Meru National Park Accommodation In Meru Elsa Kopje Lodge Offbeat Meru Camp Meru Mulika lodge New leopard rock lodge Kindani camp site Bwatherongi KWS bands  Murera bandas Camp sites View the Kenya Safari/Tourist Circuit

Meru National Park - 870 sq km Managed by Kenya Wildlife Service       Meru is a pleasantly remote and little visited reserve lying to the east of Mount Kenya. The landscape is generally undulating, with larger hills and kopjes in some areas, mainly scrub covered, but with some patches of more open grassland and some considerable riverine forest, all playing host to a wide range of game. Meru was virtually poached out in the 1980's by Somali raiders, but security is long since restored and game has recovered greatly, especially thanks to some animal reintroduction programs in recent years. Meru National Park is wild and beautiful. Straddling the equator and bisected by 13 rivers and numerous mountain-fed streams, it is an especially beautiful area of Kenya. It has diverse scenery from woodlands at 3,400ft(1,036m) on the slopes of Nyambeni Mountain Range, north east of Mt. Kenya, to wide open plains with meandering riverbanks dotted with doum palms. Game to view includes: lion, elephant, cheetah, leopard black rhino, zebra, gazelle, oryx and some of the rarer antelope, Lesser Kudu and duiker, also the more common Dik Dik, one of Africa’s smallest antelope. Large prides of lion can be seen and some of Kenya’s largest herds of buffalo. The rivers abound with hippo and crocodile, fishing for barbus and catfish is permitted at camp sites and along the Tana River. In the mid 1980’s, the Park suffered from poaching, however KWS armed wildlife security patrols have driven out the poachers and the elephant population has stabilised with breeding herds settling down. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded, including: Red-necked falcon, Heuglins courser, brown-backed woodpecker, sunbirds Peter’s Finfoot, inhabiting the Murera and Ura Rivers; Pel’s Fishing Owl, kingfishers, rollers, bee-eaters, starlings and weavers. The Park is most famous as the setting for Joy Adamson’s book “Born Free”, the story of the Adamson’s life and research amongst lion and cheetah. “Elsa” the lioness was the most well-known and her grave is marked here. There is one lodge (132 beds) and two tented camps are planned. There are 8 special campsites which must be pre-booked, one public campsites;Elsa camp, KWS self-help bandas and Leopard Rock bands. There are two routes to Meru national park from Nairobi. The first is the main road via Nyeri, Nanyuki and Meru, the second is via Embu-Meru road. It offers the best approach via the Ura gate. Dry weather route from Meru is through Mathara and Kangeta towards Maua turning left on the Kinna road leading to the National park gate. There are airstrips and leopard rock or Meru Mulika lodge.   The lead camp in the area is undoubtedly the fabulous Elsa's Kopje, whilst Offbeat Meru Camp provides a rather more earthy bush experience at a much lower cost. Safari Activities at Meru National Park:   Game viewing fishing bird watching hiking boating and rafting   Access Roads:    Access from Nairobi is via Nyeri-Nanyuki-Meru or via Embu all weather roads. Access into the park from Maua to Murera gate (35km) and 348km from Nairobi. The other access is via Embu to Ura gate (120km),290km from Nairobi. Parks Roads:   The road network in the park has been upgraded and is usable. However use of 4x4 vehicles is recommended. Airstrip:   Three

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