meru national park

One day we were watching 3 lions, when a large group of probably 100 elephants came down to the river in single file – they just kept coming and coming.Unfortunately we were there on a public holiday so had to contend with white mini-vans crowding the animals and going off-road.However, the biggest problem I found with Meru NP is the fencing for the new expanded rhino sanctuary (as yet unused). This is located across animal migratory routes and we saw groups of elephants walking across the park and wanting to keep going on a well worn track, but couldn’t because of the fence. We followed them as they walked along the fence line, repeating trying to turn in the direction they wanted to go, but being unable to until they eventually reached the end of the enclosure. Was very sad to see.We did visit the rhino sanctuary but were there for a very short time and the rhino were either in thick bush or at a long distance. If you’re seen rhino elsewhere, I wouldn’t bother.

Refreshing from the normal. The Meru national park is extensive and different in a natural way from other parks I have been to.

The park is very beautiful and we saw many animals, including over 100 elephants in a huge group made of several smaller herds! There were also zebras, impalas, water bucks, ostriches, buffaloes, jackals, hippopotamuses, ostriches, eagles, baboons and various other species.The plains are where you're likely to see more animals because the dense bushy area towards the south of the park makes it hard to spot animals except dik-diks, small and cute antelopes that like these parts.

I visited Meru National Park as part of a Nature Kenya tour (a.k.a. East African Natural History Society, an environmental conservation and birdwatching group that I am a member of) from December 12-14, 2014. The better route is the route through Nanyuki, as opposed to the Embu route, which is very hilly and winding.There is also the choice of air travel, as the park has three airstrips, Kinna, Mulika and Elsa's Kopje, which are accessible through the local planes that ply the route, such as AirKenya; this would take no more than an hour, the bus trip took us almost seven hours, with two (each approximately an hour-long) stops on the way.Entry to the park should have been easy: but we had some non-Kenyans in the group, who pay different, higher rates (US$ 75 or equivalent in Kenya Shillings) who had topped up their 'safari card', a kind of smart card which one uses to go into Kenyan game parks, unfortunately, and strangely, this park does not accept card pre-payments so we ran into some bureaucratic hurdle, but they had some Kenyan currency on them so we finally went in after an hour or so of waiting at the gate. We stayed in the public campsite, Bwatherongi campsite Number 2: and a real wilderness it was! There is a shared toilet and bathroom, and a tap at the open air cooking area, but the water is brown and filthy looking: make sure you carry your own water, particularly drinking water, and lots of it, as there is no place to buy anything in the park. The bathrooms don't have shower curtains or doors, but there is a better bathroom facility some few hundred metres away at the public swimming pool. Torches are a must as there is no electricity connection, not even in the bathroom, which is a permanent structure.Disclosure: If I were to rate this particular campsite separately, I would give it two stars: the four stars is for the park itself, not the campsite (more accurately, its bathroom amenities). Because of this, if staying in the public campsite, I think anything more than two nights would be too much! Of course, like in any other wilderness camping, basic stuff: matches, torches, tissue paper and toiletry should always be remembered. My feeling was that perhaps a private campsite management outfit would have maintained the bathrooms better, (and charged more); it is at present run by the Kenya Wildlife Service. There are, however, some better accommodations such as Elsa's Kopje, self-contained and self-catering 'bandas' and some other 'special' special camping sites which would definitely be more costly, although better.We had one-and-a-half day of a game drive, but the park does not have as many animals as one would find in the Maasai Mara, but we did see a huge herd of elephants and a number of the usual herbivores, dik dik, antelopes, waterbucks, and some baboons. I heard hyenas howling at night, but I didn't see any during the day. There is also a wide range of birds, we counted some 60-plus bird species.The park is not as crowded as other more popular ones, such as the Maasai Mara: quite important to bear in mind, because one could get stranded in such a 'lonely' park, if one forgets matches, or runs out of fuel, but this should not be a problem if one books through a tour firm. It gets very hot and dusty, particularly as one heads South East to the Kora National Park and Thomsons Falls. There are also two reserves under different jurisdictions adjoining the park: Bisanadi Reserve and Mwingi National Reserve, and the guide told us that the reserves were planning to introduce their own park entry fees even when one accesses them through the Meru National Park. Advisedly, one should go with their own guide as the park has got very many paths which criss-cross all over, and an experienced guide will know where to find big game. All in all, it was an excellent way to spend a weekend in real wilderness, it's a worth try.

Meru National Park is located about 350Kms from Nairobi. The easiest and best route I will advise you to take is Nairobi>Nanyuki>Meru. It is much straighter and roads are way better than Embu>Meru Route.You need to plan your trip in such a way that you reach the Gate by 4-5pm. They give you a 24 hour valid ticket. Which means you enter in today, 10th Dec at 4pm and then exit at 6pm. Return on 11th Dec at 0600am and then exit by 4pm. This way you have alot of time for the park.This park is very huge. All Big 5 are present here. Rhino sanctuary (fenced to prevent poaching) is also a good experience.Note the title of this review - Dusty Paradise. It gets very very dusty. So you will definitely need a shower after this visit (as will your car). It is advisable for you to get a guide at Kshs. 2,000/= per day (That was when we were there last. Rates could have changed). This guide can take you to the right places to spot the big 5 as opposed to you trudging along the endless dusty roads on your own. Ensure you have plenty of cold fluids as it does get extremely hot from mid day onwards.We were lucky to see 4 out of the big 5 within one day. It is definitely worth a try.They also have in park hotels/camp sites. This too would be a very good experience to stay within the wilderness.If you are coming down to Kenya to experience wildlife, after the Mara's, Samburu and Tsavo's. try Kenya's Dusty Paradise. I was not let down.

Possibly hasn't got the numbers of animals that you see in the Mara, but it's a joy to travel round it, without loads of trucks on the roads.

Great wildlife loved how quiet the park was with streams running through the area adding to its beauty. Has a rhino sanctuary.

If you will ask me if this national park is similar to Maasai Mara,i will tell you is almost similar because you can see all the big five here and it is also one of the easiest national park to see a leopard.For the several time i have been there, i didn't find it difficult to spot it.

The animals are great and so is the environment. Lots of elephants, lions, other mammals, different bird species but also the heritage of George and Joy Adamson and Elsa the lioness.

Meru is scrub rather than the open savannah of the Mara which makes the game a little harder to find. Neither are the animals quite so habituated to humans than in the Mara. However there are still plenty to see and enjoy, especially with the help of an expert guide such as we had at Offbeat Meru Camp. I think the vegetation improves the scope of photography in the Meru

Abundant bird life and game, very dry when we were there but a wide range of different vegetation and topography, the rhino sanctuary is vast and very wild, not at all zoo like as others. Really worth a visit, you must go!

animals didn't come out to play. Saw 3 elephants in total. 1 rhino hiding in a bush and a handful of ostrich and hippos. For 75USD park entry it was a waste. Other far better parks to go to in kenya. Avoid this.

Meru, a beautiful national park in Kenya. The big five are to be found here and many other species of animals and birds. Landscape ranges from riverine forest to savanna to bushy. Many rivers criss cross the park. The sunsets are famous! As yet quite undiscovered and unspoiled by mass tourisme.

The scenery is beautiful (if dusty during this dry time) and the wildlife abounds! We loved our game drives for the scenery as well as for the animals.

Meru is peaceful, and you will probably not see another vehicle during your safari. An excellent place for bird enthusiasts, and the wildlife is plentiful, although not to compare with the Masai Mara. I loved Meru because it's different and I enjoyed its peace and tranquility.