Meru National Park

Meru National Park this Astonishing, remote, rugged and prominently unspoilt park located in Central Kenya about 350km from Nairobi and garzetted in 1966. Also known as the “The Complete Wilderness,” This park sits in an 870sqkm flawless area in a wilderness less visited yet surrounded by unmatched natural beauty. The Park is wild and beautiful straddling the equator and crossed by 13 rivers and various mountain-fed streams.

The Park’s scenery is diverse from woodlands at 3,000ft on the slopes of Nyambene mountain range Northeast of Mount Kenya to wide-open plains with meandering river-banks dotted with doum and Raffia palms. Also teems with a variety of wildlife species including elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, Grevy’s zebra, hippo, buffalos, hartebeest and the reticulated giraffes among others. The Park hosts a Rhino Sanctuary which is home to the endangered black and white rhino species and it offers one of the best rhino viewing experiences.

Bird life also exceptionally diverse with over 400 species recorded and they include Peter’s Fin foot, kingfishers, Pel’s fishing owl, rollers, starlings, bee-eaters and also weavers. The park is famous for the setting of Joy Adamson’s book ‘Born Free,” a story of the Adamson’s life and research amongst lions and the cheetahs, Elsa who was the lioness was the most well-known and her grave is evident inside the park.

Activities in Meru National Park

Game Drives

Meru National Park can be best explored on guided game drives for excellent game viewing and also photography. The park has several game tracks offering incredible game viewing experiences. Possible wildlife to keep an eye on include elephants, dik-dik, reticulated giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, black and white rhinos, antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, birds among others. Game drives done in the Morning, Evening and also Night to allow you see a variety of wild animals including predators.

Birding

Birding is one of the interesting safari activities worth enjoying during your visit. Over 450 bird species can be spotted including the residential and migratory species such as the red-necked falcons, ostriches, Heuglin’s coarser, brown-backed woodpecker, bee-eaters, rollers, peter’s fin foot, pel’s fish owls, hornbills among others.

Cultural Encounter

Meru National Park also offers exciting Cultural Experiences at the adjacent local communities. The cultural experiences here include entertainments from music and dance performances from the Ameru, Borana and the Tharaka Communities as you explore the different traditions, lifestyles and also stories told by the elderly.

When to Visit

Best visited during the dry season from June to September and also December to March which allows for best wildlife viewing since most wildlife congregate around waterholes.

How to Get to Meru National Park

Accessed by both road and air transport means.

By Road, Meru National Park accessed from Nairobi via the Nyeri-Nanyuki route, about 348 km.

By Air, Scheduled flights arranged from Nairobi to park’s Airstrips which are; Kina, Mulika and Elsa Kopje.

Meru Entry Gates

Meru National Park has two Entry Gates which include;

Ura Gate

Merera Gate

Accommodation in Meru National Park

Accommodations categorized into Luxury and Mid-Range to Budget and they include;

Luxury Accommodations

Leopard Rock Lodge

Elsa’s Kopje

Rhino River Camp