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Meru National Park is a
holiday destination of choice for nature lovers and
adventurous alike. It is a beautiful paradise for Wildlife safaris and adventures, sight seeing, camping and
relaxation. Also called Elsa's Country, Meru National Park is
a complete wilderness off the beaten tracks away yet within close
vicinity of the civilization. The Park is 4 and half hours
(385 Km) from Nairobi or approximately 45 minutes flights from
Wilson Airport.
Meru is a safari
destination for those passionate about wildlife. It is a
prime game watching destination with a history of exceptional
wildlife encounters. It is in Meru National Park that Joy
and George Adamson raised Elsa, the lioness of "born free
fame", a story re-told in "living free" and "forever free".
Elsa was among three lion cubs raised up in the wilderness of
Meru National Park. While two cubs were donated to a zoo
in Germany, Joy opted to be left with the most popular of the
cubs, Elsa. Things were good for both Elsa and Joy.
However nothing lasts forever. Joy being a compassionate
wildlife conservationist was determined to see Elsa living
freely in the wilderness mating and bringing up her own cubs.
Being a domestic cat, Elsa's survival in the wild was limited.
She was venerable, knew not how to hunt and she had no pride.
The Adamson's had to teach her how to hunt and identify a
friendly pride to adopt her. Their fears were real. Elsa's
attempt to attack a warthog was disastrous an the warthog turned
on her and chased her the way back to the car. One day after
being left with the prospective pride, Elsa returned back to the
camp. Keeping a mature female lion in their camp was even
dangerous as she could easily attract wild male lions.
However by and by all that starts well ends well. Elsa was
successfully integrated into the wild and even had her own cubs.
When she died, Adamson buried her in Meru National Park. Elsa's
grave attracts lots of pilgrims and is one of the main
attractions in Meru Park.
Meru is a big game
destination. It has large herds of elephants and features a Rhino Rhino Sanctuary.
Animals population is moderate and species representations is
quite impressive. In the park are lions, leopards,
buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, reticulated giraffes, grevy's
zebras, warthogs, lots of baboons, topis, dik diks, gazelles,
waterbucks, impalas an oryx. On the river banks and pools
are crocodiles and hippos. Bird live is exceptional with
over 300 species recorded. Bird species in the park include the
unlikely King of the bird, the Hamerkop and the stately Somali
Ostrich. Others include egrets, weavers, white eyes, francolins,
guinea fowls including the vulturine guinea fowl and many more.
With all these, a safari game drive is quite a spectacle of
sorts. The best safari game drives are at dawn or at dusk.
Dawns are particularly ideal as animals are rising up and
preparing for a day. In the wild, days are longer than you
think. Animals have to keep on their toes. The
appearance of a big predator like a lion causes lots of unease
or even a stampid. A well coordinated lion hunting is a
sight to behold.
Attractions in Meru Park
Besides the Elsa story
and wildlife another important attraction in Meru Park is the
climate. Unlike other savannah parks, Meru is lush. This
is attributed to the parks location on the eastern slopes of
Nyambene hills, a source of 13 permanent streams. This
makes it the most watered park in Kenya. Mt Kenya is
clearly visible from every corner of the park.
A
gorgeous, Friendly and Welcoming people
Tourism is
about people meeting and interacting with other people and
enjoying the hospitality there off. The larger Meru
conservation area is a cultural melting pot. The success of
the Park is intertwined to the generosity of the local communities. To
the west of the park on the slopes of Nyambene hills are the
agricultural Meru with hectares of
Miraa (Catha edulis)
Tea and
Coffee . Other communities bordering the park are Kamba
,the Borana and
Orma pastoralists. A safari to the Park is not
only about the big five experience but also a good opportunity to
meet and interact with these
communities, learn about their culture with long traditions of
conservation. Always bear in mind that without their sacrifice,
there would be no Meru Park.
Unique Settings for Memorable Stay
Though limited, accommodation in the park is diverse.
Luxury facilities like
Leopard Rock
Lodge,
Elsa's Kopje
Lodge,
Rhino River Camp and Off Beat Camp
are well complimented by mid range and budget properties.
These facilities enjoy spectacular settings and offer high notch
service. The staff in these facilities are helpful and
will go an extra mile to make your stay memorable. Murera
River Lodge, Kinna Guest House and
Ikweta
Safari Camp are in
mid range category. Meru has some of the best
self catering Bandas in the country. (Bwatherongi, Murera and Kinna
are run by KWS). Camping opportunities exist. There are numerous
campsites through out the park. Special Campsites include
Kampi Baridi; Kitanga; Makutano; Rojoweru; Mugunga; Ken Mare and
Kanjoo. These ones have no facilities and prior booking is
required.
