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

Location of the Meru National Park

The national park is geographically located in 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 mountains within the park. The Meru National Park is characterized by grassland, jungles, rivers, swamps, and termite-created mounds. This national park is undoubtedly a complete wilderness.

What visitors shouldn’t miss at Meru National park

Wildlife. This game park inhabits a countless number of wild animals, including leopards, buffalo, 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 a birder's 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 of distinct vegetation, including 5 categories: forests, savannah, swamps, grass, and rivers. The woodland is set on the 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 a 4×4 Land Cruiser with an open pop-up for excellent viewing and unlimited photo taking. Some of the main wild games a visitor should not miss/expect be seen are leopards, black and white rhinos, antelopes, lions, reticulated giraffes, zebras, elephants, and many others. The game drives start early morning, day and night to allow the visitor to see a variety of animals, both those that move during the day and those moving at night. With the help of the guides, the visitors will be able to view the desired wildlife. 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 their behavior and their conservation.

Cultural experience

Kenya itself as a country is home to different cultures from different groups of people in the country. The Meru National Park is also a place for a good cultural experience at the local adjacent community. The cultural encounters here include entertainment with dances and cultural music performances from local people. Exploring their traditions, lifestyles, and 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 over 500 bird species, including Maasai ostriches, palm weavers, secretary birds, Boran cisticola, wattled starling, African fin foot, and many others

Fishing

Because Meru National Park is endowed with many swamps and 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 anytime throughout the year in the interest of experiencing the culture within and around the park is unconditionally. This activity is done by visitors sometimes as a supplement to 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 park 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 provides access to visitors. But just give advice to visitors to be ready for what may be there in the different months, between the months of July, August, and September offers favorable conditions for the game viewers. Most of this wildlife is seen getting out looking for water and food during the dry season. The rainy season here is between the months of March, April, and May, and October and November offer good visiting conditions for those looking for birds or birders. The visitors here will get the opportunity to watch a 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 a plane from Nairobi should book a flight to Elsa Kopjes’ airstrip or Mulika