Meru National Park – Self Drive Safari Kenya

Meru National Park is the least busy of the all the most famous National Parks in Kenya. The most interesting thing on the Meru National Park for game lovers is that all the African big 5 wild life exist here including, lions, elephants, buffalos, Rhinos, leopards making a different national Park in Kenya. The national park was established in 1968and it’s a home for many wild game

Location of the Meru National Park

The national park is geographically located in the Central Kenya along the Equator 350km away North East of Nairobi city with 870square km. the national park is bisected by 13 rivers and different mountain within the park. The Meru National Park is characterized with grassland, jungles, rivers, swamps, termite-created mounds. This national park is undoubtingly a complete wilderness.

What visitors shouldn’t miss at Meru National park

Wild life. This game park inhabits a countless number of wild animals including leopards, buffalos, lesser, kudu, zebras, bushbucks, elephants, lions, and many others

Birds. Meru National Park has over 500 bird species around the park. This could be the best destination for birders safari. The national park protects bird species like, vultures, sunbirds, red necked falcons, rollers, secretary birds, brown backed woodpeckers and so many others.

Vegetation. The park is full distinct vegetation including 5 categories, forests, savannah, swamps, grass and rivers. The woodland is set on 1036m mountain Nyambeni slopes which gives good visuals for vegetation viewers

MAJOR ACTIVITIES AT MERU NATIONAL PARK

Game viewing

This is the best activity at the Meru National Park and the activity is done in 4×4 land cruiser with an opened pop up for excellent viewing and un conditional photo taking. Some of the main wild games a visitor should not miss / expect be seen are, leopards, Rhinos black and white antelopes, lions, reticulated giraffes, zebras, elephants and many others. The game drives start early morning, day and night to allow the visitor see variety of animals both that move during day and those moving at night. With the help of the guides, the visitors will be able to view the desired wildlife spotted. In addition, there is a Rhino Sanctuary in the Meru national park including over 80 black and white Rhinos. This sanctuary will give you more details about Rhinos including behavior and their conservation.

Cultural experience

Kenya its self as a country is a home of different cultures from different group of people in the country. The Meru National Park also a place for good cultural experience at the local adjacent community. The cultural encounters here include entertainment with dances and cultural music performance from local people. Exploring their traditions, lifestyles, stories, which are commonly told by elderly people around the park.

Birding.

One of the most interesting safari activities in Meru National Park. The park has over500 bird species Maasai ostriches, palm weavers, secretary birds, Boran cisticola, wattled starling, African fin foot and many others

Fishing

Because Meru national park is endowed with may swamps, rivers flowing, this offers fishing opportunities along the river banks for fish species like tilapia, catfish, and many others.

Cultural experience

Visiting Meru National Park is a anytime throughout the year in the interest of experiencing the culture within and around the park is un conditionally. This activity is done by visitors sometimes as a supplement of their visit after visiting their respective desired attractions. The information about these people around and their cultural story is told by themselves (native elderly people) since they seem to know more about the national par and their own way of living

Other experiences include the Elsa Lioness Grave and the Adamson Falls. These obtained these names from the way back after Joy Adamson and Elsa’s award –winning   book born fire. It’s of good moment to visit the lioness gravesite talked about and you will get more information about the park and many things.

When to visit Meru National Park and getting to the park

Throughout the year, this national park is giving access to visitors. But just give advice to visitors to be ready of what may be there in the different months, between the month of July, august, to September offers favorable conditions for the game viewers. Most this wildlife is seen getting out looking for water and food during the dry season. The rainy season here is between the month of March, April, and May, October and November offers a good visit conditions for those looking for birds or the birders. The visitors here will get the opportunity to watch the variety of bird species though the National park is kept open throughout the year for visitors.

From the capital city, through the main road visitors are advised to take the Nyeri- Nanyuki route or take the Embu-Ural gate. Those using plane from Nairobi should book a flight to Elsa Kopjes’ airstrip or Mulika