Kenya Basic Facts:
Kenya is probably Africa’s most popular safari destination. Its abundance and diversity of wildlife combined with stunning and different scenery makes the Country the favourite among Nature and Africa’s wildlife lovers.
Location:
Kenya is located on the equator in Eastern Africa. See GoogleMap
Area
582,650 sq km. (Slightly more than the size of France)
Population:
Around 32 million people.
Capital City:
Nairobi
Language:
English (official), Kiswahili (official), as well as numerous indigenous languages.
Climate:
It is difficult to generalize about the climate of Kenya. Being quite a big country spreading from a semi-desert extreme North, to highlands with temperate climate, to a coastline influenced by seasonal monsoons, the best is to get advice about each location one wishes to visit.
We’ll be happy to help to the best of our knowledge about the prevailing climate in any particular area or region of Kenya.
When to go:
Again, it depends on where you want to go. Generally May and November are considered low-season times inland when it is supposed to rain.
While July is unpleasant, wet and hot in the coastal area.
But please seek advice from ourselves depending on the locations where you want to spend your holidays.
See Meru National Parks Facts & Tips to check the climate for Rhino River Camp and the best time to visit.
Currency:
Kenyan Shilling, click here for a currency converter.
Getting to Kenya:
Many international airlines fly into both Nairobi and Mombasa direct from Europe and the Middle East.
Visas:
Most foreigners (except Ugandans and Tanzanians) need a visa to enter Kenya.
Our advise is to download the Visa PDF form from this link
Then fill it and present it at the Visa desk at your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi or at Moi Airport in Mombasa.
Tip: This simple procedure will save you a lot of time because if you don’t have the form already filled you must search for a blank one at arrival and fill it in a queue! Instead, if you have it ready and filled you go straight from your plane to the immigration desk.
In any case you need with you a valid passport with at least two blank pages.
To avoid disappointment please check further regulations that might apply to your own nationality at: www.immigration.go.ke/.
Transfers & Travel in Kenya:
If you have booked Rhino River Camp directly, or through any fine Travel Agent, you don’t have to worry about internal transfers and arrangements in Kenya! As soon as you clear customs you’ll be taken care of by our people at the airport.
Health:
Health is a very sensitive and personal issue. There are several sites dealing with health precautions when travelling to Africa or to Kenya. We do not feel appropriate to recommend one or another. We think that everyone should take the best advise she or he can take from personal doctors, advisors, web sites, or public entities which she/he trusts as reliable.
As an advise without prejudice we think that travelling within Kenya entrusting reliable operators to take care of the choice of itineraries, regions, and accommodation sites would and should not cause any major health concern. The likeliness of getting a serious disease in places suggested and chosen by major Travel Agents and Tour Operators is minimal.
Basic Facts:
- 350 km from Nairobi by road either via Nanyuki or via Embu. Roads all tarmac up to the main gate of the Park (Murera Gate).
- 50 minutes flying time from Wilson airport (Wilson is the domestic hub of Nairobi) landing at Kinna airstrip (tarmac).
- Park itself is 870 square km. All the tracks of the Park are very well maintained and signposted with numbers at every junction.
See also: KWS park website for more basic facts.
Please download a map of Meru N.P. in PDF here (PDF, 840kb).
Climate:
In general days are warm and nights cool in Meru N.P. Rains are normally concentrated in the months of April-May and in November.
Despite the fact that these months are considered low-season in Kenya’s safari destinations, Meru can be considered an exception.
In facts the roads within the Park are manageable even during rains and visitors can enjoy the lush vegetation associated with the rains themselves.
Bottom line: Meru is a all-year round destination even if visitors tend to concentrate on Dec-Feb and Jun- Oct periods.
Rhino River Camp enjoys a micro-climate of its own. Being along a stream and built along the riparian forest it is cooler than most of Meru Park. It is just refreshing to arrive at the Camp after a morning or an afternoon game drive in the heat of the plains.
Health and Hazards:
Malaria is not particularly virulent in Meru N.P. At Rhino River Camp one hardly see mosquitoes (the running water of the river is not the habitat for mosquito’s larvae). However it is advisable to take precautions. Best of which is using skin repellants and possibly the ones containing a percentage of DEET. The rooms are all netted thus minimizing the possibility of insects coming inside.
Rhino River Camp is just outside the electrified fence of the Park therefore there are not potentially dangerous animals such as elephants, rhinos, or buffaloes inside the compound.
Walking through the camp is therefore safe. However, we suggest to go with one of our guides if you really want to explore all the wilderness of the camp.
Within the Camp guests can enjoy the sights and sounds over 180 species of different colourful birds, together with resident mammals that include Syke’s monkeys, baboons, dik diks, bush babies, porcupines, and the occasional bush buck.
Rhino River Camp and beyond: adventures in East Africa.
We can organise your trip to Rhino River Camp but also beyond, taking care of every detail and thus letting you just relax and enjoy your time under the African sun.
Take the stress out of planning and let us prepare and organise transport, transfers, excursions, lodges, game drives and much more. Just let us know your interests and “wish list”: we’ll do our best to suit them.
We have preferential rates from Air Kenya and various charterers from Nairobi or Nanyuki to Meru. If you wish to fly to Rhino River Camp please let us know and we’ll make sure that you can enjoy these rates.
Please, Contact us for any further information
Suggested Itineraries
In order for you to fully enjoy a Safari in Kenya, we prepared a few itineraries which also include Samburu and Masai Mara in the Saruni Lodges at the same high standard of design, service, cuisine and activities as Rhino River Camp.
Click here to find out more about our suggested itineraries.
