5-Day Meru, Ol Pejeta and Mount Kenya Safari

The private road safari leaves Nairobi for Meru National Park through the central highlands around Mount Kenya. On arrival, the afternoon game drive introduces Meru’s grassland, thornbush and riverine habitats. The guide looks for the wildlife present around the park’s watercourses and open viewing areas, allowing time to observe behaviour at the sightings encountered. The outing provides the introduction to Meru’s landscape and Born Free heritage before returning to the Meru base for the first of two nights.

The full Meru day combines morning and afternoon game drives. The programme includes wildlife viewing in the rhino sanctuary and the heritage stop at Elsa the lioness’s grave, following designated park access. The guide explains the connection with the Born Free story before continuing through the park’s riverine woodland and open-country habitats. The afternoon outing includes birdwatching and viewing along the Rojewero River area, with the wildlife encountered shaping the time spent at sightings. The second night remains at the Meru base.

The road safari leaves Meru and travels around the Mount Kenya region towards Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The arrival-afternoon game drive explores the conservancy’s open grassland and woodland, with the guide interpreting the conservation setting and the wildlife encountered. The day includes the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit, introducing the care of rescued chimpanzees and the sanctuary’s conservation work. The programme follows the conservancy’s visiting schedule and returns to the Ol Pejeta base for the first of two nights.

The full Ol Pejeta day includes the northern white rhino visit, with the conservancy team explaining the animals’ care and conservation. Daytime game drives explore additional grassland and woodland viewing areas, searching for rhinos and the other wildlife present along permitted routes. Time in the field combines observation with the guide’s explanation of the conservancy. A night game drive remains optional and paid for separately. The programme returns to the same Ol Pejeta base for the second night.

A final morning game drive at Ol Pejeta provides another opportunity to observe the conservancy’s wildlife before departure. After returning to the base for checkout, the private road journey heads towards Nairobi through the Mount Kenya foothills and central highlands. The route passes the Karatina and Sagana corridor, with views towards the mountain where visibility allows. This is a scenic road-return stage, completing the five-day Meru and Ol Pejeta safari without a separate Mount Kenya park excursion.