Things to do in Meru and Mount Kenya East
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Meru and Mount Kenya East
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Short dry season, among the best for game viewing, mountain views and Chogoria track conditions.
Long rains, worst park and Chogoria tracks, high grass in Meru and Ngare Ndare pools often brown.
Long dry season, best combined park and mountain window, animals near permanent water.
Short rains, October can work early, then roads deteriorate and birding improves.
Less predictable dry spell, often workable, with domestic holiday demand for rooms.
Best things to do in Meru and Mount Kenya East
Meru National Park
A quiet river cut park of 870 sq km where you can drive for hours without another vehicle and still find elephant and lion.
Meru Museum
A small museum in the 1916 district office that explains Ameru culture, tools and homestead life in under an hour.
Gakoromone Market
Meru town's main open air market, where the farm produce and daily trade of the region is on show in the morning.
Where to stay in Meru and Mount Kenya East
Meru National Park
safari without transfers
Sleep inside the park for dawn drives and the full Born Free landscape, at luxury lodge prices.
Murera Gate
value safari access
Full board and self catering options just outside or inside the main gate, minutes from game drives.
Meru town
services, transport and a town night
Hotels, banks, shops and onward buses in Milimani and the centre, about 85 km from the park gate.
Chogoria
Mount Kenya east climbs
The base for the Chogoria route, with bandas at the gate for the first and last night on the mountain.
Think twice about
- Kenya to Somalia border counties
Mandera, Wajir and Garissa are far east of Meru and not part of this trip.
- Remote northern and eastern parts of Meru County during security operations
Operations in parts of Meru County are linked to banditry and rustling. Follow local advice and do not drive remote tracks after dark.
Best restaurants in Meru and Mount Kenya East
Palace Frys
A cheap fast food stop on the Maua road for chips, rotisserie chicken, wraps and juices on the way east.
Fish Deli
A small central Meru town restaurant listed among local eateries, best treated as a walk in local lunch to check on arrival.
Best coffee in Meru and Mount Kenya East
Master's Coffee House and Bakery
Meru town's most visitor ready cafe and bakery, for brewed coffee, cakes, pizza and a sit down light meal.
Outdoor things to do in Meru and Mount Kenya East
Meru National Park Rhino Sanctuary
A large fenced sanctuary inside the park protecting black and white rhino, found on game drives with a good guide.
Adamson's Falls
A falls and rapids stop on the Tana River with hippo pools and palm lined banks, reached on longer park drives.
Ngare Ndare Forest
An indigenous forest with a 450 m canopy walkway, ancient cedars and a walk to waterfalls and clear swimming pools.
Chogoria Gate, Mount Kenya National Park
The eastern gate for the scenic Chogoria route to Point Lenana at 4985 m, climbed over 4 to 5 days with a guide.
Lake Ellis
A glacial lake on the Chogoria route and its usual first camp, with views to Mugi Hill and the Giants Billiards Table.
Best hotels in Meru and Mount Kenya East
Elewana Elsa's Kopje
The luxury lodge inside the park, built into Mughwango Hill above George Adamson's original camp, with vast views.
Rhino River Camp
A small tented camp in riverine forest on the Kindani River, with game drives, bush walks and fishing for residents.
iKWETA Safari Camp
A full board tented camp 2 km outside Murera Gate, the sensible mid range base for park drives without luxury rates.
Alba Hotel Meru
The strongest town hotel, in quiet Milimani with a pool and restaurants, for services and onward transport links.
Bwatherongi Bandas
KWS self catering bandas on the Bwatherongi River with hot showers and a pool, the cheapest way to sleep in the park.
Meru Mount Kenya Bandas
Self catering KWS bandas near Chogoria Gate at about 3000 m, the standard first or last night on a Chogoria climb.
Is Meru and Mount Kenya East expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | KES 15,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | KES 38,000 a person |
| Splurge | KES 90,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Meru National Park: a few days ahead
- Ngare Ndare Forest: a few days ahead
- Chogoria Gate, Mount Kenya National Park: weeks ahead
- Lake Ellis: a few days ahead
- Elewana Elsa's Kopje: weeks ahead
- Rhino River Camp: weeks ahead
- iKWETA Safari Camp: a few days ahead
- Bwatherongi Bandas: a few days ahead
- Book Elsa's Kopje, Rhino River Camp and Chogoria climbs weeks ahead in dry season.
- Book KWS bandas ahead through official channels, especially June to September and January to February.
- Confirm Rhino River Camp is operating for your dates directly before counting on it.
Is Meru and Mount Kenya East safe?
- Security operations continue in parts of Meru County; check for local operations before driving remote northern and eastern parts of the county.
- Avoid driving rural tracks after dark, and follow lodge, KWS and guide instructions inside the parks.
- On Mount Kenya, ascend over at least 4 days for Point Lenana, report altitude symptoms early and carry evacuation insurance.
Meru and Mount Kenya East travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Sleeping in Meru town and expecting a relaxed park day, given the 70 to 85 km gate transfer.
- Underestimating park fees at USD 70 per non resident adult per day for Meru and for Mount Kenya.
- Carrying miraa across an international border, where it is controlled or prohibited in many countries.
Getting around Meru and Mount Kenya East: public transport and more
- Nairobi to Meru is 5 to 6 hours by road. Meru town to Murera Gate is a further 70 to 85 km and needs a high clearance 4WD.
- The Chogoria track needs 4WD and can become impassable at the top in wet conditions. Build in a rain buffer.
- Matatus link Meru town with Chogoria, Maua and Nanyuki but do not reach park gates. Arrange gate transfers through your lodge or camp.
Who Meru and Mount Kenya East suits
| Solo travellers | OK |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Meru and Mount Kenya East your trip
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