The Best time to visit Meru National Park : Meru National Park may be visited year-round for the most amazing Kenya safari experiences because of its moderate climate and diverse environment, which make it a top off-beaten Kenya safari destination for both seasoned African adventurers and first-time travellers. Due to varying climate factors and park adventure experiences, tourists should know the best time to visit Meru National Park so they can make the best arrangements to suit their interests in adventure while on kenya safari. Average daytime temperatures in Meru National Park range from 21 to 27 degrees Celsius depending on the time of year, while average night time low temperatures range from 12 to 14 degrees Celsius with minimal variability of change.
The Best Time to Visit Meru National Park can be determined by taking into account various factors such as temperature variations, wildlife viewing opportunities, budgetary needs, and ease of navigation during safari activities. Meru National Park experiences both rainy and dry seasons, similar to other kenya safari destinations in equatorial Kenya.
Meru National Park is best visited during the long dry season, which runs from July to October. This is because there is little to no fresh precipitation during this time, seasonal streams that provide irrigation dry up, and the park’s vegetation dries up and becomes scarce. Because of this, animals are drawn to permanent water sources like rivers that never dry up as well as any residual water holes and muddy pools, which not only give much-needed drinking water but also feed the surrounding vegetation. These settings are good because they offer visitors a high possibility of seeing a variety of wildlife species, which are typically mixed together in a reasonably diverse region of unobstructed vegetation. Your knowledgeable guides can easily navigate the park during game drives because the roads and trails are dry.
The extended dry season from July to October is also the best time to visit Meru National Park because it falls during Masai Mara migration season and American and European summer vacation periods. This means that travellers who enjoy combining multiple Kenya safari destinations will have the most amazing wildlife viewing safari in Kenya.
However, Meru National Park experiences a brief rainy season in November and December. During this time, rainfall is usually restricted to brief afternoon and evening showers, and since the moisture evaporates quickly, the roads and trails should remain passable and the vegetation will begin to turn a rich green colour. The long rainy season, which begins in late May and extends into June, with the heaviest rains occurring in April and May, arrives. This causes the park to become difficult to navigate, some lodges to close, and animals to disperse into distant areas due to the park’s excessively green vegetation, which turns into a lush and limits game viewing. The short dry season, which is also known as the Best Time to Visit Meru National Park, begins in January and February.
But, since most mammals breed during this rainy season, there is an even more amazing benefit to scheduling your wilderness safari to Meru National Park during this time. If you’re lucky, you may see a scene of a new born being born as its mother tries to keep it from being taken by a predator. Additionally, during the wet season, when migratory species from Europe and North Africa are present, bird watching is good year-round.
How to get there
There are two methods to get to Meru National Park: by air and by road. The easiest and quickest method is by air transport. Meru National Park is situated 355 km/220 mi northeast of Nairobi and 60 km/37 km east of Meru town.
By Road
In a 4×4 customised vehicle, visitors can easily reach the park via ground transportation. There are two main routes that are commonly used to get to the park from Nairobi. The first is the main road via Nyeri, Nanyuki, and Meru town, which covers a driving distance of 348 kilometres and takes approximately 3 hours. The second road route on How to Access Meru National Park is via Embu-Meru weather roads, which is a distance of 290 kilometres and takes up to 2.5 hours. This road route offers the best option to go to the park is by car because it’s less expensive and doesn’t need a long journey.
By Air
Air travel is another option for visiting the area; daily scheduled charter flights are typically offered to and from the airstrips located inside the National area. The main airstrip, Kinna Airstrip, is 45 minutes’ drive from Elsa’s Kopje; all scheduled flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport fly to this airstrip and also have daily departures; the other airstrip in Meru National Park is the Mughwango Hill Airstrip, which is 5 minutes’ drive from Elsa’s Kopje. There is also a helicopter pad very close to the Mulika lodge. Another option is to take a private charter from Nanyuki Airstrip, which is connected to Meru National Park, after departing on one of the many daily scheduled flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi’s main transportation hub.
Accommodations in Meru National Park
Accommodations in Meru National Park range from luxury accommodations with a high level of exclusivity and opulence to mid-range options for travellers seeking a good balance between price and quality as well as standard/budget options. A variety of safari lodges and tented camps offer complete comfort and excellent services for your memorable safari adventure in this park. Enjoy an amazing safari experience while staying in several accommodations within Meru National Park, and you’ll be lavished with first-rate services, such as:
Elsa’s Kopje Lodge
Elisa’s Kopje is a luxurious accommodation in Meru National Park that exudes an unabashed romanticism and exquisite style. It is carved into Mughwango Hill, situated above the location of George Adamson’s initial camp, where he reared and released orphan lions prior to the mainstreaming of conservation. Elsa’s Kopje Lodge boasts nine accommodations, including a private house with a private deck and seating area overlooking the picturesque “Born Free” Meru, an elegant family cottage with double beds and twin beds, and a private separate house overlooking the vast plains of Meru National Park and facing Mt Kenya. The lodge is built in an eco-friendly manner, incorporating the rocks of the surrounding hill into its structure and employing some of the furniture crafted from harvested tree trunks.
Offbeat Meru Camp
Offbeat Meru Camp is a small, traditional lodging with six canvas tents that sleep up to five people in two twins, three doubles and a family unit with two interconnecting bedrooms and a large shared bathroom. It is situated at the edge of Meru National Park, within the Bisanadi National Reserve and above the picturesque Bisanadi River. Each of these tents has an ensuite bathroom and a private terrace where you can unwind while viewing animals across the park. They are also readily disassembled and relocated if necessary.

Rhino River Camp
Another mid-range lodging option in Meru National Park is Rhino River Camp. An eco-friendly little tented camp with the Kindani River at its base, the camp is the ideal spot to unwind and go on holiday in Kindani. It is surrounded by tamarinds, raffia palms, and yellow fever trees. It is situated next to Meru National Park and consists of seven (7) tents in total, five of which are elevated on platforms above the softly flowing Kindani River and constructed from luxurious caramel canvas and sustainably grown wood. Your stay at Rhino River Camp will become a peaceful, unique experience thanks to the river. For those who would like not stay near the sound of the Kindani River running, the remaining 2 tents are set back from the river and face a natural forest. Two of the tents that face the river each feature a separate “zen” space where you can relax, meditate, or read your favourite book again.
Ikweta safari camp
This safari camp is the ideal addition to your reasonably priced Accommodations in Meru National Park: The camp is conveniently close to all of your safari activities, being only two kilometres from the park’s main Murera Gate entrance. There are just ten guest tents at Ikweta Safari Camp, and each one has an en suite bathroom, writing desks, baggage racks, and a private veranda. A restaurant, lounge, bar and swimming pool are examples of common areas.
Selecting a suitable lodging for your kenya safari experience is arguably the most crucial aspect of your plans. Trust Focus East Africa Safaris to organise your unforgettable trip to Kenya, including a stay at the most convenient lodging for your Kenya safari.