Fancy cycling past zebras and buffalo, then climbing down a gorge, all for less than a night out in Nairobi?
The Hells Gate entrance fee is KES 500 per adult East African citizen, KES 675 for Kenya residents, USD 20 for other African citizens and USD 50 for non residents. Children pay half and kids 5 and under enter free. Add KES 300 cycling fee, bike hire and a gorge guide.
Title sponsorAlumni Golf Challenge
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Golf is part of who we are, so we put our name behind the Alumni Golf Challenge. Want more golf after the day? Tell us when you are free. We book your tee time at Karen, Muthaiga or Vipingo Ridge and sort the transfers and the stay.
- Adult citizenKES 500child KES 250
- Adult residentKES 675child KES 350
- Adult non residentUSD 50about KES 6,450
- Cycling feeKES 300USD 10 for non residents
- PaymentKWSPay on eCitizenno cash at the gate
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This guide gives the current Hells Gate entrance fee from the KWS conservation fee schedule that took effect on 1 October 2025. It is still the rate KWSPay charges in late 2026. Hell's Gate sits in the Scenic and Adventure group, the cheapest group of big KWS parks near Nairobi.
We take groups on a Hell's Gate day trip from Nairobi most weekends. So we know the extra costs that blogs leave out, like the cycling fee, bike hire and the gorge guide. Prices are checked against KWS at booking.
Highlights
- Citizens pay KES 500 per adult and KES 250 per child
- Residents pay KES 675 and non residents USD 50
- Cycling fee is KES 300 per person per day
- Bike hire outside Elsa Gate costs extra and is negotiable
- A local guide is needed for the Ol Njorowa Gorge
- Park opens from 6am to 6pm
- About 90 km from Nairobi, near Lake Naivasha
Hell's Gate National Park fees per person per day (KWS schedule from 1 October 2025)
| Fee | East African citizen | Kenya resident | Non resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult entry | KES 500 | KES 675 | USD 50 |
| Child entry (under 18) | KES 250 | KES 350 | USD 25 |
| Cycling fee per person per day | KES 300 | KES 300 | USD 10 |
| Public campsite, adult | KES 200 | KES 300 | USD 20 |
| Car with under 6 seats | KES 600 | KES 600 | KES 600 |
| Bike hire (private vendors) | KES 800 to 2,000 | KES 800 to 2,000 | KES 800 to 2,000 |
| Gorge guide (per group) | Around KES 3,000 | Around KES 3,000 | Around KES 3,000 |
- Other African citizens pay USD 20 per adult and USD 10 per child. Children aged 5 and under enter free.
- Bike hire and gorge guide rates are set by local operators, not KWS. They vary by season and haggling, so they are confirmed when you book.
- USD figures convert at about KES 129 per USD. Prices are checked against KWS at booking.
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What is the Hells Gate entrance fee in 2026?
An adult East African citizen pays KES 500 and a child pays KES 250. Kenya residents pay KES 675 per adult and KES 350 per child. Non residents pay USD 50 per adult and USD 25 per child. Citizens of other African countries pay USD 20 and USD 10.
Mount Longonot, Ol Donyo Sabuk and Shimba Hills sit in the same KWS group, so they cost the same. Your ticket is valid for one entry of up to 24 hours.
Before October 2025 the citizen fee was lower. If a blog quotes KES 300 or less for entry, it is out of date.
How much does cycling in Hell's Gate cost?
Cycling has its own KWS fee of KES 300 per person per day for citizens and residents and USD 10 for non residents. You pay it on top of entry, even if you bring your own bike.
Bike hire is separate. Private vendors near Elsa Gate rent mountain bikes from about KES 800 to KES 2,000 for the day. The first price is often high, so agree the price and check brakes, tyres and gears before you pay.
The ride from Elsa Gate to the gorge ranger station is about 8 km on a dusty, mostly flat road. Kids on small bikes manage it, but bring water and sun cream.
Do you need a guide for the gorge?
Yes. You need a local guide to walk down into the Ol Njorowa Gorge. Guides wait at the ranger station by the gorge. Expect to pay around KES 3,000 per group for a medium walk of about an hour. The price depends on the route and group size and is confirmed on the day. Mpesa works.
The guide is worth it. The gorge has slippery rocks, narrow ledges and hot springs. The guide knows the safe steps.
