Rhino River Camp Meru
Welcome to Rhino river camp in extraordinary Meru national park, Kenya, where the legend of Elsa the lioness began. It is your perfect base to explore the complete wilderness of Meru park and its amazing wildlife. At the Rhino sanctuary gate, you meet 1 of the most rare and endangered animals on earth. The camp is in 80 acres of privately owned wilderness. It offers the chance to connect with nature and to delight the senses in unspoilt bush and forest. You can also watch wildlife, indulging in a massage, go on a hike or soak up the sun.
Accommodation
The very design of Rhino river camp, contemporary with a hint of Africa, is pleasant without being intrusive. Add to that a swimming pool to dream of, a well-stocked bar and restaurant area. There are numerous nature trails for you to explore this private property on foot or bike. Five of the tents are built out of sumptuous caramel canvas and sustainably grown wood, raised on platforms. This will turn your stay at Rhino river camp into a quiet, exclusive experience. Two tents face the forest for those who prefer to be away from the sound of Kindani rivers. Two of the river facing tents have their own private zen area where you can meditate, read or simply unwind.
Rooms
Five of the 7 comfortable and uniquely designed canvas tents of the camp are built on wooden decks suspended among the trees of the pristine forest edging Kindani river. The tents are spacious, and set on decks at different levels blending with the tree canopy and two tents are in the forest. They make the perfect retreat and ideal location from which to feel part of the living, breathing environment of the riverine forest. The riverside tents all have a view over the river with sweeping boughs of raffia palms, yellow fever trees, and tamarinds. The canvas cottages are scattered above a wild stream or in the private forest thus ensuring a private and peaceful stay in the most romantic setting imaginable.
Facilities
Rhino river camp has a large central public area with a bar, lounge, and a library. It has a view over the river and the whole forest. The adjacent dining area is open from early to late. With no set meal times, and exclusive service, indulge your appetite and senses. You may decide to eat in the main area or beside the swimming pool, in the privacy of the terrace of your room, or with other guests whom you like, or even in the bush. The swimming pool is situated next to the stream, and surrounded by comfortable wood decking. The pool blends in with the sound and sight of the river running a few feet away giving you the feeling that you are swimming as a creature of the equatorial forest at one with nature. And finally, you’ll find an open-plan shop with bespoke African items of unusual design.
Activities
Whether it’s spotting the big game or delicate bird species that only the Kenyan wilderness can offer, or letting all those little stresses melt away with a therapeutic massage, a stay at Rhino River Camp can fill every moment with pure enjoyment.
Game drives
Meru national park is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife. Our four-wheel drive vehicles and professional guides are at your disposal to explore the bush at your pace, and to enjoy a vivid, personal connection with some of the magnificent creatures that call this area home. Seen in their natural habitat, far from the minibus crowds, the animals of Meru afford the visitor a wonderful experience of African wilderness and raw, unspoilt nature, complemented by the beautiful landscapes visible at every turn. You are likely to see rhino, lion, cheetah, elephant, buffaloes, reticulated giraffes, and many more. Not to mention birdlife which in Meru is peculiarly diverse. Our guides are all members of the Kenya Professional safari guides association.
New at the camp
The Born free foundation is undertaking an informal lion census in Kenya which would greatly benefit from the “casual” help of visitors on safari. Rhino river camp is pleased to be part of this census and is asking its guests to participate by taking with them the attached lion sighting form while on a game drive.
Bush meals
Ask us to arrange for a bush breakfast or a bush lunch. This will allow you to spend more time on your game drive not to mention the thrill and the pleasure of having a meal into the wilderness of Africa.
Bush walks
In our privately owned compound we have carved a few paths which will allow you to walk comfortably around our pristine environment on foot. The paths are specially selected to bring you along places where you are most likely to see unusual birds, and many other small creatures around camp. You can also leave the confines of the lodge and visit on foot the nearby farms, villages or simply the countryside.
Hiking
We will bring you in our vehicle at the foothill of Kilimanjaro an extinct small volcano at just 4km away. The crater can be easily climbed to discover the small forest hidden inside it, and to enjoy 360° views over the park from its rim. The more energetic could walk to the discovery of the Kiolu river falls: magnificently encompassed by a steep rock amphitheatre, the falls are a hidden secret reward.
Sundowners
Sundowners are the ideal way to end your day. Enjoy a drink with a view from the small crater “Kilimajero” which is at a short distance from Rhino river camp. The setting sun on the Nyambeni hills will add to your enjoyment. Or ask us to arrange for a sundowner in one of the spots we have selected into the park.
Massages
After a busy day of adventure in the bush, why not relax completely with a massage or treatment from our skilled masseuse? A break at Rhino River Camp is a break away from the stresses, deadlines and worries of a busy life back home, so take this opportunity to indulge yourself in the beautiful surroundings of Meru.(Extra Cost)
Fishing
Enjoy a morning of casting your line in one of the many rivers of Meru national park.
Meru national park
The park is fringed on its western boundary by Nyambeni hills which rise up to 2,500m above sea level. These hills, with pockets of forests, act as water catchment system. Thus they are the source of 13 rivers that cut across the park. Such abundance of water flowing through the arid part creates a mosaic of habitats making Meru one of the most diverse parks in the whole Africa. Swamps, forests, savannah, sparse and thick bush follow one another producing an astonishing and varied landscape with no parallel in many other parts of East Africa. These extremely diverse vegetation type and cover has abundant and diverse wildlife. Meru is part of an area being contiguous with Bisanadi national reserves and Kora national park to its south.
