Naivasha: KSh 200/person (approximately USD $1.55) — community conservancy fee
- Kenya vehicle fee: KSh 600/vehicle/day
- Conservancy fees (Mara North, Olare-Motorogi, etc.): USD $80–120/person/day (included in lodge rate)
Tanzania National Park Fees 2025 (TANAPA/NCAA)
- Serengeti NP: USD $60/person/day
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area entry: USD $80/person/day
- Ngorongoro Crater descent vehicle fee: USD $295.60/vehicle
- Mandatory ranger (Ngorongoro): USD $20 per group per descent
- Tarangire NP: USD $53/person/day
- Lake Manyara NP: USD $53/person/day
- Mahale Mountains NP: USD $53/person/day; Chimp permit USD $100/person
- Ruaha NP: USD $53/person/day
- Gombe NP: USD $100/person/day (very small park); Chimp permit USD $100/person
- Kilimanjaro NP: USD $70/person/day; Park rescue fee USD $20/person
- Tanzania vehicle fee: USD $40–60/vehicle depending on size
Rwanda National Park Fees 2025 (RDB)
- Volcanoes NP entry: RWF 15,000/person (approximately USD $11) — in addition to gorilla permit
- Gorilla trekking permit (Rwanda): USD $1,500/person
- Gorilla Habituation Experience (Rwanda): USD $1,500/person (full-day)
- Golden monkey trekking: USD $100/person
- Nyungwe Forest NP: RWF 30,000/person (approximately USD $23); Chimp trekking USD $75/person
- Akagera NP: RWF 40,000/person/day (approximately USD $30)
- Gishwati-Mukura NP: RWF 30,000/person; Chimp permit RWF 30,000
- Rwanda vehicle fee: RWF 5,000/vehicle
A 4×4 is essential for circuits that include the Ngorongoro Crater descent (which requires centre differential lock), the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest approach road in wet season, or Kidepo Valley National Park. For circuits that stay on sealed national highways and well-maintained murram roads in dry season a capable 2WD can manage — but the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 GX with full 4WD and diff lock is always the safest and most reliable choice for any East Africa self-drive circuit.
You need a valid driving licence (plus an International Driving Permit if your licence is not in English), the COMESA Yellow Card insurance certificate, a cross-border authority letter from the vehicle owner for each transit country, and the vehicle registration document. Car Hire 4×4 Drive prepares all cross-border documentation for the specific countries on your circuit as part of the standard hire process — no separate arrangement needed.
Yes. Most East Africa self-drive circuits do not require technical off-road skills — the majority of driving is on sealed national highways or well-maintained murram park roads. The vehicle handover at collection includes a full demonstration of the 4WD system. If your circuit includes genuinely technical sections such as the Ngorongoro Crater descent or Bwindi wet-season approach, a car with driver can be arranged for those sections if you have no prior 4WD experience.
Book 4 to 8 weeks in advance for standard circuits. For July to August peak season and December to January, book 3 to 4 months ahead. If your circuit includes gorilla trekking, Uganda permits via UWA should be booked 2 to 6 months ahead and Rwanda permits via the RDB 3 to 9 months ahead — the vehicle booking should align with confirmed permit dates. See the How It Works page for the complete booking process and deposit schedule.
The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 GX is the standard recommendation for any circuit covering two or more countries, or any circuit including Tanzania (Ngorongoro requires mandatory 4WD with diff lock) or Uganda’s challenging approach roads. For Kenya-only or Rwanda-only dry-season circuits the Land Cruiser Prado is a cost-effective alternative. For groups of 6 or more passengers, the Toyota Hiace 9-seater safari van with pop-up roof is the most cost-effective per-person option.
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