Investment Procedures and Opportunities

The Wildlife Management Act empowers the Director, KWS to develop or authorize private sector investors to develop facilities and infrastructure within the parks to facilitate tourism activities and secure financial returns from the protected areas.  For this purpose, the Director may let sites for the erection of hotels or other accommodation facilities in the Parks. Establishment and operation of such facilities is to be done in a manner not prejudicial to proper wildlife management.

Our parks and reserves remain the main attraction for most of the tourists visiting Kenya. Over 70% of all foreign tourists to Kenya rank wildlife as their primary attraction and undertake wildlife and nature tourism.  In the past four years, we received an average of 625,205 non resident visitors annually.  With our concerted marketing campaigns, we expect this number to grow by 5% annually in the coming years.  We expect that our product development initiatives will improve average length of stay from the current 3 days to 5 days.   Domestically, citizen and residents constitute an important 62% of our annually visitation. This market provides a buffer in the low seasons. We aim to maintain and grow this segment by providing quality and yet affordable accommodation options in the parks.   

We wish to aggressively involve the private sector in utilizing the parks tourism potential by optimizing their capacity for tourist accommodation and other facilities. In line with Vision 2030, the country’s economic development blue print, we will participate in providing the required additional beds by developing high end tourist accommodation facilities in our parks through public private partnerships. We give special consideration to development of tourist infrastructure in the less visited yet scenic parks and reserves.

Tourism Investment Opportunities in Protected Areas

Though our Conservation Area Management planning processes, we identify potential sites for development of quality, eco-friendly tourist accommodation facilities.  We intend to partner with suitable private investors to develop these sites and secure returns from their operation for an agreed time period.

We wish to invite you to partner with us in development of the following tourist accommodation facilities:

Lodges: These are accommodation facilities developed of solid walls, constructed up to two-level on permanent, reinforced concrete foundation.  Guests are provided with usual amenities including restaurants, bars, swimming pools, and Gift shop. Etc. Developers are allowed a maximum of 60 visitor beds. Lodge may only be constructed in High Use Zones of any Park or Reserve.
Acreage: 35 acres
Lease period: 20 yrs renewable for further 5yrs
Rent rate: From USD 37,562 P.A – in Premium Parks, USD 31,329 P.A – in Wilderness & mountain parks USD 31,302 P.A – in Scenic & Special interest Parks. All annul rent escalate by 4% yearly)

Ecolodges: Constructed of semi-permanent solid walls of natural materials that blend well with the environment, minimum concrete is recommended. Usual amenities are provided. A maximum of 60 beds of separated bedrooms units constructed on one level with minimum concrete
Acreage: approx. 25 acres
Lease period: 20 yrs renewable for further 5yrs
Rent rate: From USD 37,562 P.A – in Premium Parks, USD 31,329 P.A – in Wilderness & mountain Parks & USD 31,302 P.A – in Scenic & Special interest Parks. All annul rent escalate by 4% yearly)

Luxury Tented Camps: One level facility, preferably on wooden raised decks constructed of canvas and other materials that blend with the environment. Amenities include: Swimming pools (optional), plunge pools (optional), gift shop (optional), and a parking area are permissible. From 24 beds to a maximum of 40 beds allowed,
Acreage: approx. 25 acres
Lease period: 20 yrs renewable for further 5yrs
Rent rate:  up to 30 beds - From USD 18,971 P.A – in Premium Parks, USD 15,809 P.A – in Wilderness & mountain Parks & USD 9,486 P.A – in Scenic & Special interest Parks. All annul rent escalate by 4% yearly)

Up to 40 beds - From USD 25,632 P.A – in Premium Parks, USD 21,360 P.A – in Wilderness and mountain Parks; & USD 12,816 P.A – in Scenic & Special interest Parks. All annul rent escalate by 4% yearly)

Cottages: Cottages are typically Self-catering accommodation facilities with a maximum of 12 beds in separated or joined individual visitor units. Constructed of steel reinforced concrete foundation with permanent solid walls. A reception area, communal kitchen, dining area and caretaker office is provided under one roof. Minimum guest services such as laundry, catering and beverages provided and only essential staff is accommodated on site.
Acreage: approx. 6 acres
Lease period: 15 yrs renewable for further 5yrs
Rent rate:  Less than 20 beds - From USD 12,394 P.A – in Premium Parks, USD 10,329 P.A – in Wilderness & mountain Parks & USD 6,197 P.A – in Scenic & Special interest Parks. All annul rent escalate by 4% yearly)

Starbed Camps: Erected on raised wooden sleeping platforms that are partially covered with a thatched roof.  Movable beds located on these platforms can either be directly under the stars or under the roof, as weather permit.  These camps will have a maximum of 10 beds, and are made entirely of natural materials.  Star beds site are allocated a maximum of 5 acres, and the lease period and conditions will be the same as for the lodge, eco-lodge or permanent tented camp to which it is linked
Acreage: approx. 6 acres
Lease period: 20 yrs renewable for further 5yrs
Rent rate:  Less than 20 beds - From USD 12,394 P.A – in Premium Parks, USD 10,329 P.A – in Wilderness & mountain Parks & USD 6,197 P.A – in Scenic & Special interest Parks. All annul rent escalate by 4% yearly)

The successful private developers selected to construct any of the above facilities will undertake to:

• At own cost develop the facility with its usual amenities and services on a Build –Own-Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis
• Complete construction works within a period of not more than 12 months from the date of commencement of the lease.
• Adopt all measures necessary to mitigate against adverse impacts on the natural habitats, park infrastructure and wildlife during the construction and commissioning of the facility as described and required in the Environmental Impact Assessment report approved by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
• Operate and manage the Ecolodge/Tented Camp in accordance with KWS regulations governing operation of such facilities in Protected Areas including waste disposal, refuse management, impact on wildlife and natural habitats.
• Provide tourist catering, accommodation and other visitor activities and services of a standard equivalent to five star tourist facilities in KWS parks and reserves.
• Receives fees or charges from users of the facility for a specific time not more than twenty years
• Pay rents amounts and levies due to occupation and operation of the facility and tourism activities at the site in the manner prescribed in the lease agreements.

Identifications of Developers

In line with the Public Procurement and Disposal (Public Private Partnership) Regulations 2008 and our Tourist Facilities Development Procedures, we identify and select developers though a competitive and open procedure:

 Developers awarded leases for development of new sites or rehabilitation of existing facilities are required to authorization from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA)

Other requisite statutory licensees for operation of hotels and restaurant (Hotels and Restaurants Act (Cap.494)).

Tourism Investment Incentives in Kenya’s Protected Areas

Advantages of Kenya as a foreign investment destination:

• A relatively large pool of skilled English speaking able and enterprising workers,
• Central location in the region with a coastline and a port,
• Stable Pro-Investment Government,
• Strategic location as a Regional Financial, communication and transportation hub.
• Fully liberalized economy,
• Well established local and foreign private sector and political stability

There are currently no specific sector based investment incentives targeted at Tourism, however the following may apply to investment in tourism including tourism development in Protected Areas

Guarantee to investors in tourism in Kenya

• Against expropriation of private property - Constitution of Kenya
• Repatriation of capital, profits and interests
• Insurance on foreign investments against non-commercial - Multi-lateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
• Arbitration cases between foreign investors and host governments -International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
• Insurance against political risk - Africa Trade Insurance Agency (ATIA)