Meru National Park is Kenya's wild, quiet north-eastern park, and a place that few visitors reach. It was the setting for the story of Elsa the lioness and Joy and George Adamson, and it has been restored over the past two decades into a thriving reserve with a growing wildlife population and few vehicles.
The park is crossed by a dozen rivers and shaded by doum palms, with open grass plains, bush and swamp. Its rhino sanctuary protects both black and white rhino, and you can see reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx and gerenuk, which belong to the drier north. Elephants, lions, cheetah and leopard live here too.
Meru suits travellers who want a true off-the-beaten-track safari, with space and silence.
Meru has a mixture of species from both wetter and drier Kenya. Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and cheetah are present, together with reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk, lesser kudu, and white and black rhino in the sanctuary. Hippo and crocodile live in the rivers, and the Mulika swamp has waterbuck, buffalo and hippos.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
Meru combines palm-fringed rivers, open grasslands, rocky hills and swamp, backed by the distant bulk of Mount Kenya. The mood is quiet and unspoiled, and the sunsets over the grass are memorable.
Activities here
Meru is hot and dry in the lowlands, with daytime temperatures of 28°C to 32°C and warm nights. The rains fall from March to May and in November and December.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30 | 17 | 30 |
| Feb | 31 | 18 | 25 |
| Mar | 32 | 19 | 60 |
| Apr | 30 | 19 | 200 |
| May | 29 | 18 | 100 |
| Jun | 28 | 16 | 20 |
| Jul | 27 | 15 | 15 |
| Aug | 28 | 15 | 15 |
| Sep | 30 | 16 | 15 |
| Oct | 30 | 17 | 60 |
| Nov | 29 | 18 | 160 |
| Dec | 29 | 17 | 90 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
June to October and January to February are dry, with clear skies and animals concentrated near the rivers. The roads are at their best, and the park is quiet.
The rains turn the park green, fill the rivers and bring birds. Some roads are slippery or flooded, so camps may be harder to reach.
June to October and January to February are the best times to visit, with the easiest game viewing and the best road conditions. The green season has fewer visitors and dramatic skies.
Best time to visit Jun to Oct
Meru is about 350 kilometres from Nairobi, a drive of six to seven hours, so most guests fly from Wilson Airport in about an hour and fifteen minutes to the Mulika airstrip. It links by road and air with Samburu, Lewa and Laikipia.
Park fees are included in our safaris. Most visitors need a Kenya eTA arranged online before travel, and a passport valid for at least six months.
Meru is hot and remote, so bring a hat, sun cream and plenty of water. Medical help is far away, so we plan carefully and fly guests in with the right insurance. Please take advice on malaria before you travel.
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“Our take”
Meru is one of Kenya’s best-kept secrets. Come for the quiet and the rhinos, and combine it with Laikipia or Samburu.
Safaris from
US$2,604 per person
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