Safari to Meru

arid landscapes on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya

Set 225 km northeast of Nairobi, Meru National Park is a relatively little-visited area, with some decent scenery and a good mix of wildlife.

As the foothills of Mount Kenya fall away eastward, the land becomes increasingly less well-watered and fertile, eventually running out onto arid semi-desert plains.

The reserve itself is largely comprised of dry acacia scrub, with stretches of open grasslands and strings of riverine forest featuring the characteristic doum palm. It may not be as naturally beautiful as other reserves in the country, but it remains interesting and atmospheric.

The area forms part of an important buffer zone between the heavily farmed lower slopes of Mount Kenya and the arid rangelands to the east.

Although wildlife numbers have largely recovered from previous heavy poaching by Somali raiders in the 1980s, animals are not so naturally abundant as they are in more inherently fertile areas like the Maasai Mara. But there should be plenty to keep you interested.

Almost all of the main safari animals are present, as well as northern specialities including gerenuks, reticulated giraffes and Somali ostriches. There are also good populations of predators including lions, cheetahs, leopards and spotted hyenas.

Meru remains something of a peripheral location for most people and visitor numbers remain blissfully low. We tend to recommend it most to more experienced safari travellers who are keen to steer clear of the main tourist grooves.

Vehicle safari is the main activity, sometimes punctuated with bush picnics. Unusually walking safari is permitted inside the national park. It’s also possible to visit a nearby rhino sanctuary.

The Meru area tends to feature relatively rarely in trips, mainly due to the marginal appeal of the place and the lack of lodge options.

The usual stay duration is 3 nights.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Meru is usually the Jun-Nov dry season, but there are good reasons to visit during other months. Arid areas such as this can be particularly interesting during the converse green season.

Getting there

Meru is usually accessed by light aircraft from Nairobi and distant safari locations like Maasai Mara and Amboseli.

The area is often combined in trips with other parts of this region such as Lewa and Samburu, with which it can be connected by road.

Where to stay

The stand-out accommodation option is the renowned and relatively upmarket Elsa’s Kopje.

an unusual addition to a flying safari