Meru National Park:  -Safaris, Camping, Tours, Car Hire, Lodges

Location:

Meru National Park is located in Meru Country in Kenya's Eastern Province below the eastern slopes of Nyambene Hills. The local people bordering Meru National Park Meru are the Meru and the Borana. Meru National Park lies 85 Km east of Meru town. Meru National Park is managed by  Kenya wildlife service on behalf of the Central Government. 

Area: 

The Meru Conservation Area comprises of 40,000 km2 covering Meru National park, Bisinadi National Park and Kora National Park, Mwingi, North Kitui and Rahore Nature Reserves.  Meru National Park alone has an area of 870 km2 and lies at an altitude of between 1,000-3,400 Ft above sea level. Meru National Park comprises of that triangle between Rivers Murera and Tana.

Getting to Meru National Park:

Drive/fly from Nairobi.  From Meru town you can easily hire a car to the park from the Meru tour operator office:- R&N Xplorer Africa Safaris, 1st Flr. Doris House, Tom Mboya Street, Tel:+254 723 684 974, Email: rnxploresafaris@gmail.com . We are open everyday of the week between 08:00-17:00 Hrs. 

Roads to Meru National Park:

Meru National park is linked to Nairobi by all whether road via Murera gate.  There are two routes:-

• From Nairobi (348 kms), via Nyeri-Nanyuki-Meru-Mau-Murera Gate via all weather road. 

• From Nairobi (348 kms), via Embu-Meru- Mau-Murera gate via all weather roads. The junction to the park is before you reach Mau town. 

• Gates include-Murera, Bisanadi, Ura. 

Vehicle:  All the main roads in Meru National Park have been upgraded. Thus the park can be accessed by a two wheel drive vehicle.   If you are careful, you can drive with a Sedan/Saloon car upto Leopard, Rock/ Meru Mulika Lodges. However to fully enjoy the Meru park, you need a 4WD.

Meru National Park is wild and one of the most beautiful parks in Kenya, ideal for camping, picnics wildlife adventures and safaris. With 14 permanent rivers and numerous springs, it is a green paradise compared to dry savannah of Kenya’s parks.  Meru is also referred to as “ Born free” country, Kenya's best kept secret.  In the wilds of Meru National Park, Joy Adamson wrote the book “Born Free”, detailing her research on cheetahs and lions. It is also here that Elsa the lioness was raised, and buried.  

Habitats:

Meru's habitats include, Woodlands, wide open plains, riverine.

Attractions & Physical Features In Meru National Park:

• Mammals-Meru has a large mammal population including- Lion, elephant, cheetah, leopard ,Lesser Kudu, duiker,  Dik Dik, buffalo, reticulated giraffes (Endangered), black and white rhinos, Grevy's zebra   (Endangered), eland, Oryx, Impalas,  buffaloes. Black and white Rhinos ( Endangered). Aquatic life include hippo and crocodile. Fishing for barbus and catfish is permitted at camp sites and along the Tana River.

• Over 300 species of birds recorded in Meru National Park.

• Pippa's Grave- Pipa was leopard brought up by Joy Adamson.

• Elsa's Grave-Elsa was the lioness of the born free fame.

• Swamps- Mughwango, Mulika, Bwatherongi, Mururi and Leopard Rock.  Animals congregate in the swamps during dry season

• Rivers- Meru has a total of 14 permanent rivers and numerous streams including Murera, Rojowero, Kiolu, Ura, Bwatherongi

• Rhino Sanctuary:  The rhino sanctuary can be accessed from Murera gate.

In the 1970's Meru National Park boasted of more than three hundred Black Rhinos.  By 1997, this population had been reduced to zero. The plan right now is to re-introduce about 30 Black Rhinos.  After the 1989 massacre of the Rhinos in Meru National Park, the lone survivor Mukora was trans-located to Lake Nakuru National Park. Now he is back to his home once more.  In 2002, seven White Rhinos, including Mukora were once more re-introduced to Meru from Lake Nakuru National Park.

Restocking Meru National Park has seen 66 Elephants trans-located from Laikipia Private ranches like Sweet Waters game sanctuary & Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Whole families have been trans-located to avoid disruption of family bonds.

