Meru National Park

Everything you could wish for, in a wonderful location

We stayed at Elsa's Kopje for four nights in February 2009. This fabulous lodge is situated high on a giant rocky outcrop that rises above the open savannah. The 9 stone and thatch guest cottages are crafted around the natural features of the hill. Paved paths, lit by lamps at night, lead from each cottage to the comfortable open bar, lounge and dining room. This is by far the best place to enjoy breathtaking views across the savannah. Every need was met by the wonderful friendly staff. This is luxury in the heart of Meru national park. Our game drives didn't leave us at all disappointed. We saw the 'big five' as there is a rhino sanctuary there Activities available include game drives in a 4x4 Land Cruisers. Evening game drives and guided bush walks. Regular sightings include Oryx, Gerenuk, Elephant, Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Lesser Kudu, Grant's Gazelle, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Rhino and the rare, elusive Greater Kudu. Meru is also famous for its bird life.
The weather averaged about 30 degrees c, which was pleasant. We enjoyed sundowners and beautiful sunsets.
The food was excellent and we could not fault our trip in any way.
Would not hesitate to return.

Wildlife encounters in a less visited park

We had a nice experience in Meru National Park with several unique wildlife encounters with wildlife. The landscape is varied, mostly bushland with several waterholes but also several open fields. Meru offer you a chance to see the Reticulated Giraffe, a subspecies not found in the Lake Nakuru or Masai Mara. We also had a chance to see the close-to-extinct black Rhino. Of course we got to see an abundance of other wildlife as well. On our safari we visited both Meru, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara national park and the three all had their own profile and features and is a great combination. Of these three, Meru was the one with the least visitors.

A virgin Park with fewer visitors and scenenic drives.

I first visited Meru National park in December 2007, The first thing that you notice as soon as you enter the National Park is that the landscape, vegetation and soil are very much different from all the other Parks in Kenya.

There are very few open rolling savannah plains you see in Masai Mara. The place is dotted with small hills and kopjes all over and finally you dont get any of the dreaded black cotton soil you find in other parks. The soil here is red in colour and so are the elephants who regularly spray themselves with the soil.
Meru National Park is a very virgin park, in that not many visitors visit the place for many reasons. The main reason I guess is the distance you have to travel, number of animals you get to see and the dreaded Tsetse Fly. But once you are in the Park you get to see all the Big Five of Kenya and much more.

The wildlife of Meru is very shy, in that they are not used to vehicles driving along the roads amongst them. As soon as they hear or see an approaching vehicle their basic instinct is to run into the bushed. This not only happens with the smaller animals but also the bigger Elephant's and Buffalo's. But on the other hand the little you get to see is totally different from the other wildlife watching experience in the other National Parks of Kenya.

You get to see Elephant Bull's whose tusks are so long that you dont get to see the bottom tips because the Bull himself cannot lift his head high up because of the weight. An old hunter tale comes to mind where a Hunter went hunting and tracked a certain Elephant for 7 days waiting to see the bottom tips of his Tusks before he could decide whether to go ahead or not.

Whilst out on a Game Drive you have to frive very slowly and keep looking out for wildlife as they are camouflaged very well and blend into there surroundings amazingly well. You get to see all the common Antelopes, herbivores including the Oryx and Grevy's Zebra which is listed as critically endangered by IUCN. Lion, Cheetah and Leopard are also commonly sighted in the Park.

Generally the experience is very different from any other National Park you visit in Kenya but the memories remain for a longer time.

alone in nature

a really wild park, I loved it

I had a lovely experience: especially after seeing other beautiful parks in Kenya, I feel Meru remained untouched and the best part is there are no minibus crowds. Usually I met none ore one vehicle in my safari drives in the bush, I definitely recommend it if you look for something wild!

A big park in which you have your peace. Wildlife hides sometime in the bushes and trees. It has nice rivers with hipos and Adamson´s Falls at its far corner.

Excellent for quiet, relaxed game drives. Beautiful scenery.

Large game park with excellent roads. Not too many visitors (unlike the Mara) so you have the park to yourself which is very nice. Animals are shy -you have to drive very slowly & carefully when approaching them. When we went in March is was very hot.
A couple of great lodges in the area. Elsa's Kopje is beautiful.

One of the true hidden gems in Kenya

Meru is arguably one of the best Safari destinations in Africa. Sure, Masai Mara is more visually stunning, but the widllife in Meru is equally prolific. Especially if you're a birdy you'll have a field day here. Also, Meru is a lot more quiet in terms of tourist driving around. With luck you'll see one or two other vechicles on a game drive.

Although Meru suffers from the effects of poaching, the quiet and solitude and sense of Kenyan history makes up for it. If you appreciate the story of 'Born Free' you will enjoy Meru National Park.

Great safari in a lesser known and under-rated park

Meru National Park is an amazing place that has gone from totally animal free in the 90's to fairly abundant wildlife in the present time. It is a lot less touristed than places such as Masai Mara, but has a low key more local feel to it. There are some great camp sites, where animals walk freely within the confines. One such camp has baboons and waterbuck that come to drink water from the swimming pool! Locals and park staff are very friendly as well.