Ride-hailing giant Uber has launched a new addition to its Kenyan service users can now book guided tours to Nairobi National Park directly within the app.
The service, which is referred to as Uber Safari, allows customers to reserve a day or night game drive two to 90 days in advance.
Upon reservation, the visitors are picked up in safari-ready vehicles operated by licensed tour operators who have a guide to lead a three-hour tour through the park.
A day safari costs Ksh25,000 for a car with a capacity of up to seven individuals, and night drives cost Ksh40,000 for five individuals.
The charges cover vehicle entry, driver services and, in the case of night outings, a warden. Nonetheless, visitors still have to pay their own entry fees into the park.
Uber East Africa General Manager Imran Manji clarified that the product seeks to tap into Kenya’s tourism industry and give tour operators additional sources of income.
“Tourism is a source of significant revenue in Kenya, and with Uber Safari, we are creating new avenues for people to engage with wildlife and giving operators earning opportunities,” Manji said.
The operation is done in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Kenya Wildlife Service, the Tourism Regulatory Authority, and local boat operators.
Uber’s launch is also coinciding with its 10 years of operation in the Kenyan market, a departure from traditional ride-hailing.
Nairobi was selected as the pilot city because of the city’s unique position in the world as the only capital city with national parks at its doorstep.
Uber first introduced the safari concept in Cape Town, South Africa, last year. The Nairobi rollout reflects a growing trend of online travel booking in Kenya, fueled by mobile money use and rising consumer trust in digital platforms.
For Kenya’s licensed safari tour operators, the app can potentially open up a new channel to reach urbanized tourists and global tourists, as Kenya continues to depend on tourism which contributes about 10.4% of GDP as among the pillar industries in the economy.