The gorge can flood fast after rain, even rain far away. A flash flood in September 2019 killed several people, including a guide. Rangers close the gorge when rain is likely, so ask at the gate before you plan your day around it.
How to pay the Hells Gate entrance fee on eCitizen
You pay through KWSPay on eCitizen with Mpesa or a card. KWS gates do not take cash. Network at Elsa Gate can be weak, so pay before you leave Naivasha town.
On a tour with us, park fees are already in your price and we buy the tickets for you.
- Open kwspay.ecitizen.go.ke and choose single park entry for Hell's Gate
- Pick your date, visitor group and number of adults and children
- Add the cycling fee for each rider
- Add your vehicle by seat count if you are driving
- Pay with Mpesa or card and screenshot the QR code
What does it cost to drive or camp in the park?
A car with under 6 seats pays KES 600 a day. A van with 6 to 12 seats pays KES 1,500. Bigger buses pay KES 3,000 to KES 5,000.
Camping is popular here. A public campsite costs KES 200 per adult citizen, KES 300 per resident adult and USD 20 per non resident adult. Special campsites cost a little more and need booking. You still pay the daily entry fee for each night.
Gates, opening hours and how to get there
The park opens at 6am and closes at 6pm. Elsa Gate is the main entrance, about 25 km from the Nairobi to Nakuru highway along Moi South Lake Road. Olkaria Gate is on the south side, near the geothermal plant.
Nairobi to Hell's Gate is about 90 km, or two hours by road. Leave Nairobi by 6am to cycle before the midday heat.
The Olkaria geothermal spa near the park charges its own fee. It is not part of your KWS ticket.
Is the Hells Gate entrance fee good value?
Yes. It is one of the few parks in Kenya where you can walk and cycle among zebras, giraffes and buffalo. For a citizen, KES 500 entry plus KES 300 cycling buys a full day of adventure.
Compare that with Nairobi National Park at KES 1,000 or Lake Nakuru at KES 1,500 for a citizen adult, where you must stay in a car. See our Kenya park entry fees guide for every park.
What else can you add to a Hell's Gate day?
Rock climbers head to Fischer's Tower near Elsa Gate. Our rock climbing in Kenya page covers guided climbs there.
Most visitors end the day on the water with a Lake Naivasha boat ride to see hippos. Fit and keen? Climb the crater on our Mount Longonot hike the next morning. To stay over, see the Naivasha weekend getaway.
Questions people ask
How much are Hell's Gate charges for students?
Students up to age 23 on an organised trip from their school, college or university pay the child rate. That is KES 250 for East African citizens and KES 350 for residents. The trip must be arranged through the institution with papers. Schools also pay the vehicle fee for their bus.
Can I hire a bike inside Hell's Gate?
Most bikes are hired from private vendors just outside Elsa Gate, from about KES 800 to KES 2,000 a day. Agree the price first and test the brakes. You still pay the KWS cycling fee of KES 300 per person. Bringing your own bike saves money on a busy weekend.
Is the gorge walk included in the park fee?
No. Entry gets you into the park, but the gorge walk needs a local guide paid separately at the ranger station. Expect around KES 3,000 per group, confirmed on the day. The gorge closes when flash floods are likely, so check with rangers on the day.
Can I pay Hell's Gate fees at the gate?
KWS gates are cashless. You pay through KWSPay on eCitizen with Mpesa or a card, either before you arrive or at the gate if network allows. Pay the night before to avoid delays. Save the QR code as a screenshot, because the gate scans it.
How long do you need in Hell's Gate?
Plan a full day. Cycling to the gorge takes about an hour each way at an easy pace and the gorge walk takes one to two hours. Add a picnic and time for photos. If you also want a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, stay the night nearby.
Is Hell's Gate safe for children?
Yes, with care. The cycling road is flat and wildlife there is grazing animals, not lions. Small children can ride in a vehicle while adults cycle. In the gorge, hold young children by the hand and follow the guide. Skip the gorge if rain is forecast.
Sources we checked: Kenya Wildlife Service conservation fees, October 2025 (official PDF); KWSPay on eCitizen (official payment portal); Hell's Gate cycling, gorge and bike hire costs (independent guide); Hell's Gate bike hire, gorge guide and flood warning (operator guide). Rules and fees change, so we confirm them again when you book.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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