Meru National Park

Meru National Park Birding & Wildlife Safari

Covering 870 square kilometers along the equator, Meru National Park is one of Kenya’s most celebrated yet least-crowded birding destinations. The park is traversed by 14 permanent rivers and countless mountain-fed streams, creating a lush and varied ecosystem that supports a remarkable diversity of birds and wildlife. Located on the relatively rainy eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, Meru’s landscapes range from open savanna to riverine forests, swamps, and acacia woodlands—offering birders an exciting mix of habitats to explore. This is a prime birding sanctuary, home to a wide array of resident and migratory species.

Meru National Park also forms part of a larger protected wilderness. To the east, it continues into Bisanadi National Reserve, while across the Tana River to the south lie North Kitui National Reserve and the vast Kora National Park. Together, they create an extensive conservation area teeming with birdlife, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery.

Meru National Park gets most of its waters from Nyambene Hills, the park gets progressively drier as you head southeast towards the Tana River, where the altitude averages around 300 meters and temperatures are correspondingly higher, owing to the many south-east-flowing Rivers, much of the park feels like an assortment of long islands sandwiched between the rivers, with park roads gyrating back and forth over crossing points. These beautiful clear streams, lined in the upper reaches with lush riverine forests and in places forming open swampy areas, provide an authentic haven for river and wetland bird species. Meru National Park sweeping grasslands give way in the East at altitudes dipping below 400 meters about (1300 feet) to despairingly dense Commiphora thickets and dry grey thorns interspersed with towering baobabs rooted in dusty red soil.

Meru National  Park has more than 300 bird species recorded a reflection of the many contrasting habitats found within it, which is a remarkable and immensely enriching birding destination in Kenya. This legendary birdy park is one of the top birding destinations in Kenya, offering a year-round birding experience, with cool mornings and pleasant days.

Meru National Park is a convergence zone for coastal and inland birds that are usually well isolated geographically. Meru National Park is a great place to find corresponding dry country birds, including Somali Ostrich, Red-winged Lark, Swallow-tailed Kite, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Somali Courser, Golden Pipit, and Tsavo Sunbird. Aside from dry scrub, other habitats to search out include grasslands and riverine forests. This varied habitat mix makes Meru a dynamic birding experience.

Wildlife is abundant as well. Meru National Park has a huge number of Elephants that normally graze together; the number can go up to 300 in one herd. There is also a successful Black Rhino sanctuary that has a flourishing population. North of Equator mammal species are also encountered in Meru  National Park, such as the rare Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk, and Naked Mole Rat.

Notable and interesting bird species in Meru National Park;

White-eared Barbet, Black and White Flycatcher, African Finfoot, Hinde’s Babbler, Black-headed Lapwing, Quail Plover, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Swallow-tailed Kite, Eastern Yellow Hornbill, Golden Pipit, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Somali Bee-eater, Heuglin’s Courser, Taita Falcon, Pangani Longclaw, White Helmetshrike, Pygmy Batis, Northern Brownbul, Donaldson-smith Nightjar, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Grasshopper Buzzard, Eastern Crested Guineafowl, Shining Sunbird.

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