Meru National Park

Remote, rugged and prominently unspoilt, Meru National Park sits on an 870 sq.km area. The park is largely set in the wilderness yet strikingly beautiful. Few places and spaces compare to this great destination.

The park borders Bisanadi National Reserve to the north east and Kora National Park to the south east.

Meru Park prides itself for the history of the coming together of Joy Adamson’s best-selling book “Born Free”. The script is based on the Adamsons’ lives and research on lions and cheetahs. George and his spouse Joy Adamson are best known through the movie Born Free. The movie based on a true story of Elsa the lioness; an orphaned cub they had had rescued, raised and later released into the wild. This story line is a great puller of safari lovers to the park.

Wildlife

Grevy's Zebra, Elephants, Eland, Bush Pig, Waterbuck, Cheetah, Leopard, Reticulated Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Bohor Reedbuck, Hartebeest, Python, Puff Udder, Cobra, Buffalo, more than 427 recorded species of birds

Birds

More than 427 recorded species

Vegetation

Mainly thorny bush land in the North, wooded grasslands in the West and open grassland elsewhere. The park also offer dense riverine forests of Doum and Raffia palm

Climate

Parks are part of Semi-arid zone and have irregular rainfalls. Wet seasons are April- June and November- December. Rainfall is 635-762mm in the west and 305-356mm in the east

What to take with you

Whether camping or just visiting for a day trip, visitors are advised to carry with them the following; personal effects, clean drinking water, food, camping equipment if the visitor intends to stay overnight. Also important are; Camera, binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellant, first aid kit, sunglasses, appropriate hiking gear and reserve car fuel.

Park Size

870 sq. Km

The lions of Meru are a great puller of visitors into the park and tie to the story of George and Joy Adamson and the setting of the movie and book Born Free. Great rewards await avid bird watchers as the bird life is exceptionally diverse. The park teems with a variety of wildlife species including elephant, Grevy zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, black rhino, hartebeest, hippo, buffalo and the reticulated giraffe among others.

Visitors can enjoy game viewing, camping, picnicking, hiking and swimming near Kinna cottages.

Visitors can savor the rich culture of the Ameru and Borana communities in the cultural villages. Borana culture at Bisanadi gate, Tharaka culture at Ura gate.

Other attractions include: Tana River, Nyambene Hills Ranges, Adamson’s Falls and Rapids, Elsa’s Grave, Pippa’s Grave, Mwariama Mau Mau Post Office, Mt. Kenya, The Equator, Inselbergs, Kopjes, Swamps and natural springs.