The Kenya Guide

Mount Kenya Trekkers Must Now Pre-Book KWS Entry Permits Online

· 2 min read News
Trekkers on the Sirimon route ascending towards the peaks of Mount Kenya

Contents

  1. What the Change Means for Trekkers
  2. How to Book
  3. What Stays the Same
  4. Planning Your Climb

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has announced that all trekkers intending to climb Mount Kenya must pre-book their entry permits through the KWS online portal before arriving at the gate. The system, which took effect on 15 July 2026, applies to all three main ascent routes — Sirimon, Naro Moru, and Chogoria — and replaces the previous walk-in booking option during peak months.

What the Change Means for Trekkers

Under the new rules, permits must be purchased and confirmed at least 48 hours before your intended entry date. The change is part of a broader KWS digital transformation programme designed to manage visitor numbers during the July-to-September peak, when dry conditions and clear skies draw the largest number of climbers.

Trekkers arriving at a gate without a pre-booked permit during high-demand periods will be turned away. KWS says the system allows rangers to enforce the existing daily quota limits per route more effectively, reducing congestion at technical sections and hut campsites above 3,000 metres.

How to Book

Permits are purchased through the KWS eCitizen portal at ecitizen.go.ke, the same platform used for other government services in Kenya. Payment can be made by card or M-Pesa. You receive a confirmation code to present at the gate alongside your identity document.

Current international visitor fees are USD 50 per person per day for the national park portion of the climb, payable as part of the permit process. This does not include guide and porter fees, which are separate and remain mandatory — guides are required for all routes above the 3,500-metre contour.

What Stays the Same

The advance booking requirement is new; the fee structure and guide rules are not. Trekkers still arrange guides and porters through registered operators or the lodges at each trailhead. KWS does not facilitate this directly. All registered operators already work within the eCitizen system, so booking through a licensed guide company typically includes permit handling as part of the package.

Planning Your Climb

July and August are the most reliable months for a Mount Kenya summit attempt. Trails are firm, visibility at Point Lenana and the higher peaks tends to be good, and the risk of ice or heavy sleet is lower than during the March-to-May long rains. Our guide to trekking Mount Kenya covers the three main routes, gear requirements, acclimatisation staging, and what to budget at each altitude level.

For travellers combining the trek with game viewing in the central highlands or Laikipia, see our best time to visit Kenya guide for how to sequence the safari and mountain legs around the dry seasons.