Kinetic studies for the homogeneous hydrogenation of natural rubber, in the presence of nickel 8-ethylhexanoate and triisobutylaluminum, have been carried out by monitoring the change in hydrogen pressure in a Parr reactor of fixed volume. H-1-NMR spectroscopy provides the measurements of the extent of hydrogenation. The reaction kinetics, in the presence of a fixed amount of catalyst, showed an overall second-order kinetic with respect to [H-2] and [C=C]. The reaction has a relatively low apparent activation energy of 26.0 kJ mol(-1) and is therefore suitable for the hydrogenation of natural rubber at ambient conditions to minimize side reactions, The impurities in commercial rubbers have a slight effect on the catalyst activity.