Public
campsites with showers are available at Bwatherongi Banda Enquire from Meru tour
operator/travel agent -R&N Xplorer Africa Safaris.
Area:
The greater Meru Conservation Area comprises
of 40,000 km2 covering Meru,
Bisinadi and
Kora parks, Mwingi, North Kitui and Rahore Nature Reserves.
Meru alone has an area of 870 km2 and lies at an
altitude of between 1,000-3,400 Ft above sea level and comprise of
that triangle between Rivers Murera and Tana.
Head on combination of
destinations
Meru can be visited
throughout the year. A visit to the Park is best
combined with the nearby attractions. These include
Mt Kenya
National Park, Lewa Down,
Samburu,
Buffalo Springs and Shaba
Reserve, Sweet Waters game sanctuary. Just email us and let us
organize a wonderful safari to these places including
Maasai Mara,
Serengeti, Manyara, Ngorongoro and
Lake Nakuru Combinations.
Our Email:
rnxploresafaris@gmail.com
Getting to the Park:
Meru is accessible from
any part of the world. One can either driver into the park or
fly in. Whether you are in New York,
California, Beijing, Tokyo or Sydney you can easily visit Meru.
Just fly into Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta. From Nairobi, flights to
Meru National Pakr take off from Wilson Airport and return to the
same via Samburu, Nanyuki and Masai Mara. It means that one
can easily combine all these together. See
Meru National Park Safaris-Samburu-Masai Mara 7days fly drive Safari. The park has a total of 16 airstrips. However only 4 (Kinna, Mulika, Masanduku, Murera) are
mostly used. Currently there are no scheduled flights into the park. Every airstrip has a gate to facilitate visitor entry.
Driving from Nairobi:
The
park is linked to Nairobi by all whether road via Murera gate.
The distance is 348 Km
via Nyeri-Nanyuki-Meru-Mau-Murera
Gate via all weather road or via Embu-Meru road .
Activities/ What to do in the Park
This park is
about exclusivity. Bird Watching, Picnics, Camping, Wildlife
Safaris, Adventure and Cultural safaris can all be organized. Game
and bird watching are best undertaken in the morning and evening.
Nature walks, rafting and fishing can be organized along Tana River. Afternoons are
best spent on cultural tours, fishing, rafting
or just relaxing at the hotel swimming pools.
Restocking of Meru
National Park
In the 1970's the 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 white Rhinos, the lone
survivor Mukora was re-located to Lake Nakuru. In
2002, seven White Rhinos, including Mukora were once more
re-introduced from Lake Nakuru.
Restocking Meru National
Park will go in conservation books as one of the largest big mammal
translocation undertaken in human history. In total 66 Elephants trans-located from Laikipia
Private-
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 include:-
.
Meru Hotels | Meru Accommodation | Hotels Meru Kenya
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:-
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Meru-Mwangaza-White-House-Hotel
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Gatimene Palm
Springs
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Meru Three Steers Hotel -Located at Makuno
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Nevada Palace Hotel, Meru Kenya -Located at Makutano
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Meru Incredible Hotel- Located town centre, Kirukuri Roada
opposite old Teachers's House
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West Wind Hotel Meru - Along Meru Mau Road
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Meru County- Town
Centre above Kemu Campus
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Blue Towers Hotel Min Rate (USD 35.00) BB- located at Makutano,
at the junction of Meru Maua Road.
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White Star Hotel (Min Rate USD 35.00 BB)along Mau road before you reach
Mafuko Industries. No Alcohol.
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Hotel Royal Prince-
Along Tom Mboya street next to cit clock.
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Meru Safari Hotel
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Brown Rock Hotel
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Milimani Hotel
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Pig & Whistle:
The Pig & Whistle Hotel was built
in 1930s. It is in this hotels that Joy and George Adamson
stayed resulting in Joys divorce from her second husband Peter
Bally.
To Book/ Reserve any
of the above hotels email us:
rnxploresafaris@gmail.com
Attractions within
Meru Town
The 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.
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Meru Museum:
Formerly a District Commissioner's Office was built in
1916. The Museum is
ethnographic exhibiting the Culture of the local people. On display are various
tools, artefacts, local geology, stuffed mammals and birds.
Besides the museum has a traditional homestead, a crocodile and snake
pit and various herbs.
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The Njuri Ncheke
(Council of elders) headquarters to learn how justice was
dispensed in the old days among the locals.
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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.
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Swimming is available
at the Golf Club and Fred's Academy. The pool at the Golf
Club is good and its rarely used.
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Lake Nkunga picnic site can be
visited with arrangement.
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Rukunga's private
museum
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Visit the King Muhuru.
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