Meru National Park is located on the equator, near Mount Kenya and is part of a vast conservation area along the Tana River encompassing Meru and Kora National Parks and the adjacent National Reserves of Bisanadi and Mwingi, with a total area of over 4,000 sq. kilometres.
Meru National Park contains numerous rivers and waterways including the mighty Tana river and varied habitats of swamp, riverine forest, savannah and dry bush country. Meru's proximity to Mount Kenya and the Nyambeni Hills ensures reasonable rainfall in the western half of the park, but in the eastern part it is generally dry and can be extremely hot.
Of all the Kenya parks, Meru presents the widest variety of landscapes. The varied habitats contain a wide diversity of wildlife species including elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, zebra, some of Kenya's largest herds of buffalo and a variety of antelopes including waterbuck, Oryx, lesser Kudu, duiker and dik-dik. The rivers abound with hippo and crocodiles. Birdlife is also abundant especially during the northern migration (October-March).
This vast park is one of the least visited of Kenya's wildlife areas and there are few tourist vehicles to be seen. Meru was formerly the home of Elsa, the lioness reared from a cub by George and Joy Adamson and made famous in the film Born Free.
Accomodation
Accommodation is at the Elsa's Kopje Lodge, one of the most imaginatively designed lodges in Kenya, consisting of 8 stone and thatched cottages set on a hillside in the centre of the park with spectacular views over the wilderness.
Game drives and escorted bush walks are organised by the lodge management. A swimming pool is a welcome facility for guests during the heat of the day.
