Nairobi, Kenya – Ride-hailing giant Uber has expanded into wildlife tourism with the launch of Uber Safari, a new service that allows customers to book guided safari trips to Nairobi National Park directly through its app. The feature enables users to reserve three-hour day or night safari experiences between two and 90 days in advance. Riders are picked up in safari vehicles operated by licensed tour companies, with each trip including a professional guide and wildlife drive.
According to Uber, a day safari costs Ksh.25,000 per vehicle for up to seven passengers, while a night safari costs Ksh.40,000 per vehicle accommodating up to five tourists. The prices cover car entry fees into the park, driver charges, and warden services for night drives. However, visitors must still pay individual park entry fees separately.
“Tourism plays a vital role in Kenya’s economy, and with Uber Safari, we are unlocking new ways for people to connect with wildlife while creating earning opportunities for operators,” said Imran Manji, Uber’s General Manager for East Africa.
The product, unveiled as Uber marks its 10th anniversary in Kenya, is being rolled out in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Tourism Regulatory Authority, and local safari fleet operators.
Tourism is a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, contributing an estimated 10.4 percent of GDP and 5.5 percent of formal employment. Uber Safari is designed to tap into this growth while supporting licensed safari operators, who can now register their vehicles on Uber’s platform to reach a wider customer base.
The move also comes at a time when online travel booking is on the rise, buoyed by growing trust in digital platforms and the widespread use of mobile money. Many smaller tour operators are already leveraging online platforms to distribute their packages, signaling a shift toward digitized tourism services.
Nairobi was chosen as the pilot location for Uber Safari due to the unique proximity of Nairobi National Park, the only wildlife park in the world located within a capital city.
This marks Uber’s first step into Kenya’s wildlife tourism market, opening a new chapter for both urban tourism experiences and the country’s thriving safari sector.
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