Ride-hailing company Uber has unveiled a new service that allows tourists, both foreign and local, to book game drives to the Nairobi National Park directly through its app, marking its entry into the safari experience market.
Dubbed Uber Safaris, the service is only available in Nairobi and costs Sh25,000 for a daytime park visit for up to seven passengers and Sh40,000 for a night tour for up to five passengers.
The product has been integrated into the regular Uber app and relies on extended-wheelbase Land Cruisers operated by licensed safari companies.
Imran Manji, Uber’s Head of East Africa and Head of Business Development for Africa, said the company has partnered with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) and Magical Kenya to roll out the service.
It has also signed up established safari operators with licensed vehicles and certified guides to deliver the product.
“Nairobi is one of the only cities in the world that has a fully-fledged national park within the city limits. That is what makes it unique, and we saw an opportunity to tap into that,” Mr Manji said.
“What we have done is take the accessibility and simplicity that people associate with Uber and bring it into this safari space. The Nairobi National Park, combined with our technology, is what inspired this product,” Mr Manji said.
Unlike the standard Uber trips, where vehicles range from small saloons to SUVs, Uber Safaris offers a controlled service restricted to Land Cruisers designed for safaris.
Customers can pre-book safaris up to three months in advance, with a minimum notice period of two days for daytime bookings and five days for night-time bookings.
Once a safari has been booked, the same vehicle and guide will collect the riders from their homes, take them through the park and drop them back afterwards. Each safari will last about three hours.
Mr Manji explained that the intention is to provide a seamless safari experience. Customers will log onto the app, select either 'Uber Safari' or 'Uber Night Safari', scheduling their trip in the same way as they would request a normal ride. However, he adds that payments will be made in advance through the app to enable the operators to plan the experience.
TRA Director-General Norbert Talam emphasised that the regulator will play an active role in ensuring compliance.
He said that Uber is required to double-check operators before onboarding them and submit the list for verification.
“Only licensed tour guides will be allowed to carry out the operation, to ensure the safety and quality of the safari experience,” Mr Talam said.
The new offering comes at a time when Kenya is looking to sustain momentum in its tourism recovery, following years of pandemic-related disruptions and global economic pressures. Latest data from the Tourism Research Institute shows that arrivals to Kenya rose by 24 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to a similar period last year, with Nairobi National Park being one of the most popular destinations for both international and domestic tourists.
The innovation could help Uber tap into the growing domestic tourism market, while also enhancing Nairobi’s global image as the only capital city with a national park.
Uber is betting that the same simplicity that drove its popularity in urban commuting can also make it popular for leisure travel, particularly among younger, tech-savvy consumers who value convenience.
Visitors will be required to pay park entry fees directly to the KWS.