Besides Elephants and Rhinos other translocations to Meru National Park include:-

• 20 Grevy's Zebra. The Grevy's Zebra is highly venerable to extinction.

• In 2003, 39 reticulated giraffes were trans-located to Meru National Park from Lewa Conservancy. This makes a total of 51 of these rare species in Meru park.

Accommodation in Meru National Park:  

Lodges, Camp sites and Bandas.:

• Meru Mulika Lodge ( Temporally closed for renovation)

• Leopard Rock Lodge: The leopard Rock Lodge has been renovated into a high class eco-lodge for those who desire luxury in the wild with room rates of over USD 300 per person per night. The facilities in the lodge include conference room, swimming pool, Jacuzzi...With 15 luxury cottages built over a stretch of 3.5 Km along a river Murera frontage.  It is ideal for privacy.  Across the River is Bisinadi National Park.

• Eksa's Kopje: Located on Mughwango Hill, the Elsa's Kopje is on the original site of Adamson's Camp. It derives its name from Elsa the Lioness of the born free fame.  Each of the 9 cottages is  luxuriously appointed with beautiful views of the surrounding country.  The lodge offers game drives, bush walks fishing, bush breakfasts, sundowners, night game drives, rafting and fishing on the Tana River, massage, swimming and open air bath.

• KWS Bandas: Not to be left behind, the KWS runs their  best bandas in Meru National Park.

• Camping & Campsites : There are numerous campsites through out the park.

Accommodation in Meru Town Hotels/Meru Hotels

Meru is a small agricultural town on the slopes of Mt.  Kenya. Budget hotels exist in Meru town.  The hotels in Meru town include the following:-

• Blue Towers Hotel- So far the best place to stay located at Makutano, Meru town on the junction of Meru Mau Road. Look for Mobile Petrol Station.  The only drawback to this property is that its near the main road.

• White Star Hotel along the Meru Mau road before you reach Kaaga

• Meru County Hotel- This is the biggest property in Meru town.

• Meru Safari Hotel

• Milimani Hotel

• Pig & Whistle

Attractions within Meru Town

Meru town is an agricultural centre.  Tourism is not prevalent thus if you desire a hassle free cool place, you can use it as a base to explore the slopes of Mt. Kenya and Laikipia.  The town is surrounded by agricultural farmlands.  Wheat and horticulture plantations occupy the Timau region adjacent to Lewa Conservancy.  An interested visitor with intentions to mingle with the locals can sample the following.

• Meru National Museum: The Meru Museum is an ethnographic exhibiting the Meru Culture.

• The Njuri Ncheke (Council of elders) headquarters to learn how justice was dispensed in the old days among the Meru.

• The Gakoromone open air market for stocking up and chatting with the locals.  Just carry loose change to use in the market and be careful of pick pockets.

• Visits to Meru Golf Club for swimming.  The pool is good and its rarely used.

• Lake Nkunga picnic site can be visited with arrangement.

• Rukunga's private museum

Tour operator Car Hire/Rental to Meru National Park

 R&N Xplorer Africa Safaris-Located at Doris House, Tom Mboya Street, Meru town, Tel:+254 723 684 974, car hire/rental and safaris to Meru National Park and the surrounding conservation blocks of parks of Mt.Kenya National Park, Samburu, Buffalo springs, Kora and private game ranches of Ol Pejeta conservancy and Lewa Down.

To the East of Meru National park lies Bisinadi National Reserve. It is located at the border of Meru and the Borana people. Opened in 1979 it occupies an area of 606 Km².  It accessible by 4WD vehicles is ideal for camping. There is an airstrip at Korbessa.

Kora National Park :  Across Tana River from Meru National Park.  Covering an area of 1,787 square kilometers. It is in this park that George Adamson was murdered in his camp. Kora is full of Inselbergs, rocky outcrops covered with vegetation that seem to appear randomly above the plains.  Mammal life include elephant, Lesser Kudu, wild dog, striped and spotted hyenas, leopard and cheetah.   21 species of fish have been recorded, with 500 species of insect, 33 molluscs and 40 reptiles.

Other parks in this block include Rahole National Reserve, offering a wide variety of plains game, hippo, crocodile and excellent bird viewing; also Mwingi National Reserve, formerly North Kitui. Game to view includes hippo, crocodile, buffalo and warthog.