Situated in the eastern province of Kenya, Meru national park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and has a vast array of wildlife in its lush swampy vegetation and tall grasses covering an area close to 890 km² .

Meru National Park was established in 1966 and makes the list on one of the oldest National Parks in Kenya. Its operations were not up to standard throught its first decades due to a number of managerial issues. The Kenya Wildlife Service in partnership with the Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2000 to 2005 restored this park from the ruins it was running into, to one of the most visited parks in East Africa.

The park is notably rich in biodiversity, amazing topography and great historical importance to the African realm. Among its standout characters is River Tana. River Tana flows through this park and its banks are inhabited by an impressive genre of distinctive wildlife.

Tourist attractions in Meru National Park

This park has great collection of attractions that every nature enthusiast should crave to encounter. The most exciting attractions at this park are;

• River Tana
• Adamson Falls
• Rhinoceros sanctuary
• Mughwango Hill
• The African buffalo
• Elephants
• Numerous bird species
• Giraffes

These very exciting attractions are absolutely breathtaking when encountered in groups as the experience is memorable and worth being cherished with your loved ones.

These attractions are the key remedy for fun and enjoyment at Meru national park. Credit should be given to the park authorities whose extensive conservation measures have ensured the breeding of these extinct wildlife species especially the black and white rhinos. This has led to sustainable tourism in Kenya.

Activities in Meru National Park

Meru National Park has an array of coordinated activities in the park that tourists can engage in to observe the generosity this park has in wildlife abundance. These activities are pretty much enthralling and tourists are able to modify their adventure at Meru National Park according to what they’d love their experience to be.

Top activities to do at Meru National Park

Among the well-rounded activities that visitors at this park can engage in, the following few are the most exciting.

1. Game drives: Game drives in Meru National Park are an exhilarating adventure be it in the morning drives or afternoon drives. These safari drives are head by experienced guides who give detailed insights on the vast flora and fauna in this park.

Travelers are moved around the navigable regions of the park in perfect condition safari vehicles with a pop up roof and crystal clear windows that do not obstruct vision.

On the drives, observing various wildlife like antelopes, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, numerous bird species and plant life in this most skeptical mode is absolutely astounding. It is very ok for travelers to record these animals and take pictures but only at spots that the guides find ok from potential wildlife attacks.

Game drives in Meru National Park cost 52 USD for adults and 35USD for infants.

2. The rhino sanctuary visit Visiting this sanctuary is guided by an experienced personnel in the field of rhino awareness and protection. This rhino conservation area preserves mainly the black and white rhinos.

Encountering these huge endangered mammals is not at close proximity due to the specific guidelines on safety at this park. These rhinos are not very hospitable so they are observed from a safe distance to keep tourists safe from any potential attack possible.

Expect to learn about the breeding habits of these extinct beauties, the feeding habits and the potential challenges these animals face inhabiting this park. The guides on this adventure detail every little insight needed for you to understand these rhinos.

The moments to record at this sanctuary are extremely magnificent. The rhinos themselves are an exceptional work of art, recording and reviewing their astounding build on a sad day will lighten your mood up.

Visits to this sanctuary cost

3. Fishing at River Tana Fishing on this river is a captivating experience for tourists. The activity is permitted by the authorities of the park and declared safe.

Tour guides in this park help you out on what spots are rich in fish species, the ones with specific species you need and where it is safe to stay for long.

On this practice, expect to catch large tilapias, catfish and the Nile perches. Those are the most caught fish species on this river. It is nice planning for tourists that intend to engage in fishing at River Tana to pack their fishing gear, i.e. fishing rods, hooks, lines and the baits.

This is a conservative practice that discourages overfishing. Beware of the park guidelines and regulations to avoid fines over excess fish caught.

Fishing at River Tana costs

4. Nature walks: These walks through the park present tourists an exquisite adventure on foot witnessing the rich biodiversity of the park in wildlife. These walks are head by experienced guides that trail you through the park encountering the flora and fauna inhabiting this park leaving you appreciating this astounding work of divine art.

The notable wildlife on these walks is predominantly the numerous bird species in this park like the Eastern chanting goshawk, the long-tailed fiscal and the Somali ostrich.

The other exciting aspect about these nature walks is that the guides detail every species observed on this walk. The insights include the nature of the species, feeding habits and the breeding traits of these species.

Other interesting activities to do at Meru National Park include cultural visits to the Tharaka community, camping, picnics and many much more.

