What to do in Meru

Among Kenya’s safari greats, Meru is often forgotten. The setting for the real-life story of Born Free, it’s one of the few places in the country where it’s possible to see black rhino in the wild. The biodiversity is astounding with giant herds of elephant, prides of lion, buffalo, hippo and over 400 species of birdlife (you may even see a Pel’s fishing owl) congregating along the swampy riverbanks. Apart from being a hard-won sanctuary for both black and white rhinos, Meru is also home to rare species like gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra. Take in this epic scene (mostly free from other tourists) on game drives and walking safaris, punctuated by picnics along the river.