Game drives · Eastern Kenya
Meru National Park
Untamed wilderness — Joy Adamson's Kenya
Wild, lush and refreshingly empty — Meru is the Kenya that Joy Adamson immortalised in 'Born Free'. Thirteen rivers, doum palms, baobabs and a real sense of being alone with the wild.
- Genuine wilderness with very few other vehicles
- Elsa's Kopje — historic conservation site
- Lush, river-fed landscapes
- Rhino sanctuary inside the park
Best time to visit
June to September and December to March. Greener and more dramatic just after the rains.
Getting there
1-hour flight from Nairobi, or a 5-hour drive via Mount Kenya.
What you'll see
Wildlife you can reasonably expect on a typical Meru National Park game drive.
- Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah
- Reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra (this far north)
- Both black and white rhino in the sanctuary
- Lesser kudu and gerenuk
- Excellent birdlife along the rivers
Experiences here
Visit Elsa's grave
Pay respects at the resting place of the lioness from 'Born Free'.
Riverside picnic lunch
Set up under doum palms with hippo for company.
Rhino sanctuary drive
Track both black and white rhino in the protected sanctuary.
FAQ
Meru National Park — common questions
- Why so few visitors?
- Pure geography — it's further east than the classic circuit. Which is exactly why we love it.
- Good for repeat safari-goers?
- Yes — if you've done the Mara, Meru is the perfect 'second Kenya' experience.
Plan your Meru National Park safari
Tell us your dates and we'll send back a handcrafted itinerary, usually within 24 hours.