Accommodation at Meru National Park

Travelers that are to visit this park ought to enjoy the stay due to its many enjoyable attributes. Accommodation is one of the essential needs to enjoy your experience at Meru National Park.

There is an array of accommodation alternatives within and around this park of different classes. The accommodation alternatives are the luxury lodgings, mid-range lodges, budget friendly stays and camp sites.

All these lodging classes are experience efficient and every penny spent while on these lodges is worth it.

Best luxury lodge

There are many luxury lodges in and within Meru national park. The outstanding lodge among them all is Elisa’s Kopje. This prestigious hotel has a rich historic background behind it. Its naming comes from the Elsa, an orphaned lioness that was reared domestically by Joy and George Adamson, and later conserved at Meru National Park in 1958.

This lodge has luxurious suites roosted on Mughwango Hill. It has panoramic views of the park from its self-contained rooms fashioned in a lavish wildlife theme.

Elisa’s Kopje has astounding facilities and its amenities are innumerable compared to its counter parts. It has expansive balconies, top treat dining delicacies and an exquisite health club.

A complete night package at this lodge is averagely 3000 USD. This cost covers all the basic bargains at this hotel like meals, dwellings, health clubs and more.

Best mid-range lodge

Mid-range lodges in Meru National park are characterized by their balanced comfort and affordability without high end luxury features. The best hotel under this genre at Meru National Park is Ikweta Safari camp.

This magnificent camp inside Meru National Park has skeptical scenes of the park. This safari camp is characterized by exquisite wild amenities with panoramic views like the dawn rays and sun set aura, plus the afternoon treks of the elephant troops.

At Ikweta safari camp, await delightful services like bars and dining areas with local and international cuisines, health clubs and lounges at a comfortable cost. An exquisite service at this park costs 250 USD inclusive of beddings, meals and multiple refreshment /beverage sessions.

Best budget friendly stays

These are literally cost-effective lodging options with lucrative facilities and amenities. These types of lodges are the most feasible for visitors with an economical budget.

There’s quite a number of impressive budget friendly stays at Meru National Park with formidable services. The outstanding option from these stays is La Beila Hotel. This hotel facilitates you with a sumptuous meal and a cozy room at 66 USD.

Bookings and reservations for suites at this hotel can be done via the hotel website or preferably through your trusted tour operator. You could also choose to book at The Hotel Ezri or The Wonky House or at Meru Slopes Hotel. Those are the best alternatives under the budget friendly stays.

Best time to visit Meru National Park

The stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife of this park are arguably amazing but at some times of the year, the scenes are more delightful. Kenya has two seasons, the wet and dry season. These seasons are characterized by contrasting scrutiny of the park’s nature, hence making the experiences different.

The dry season in Kenya typically starts in June to October. In these months, the rains are less at Meru National Park and temperatures are humid. The sun is often brighter and the skies clear. This makes spotting wildlife on river banks and in their natural habitats at Meru national park easier as the trails are clear smooth and the vegetation is less dense.

Meanwhile in the wet season that starts in mid-November to May, is characterized by heavy rains and freezing temperatures. The vegetation of the park in this season is lush and dense beautifying the landscapes. The trails are actually muddy and heavy footwear is the best to navigate through the park in this season.

Wildlife in the wet seasons tends to stay put in their habitats. Due to this indoor lifestyle many of these creatures reproduce and a lot of baby wildlife is spotted on the walks around the park.

For an enthralling experience, highly recommend visiting the park in the dry season. The adventure under the clear skies in light garments is more comfortable and delightful compared to muddy terrains and dense vegetation of the wet season.

How to get to Meru National Park

You can arrive at this national park conveniently by road transport or air transport. Travelling by air is far much the quickest mode to arrive at this park. This park is located in the Tharaka Nithi County, Meru, and by air from Maua Airport you shall finish off this long journey in under an hour. Domestic flights are the cheapest but are limited since they are only on small airstrips.

On road either driven or self-driven, cover this 350km stretch from Nairobi in under 6 hours. The road network to the park is quite nice and all types of vehicles can use the road without much inconvenience. The roads are well signaled showing you where to find the park.

Navigation systems in Kenya work accurately catering for those foreign visitors driving themselves to this park a safe and hustle free arrival. The most convenient way to travel to the park is opting for an organized safari package from your trusted tour operator. Tour operators know the paths so well and can take you there conveniently without tiring up on this long journey.