This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
On August 1, 2019, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) made a significant announcement regarding the currencies accepted in Kenyan national parks and game reserves.
As of Thursday, the British Pound and the Euro are no longer accepted as legal tender in these areas, a move that will require foreign tourists to exchange their currency before visiting the country's wildlife conservancies.
The KWS has stated that the Kenyan Shilling and the US Dollar will be the only currencies accepted for transactions, including park entry fees.
According to a press dispatch, KWS will 'henceforth transact in two currencies only; Kenya Shillings (Kes) and United States Dollars ($).'
While the reasons behind this decision remain unclear, it comes at a time when the country is phasing out the old generation Ksh1,000 note to combat illicit cash flows.
However, M-Pesa, credit and debit cards, and corporate cheques remain acceptable modes of payment in the conservancies.
