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User Reviews of Meru National Park (22 Reviews)

Meru Safaris Kenya
Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 11-20 of 22 Reviews

Average User Rating

4.4545 / 5 4.5 /5
4.3182 / 5 4.5909 / 5 4.8182 / 5 4.2353 / 5

Rating Breakdown

5 star 12 / 10 12
4 star 8 / 10 8
3 star 2 / 10 2
2 star 0 / 10 0
1 star 0 / 10 0
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Male avatar icon mwangee Kenya flag KE       Visited: July 2015 Reviewed: Apr 4, 2016

Email mwangee  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

It doesn't get wilder than this.

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5

Being mostly bushland, it isn't easy to spot the cats in Meru National Park. There are however lots of grazers like the rare gerenuk, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, antelopes, hundreds of bird species from grouses to fiscals to hornbills, baboons and elephants. Temperatures are usually high during the day and it isn't rare for the Mercury to hit 30 Celsius. Roads are gravelled and well marked so it's easy to navigate using GPS or traditional map. I stayed at Bwatherongi Campsite which had clean public showers and toilets as well as a pool.

Male avatar icon sebastian brandner United Kingdom flag GB       Visited: September 2015 Reviewed: Sep 21, 2015

Email sebastian brandner  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Solitude, Great scenery and wildlife

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 / 5
This was our first visit to East Africa and also the first time that we went on Safari. We combined this travel with a work-related trip to Uganda, and all booking of the Kenya Itinerary (Meru, Samburu, Mara Mara) was arranged through Imagine Africa UK, which made the organisation and the entire journey hassle free.
Our first stop was Meru, and we stayed in the Offbeat Meru Camp. It is a beautiful place, unfenced, located near a river and we saw lots of wildlife just at the front of our tent (Elephants, Baboons, warthogs, Impalas, birds, and more). The overall service was absolutely excellent, and it was to our advantage that we were the only guests. The food was on the basic side. No electricity (you can give your batteries/chargers to Craig, the camp manager, and there is no Wifi. There is no running water generaly (water is provided in a large pot) but thy provide a hot shower in the evening which is basic, but fully sufficient, and pleasant. We had a safari guide who was excellent
Read more (the best of all the three that we had throughout our journey) and we were lucky to be in a location in the conservancy where we met very few other travellers. In fact we had only two or three encounters with other safarigoers throughout our entire stay in Meru.
The camp is located in an area where five rivers pass through, making it a rich environment to see a wide spectrum of wildlife. With our excellent guide (Stanley from the Offbeat Meru) it was a truly extraordinary experience, he explained the traces, we understood how he tracked animals, how to distinguish them, their habits etc. He also had a very god understanding of a photographer’s need, he know when the sunrise would happen and positioned the Vehicle in a suitable spot, he understood the importance of the best illumination, the angle of light in relation to the animals, and much more. He soon figured out that I was a photo-enthusiast and pointed me to all sorts of wildlife, including rare birds, small mammals etc.
Rhinos were abundant in the Rhino conservatory, but they are nowhere else.
All three places (Meru, Samburu, Masai Mara) had their specific charm, and I would recommend Meru for its solitude, richness in wildlife, gorgeous scenery. The Offbeat Meru is on the basic side, but with excellent service, and unbeatable for its integration into nature and wildlife
Avatar icon Sue Green LRPS (suebg1) United Kingdom flag GB       Visited: December 2013 Reviewed: May 26, 2015

Email Sue Green LRPS (suebg1)  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5

Has great scenery

Male avatar icon Mike United States flag US       Visited: September 2014 Reviewed: Apr 18, 2015

20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Amazing experience!

5 / 5 5 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

We stayed at Elsa's Kopje, which was an absolutely extraordinary lodge with outstanding guides and spectacular views. As our first stop on a safari honeymoon, it delivered in spades. The wildlife was great, though different than the Mara with not necessarily the same diversity. The birds were incredible!

Avatar icon florette kingston Visited: February 2009 Reviewed: May 24, 2014

Everything you could wish for, in a wonderful location

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5
We stayed at Elsa's Kopje for four nights in February 2009. This fabulous lodge is situated high on a giant rocky outcrop that rises above the open savannah. The 9 stone and thatch guest cottages are crafted around the natural features of the hill. Paved paths, lit by lamps at night, lead from each cottage to the comfortable open bar, lounge and dining room. This is by far the best place to enjoy breathtaking views across the savannah. Every need was met by the wonderful friendly staff. This is luxury in the heart of Meru national park. Our game drives didn't leave us at all disappointed. We saw the 'big five' as there is a rhino sanctuary there Activities available include game drives in a 4x4 Land Cruisers. Evening game drives and guided bush walks. Regular sightings include Oryx, Gerenuk, Elephant, Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Lesser Kudu, Grant's Gazelle, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Rhino and the rare, elusive Greater Kudu. Meru is also famous for
Read more its bird life.
The weather averaged about 30 degrees c, which was pleasant. We enjoyed sundowners and beautiful sunsets.
The food was excellent and we could not fault our trip in any way.
Would not hesitate to return.
Male avatar icon Wim Kenya flag KE       Visited: February 2009 Reviewed: May 7, 2012

50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of Wim and not that of SafariBookings.
3 / 5 3 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5

alone in nature

Avatar icon loemaggi Visited: April 2012 Reviewed: Apr 26, 2012

a really wild park, I loved it

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5

I had a lovely experience: especially after seeing other beautiful parks in Kenya, I feel Meru remained untouched and the best part is there are no minibus crowds. Usually I met none ore one vehicle in my safari drives in the bush, I definitely recommend it if you look for something wild!

Male avatar icon Kinyanjui Hager Germany flag DE       Visited: January 2012 Reviewed: Apr 23, 2012

Email Kinyanjui Hager  |  35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5 / 5

A big park in which you have your peace. Wildlife hides sometime in the bushes and trees. It has nice rivers with hipos and Adamson´s Falls at its far corner.

Male avatar icon navrajghataura Visited: March 2008 Reviewed: Apr 2, 2012

35-50 years of age

Excellent for quiet, relaxed game drives. Beautiful scenery.

5 / 5 5 /5
3 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 3 / 5

Large game park with excellent roads. Not too many visitors (unlike the Mara) so you have the park to yourself which is very nice. Animals are shy -you have to drive very slowly & carefully when approaching them. When we went in March is was very hot.
A couple of great lodges in the area. Elsa's Kopje is beautiful.

Male avatar icon jhazevoet Netherlands flag NL       Visited: January 2011 Reviewed: Apr 2, 2012

35-50 years of age

One of the true hidden gems in Kenya

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

Meru is arguably one of the best Safari destinations in Africa. Sure, Masai Mara is more visually stunning, but the widllife in Meru is equally prolific. Especially if you're a birdy you'll have a field day here. Also, Meru is a lot more quiet in terms of tourist driving around. With luck you'll see one or two other vechicles on a game drive.