Wildlife

Meru is home to the Big Five. Elephants migrate through the park and big herds can sometimes be encountered. Big cats are more difficult to spot, but it isn’t rare to have a sighting all to yourself. Northern Kenya specials include beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, and the odd-looking gerenuk. The rare Grevy’s zebra occurs alongside the more common Burchell’s zebra.

Wildlife Highlights

Most people will appreciate Meru National Park for its northern specials, which are animals that are specially adapted to arid conditions. The reticulated giraffe is distinguishable by its dramatic pattern. Grevy’s zebra occur alongside the smaller and more common Burchell’s zebra. This is one of few places to encounter the shy lesser kudu and the impressive looking beisa oryx. Most odd of them all is the gerenuk with its elongated neck.

Best Time for Viewing

Meru can be visited throughout the year, but the best time is in the Dry season from June to September, when animals congregate around predictable water sources. Wildlife viewing is usually more difficult during the long rains (March to May) and short rains (October to November). At this time the grass tends to be very high, making spotting animals more difficult. Elephants migrate out of the park in the rainy season.

Scenery

Meru is particularly scenic. The Tana River on the southern boundary is the largest waterway in Kenya, and several small streams run through the park. Beautiful doum palms and baobab trees are silhouetted against the sky, and with the red soil, make a striking background for arid-adapted animals.

Weather & Climate

The levels of precipitation change dramatically over the course of a year. Most of the Dry season (June to October) sees very little rain. This changes in October, when the rainfall edges up in advance of the Wet season (November to May), leading to a peak of wet weather in April. The opposite is true of temperatures at Meru, whose location near the equator ensures consistent daytime temperatures of around 32 Degrees Celsius / 90 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Best Time to Visit

The lack of rain in the Dry season (June to October) makes this the best time to get to Meru. The grass doesn’t grow much, making the wildlife easier to spot, and conditions are generally better for navigating the park’s lovely landscape. In the wetter months, high grass tends to obscure the animals, and elephants depart for drier ground.