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Meru National Park

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Highlights of Meru National Park Kenya

WHERE TO GO IN KENYA

Arguably Kenya at its most untamed and further removed from some of the more mainstream areas, Meru National Park was established in 1968 and is referred to as a ‘remote and rugged wilderness’.

The area is famed for its connection to the orphaned lioness Elsa, who was hand-reared here by George and Joy Adamson, who subsequently wrote the popular non-fictional book Born Free.

Despite being subject to some poaching during the 1970s and 80s, it is now popular once more. Meru is still one of the most invitingly uncrowded and unspoiled parts of the country to view wildlife.

Meru National Park Location

Covering an area of 1810 square kilometres starting northeast of Mount Kenya’s foothills and spreading eastward, the park is located 370 kilometres northeast of Nairobi and straddles the equator.

Meru National Park Habitat

The striking scenery of the park includes Commiphora and Acacia bushland, vast open plains, swampland, doum palms and belts of tropical riverine forest. The 13 rivers and network of mountain springs that feed into the Tana River are the lifeblood of the park and a terrific water source for the animals that roam its plains.

Meru National Park Animals

  • Meru Rhino Sanctuary is home to around 40 white rhinos and 20 black rhinos. The healthy population of both black and white rhino is protected in an extensively fenced area, due to the threat of poaching.
  • Cheetah sightings can be good here too despite the mix of habitats, although leopards are rarely spotted.
  • Some of the largest herds of buffalo in Kenya can be found here.
  • Other animals in the park include elephant, Grevy's and plains zebra, oryx, giraffe, hippo, lesser kudu, hartebeest and Grant's gazelle.
  • Over 300 species of bird have been recorded here including the Pel's fishing owl, the Somali ostrich, palm-nut vultures, vulture guinea fowl and the red necked falcon.

Meru National Park Entrance Fee

The non-resident entry fee for Meru National Park is $52 for an adult and $35 for a child. This will be included as part of your safari.

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Weather in Meru National Park climate guide

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
temperature AVG. TEMP20°C21°C21°C21°C20°C18°C17°C18°C19°C20°C20°C19°C
rainfall RAINFALL30mm25mm80mm204mm128mm31mm25mm29mm24mm132mm181mm89mm


Meru National Park Lodges

KEN St Kenya Masai Mara Lion Shutterstock Maggy Meyer

Although the area is not one for ticking off the ‘Big Five’ game they are all found here, it requires a little more patience and a keen eye to locate them in the grassier and bushland areas (which our expert guides will assist with). The consensus is that big cat sightings are improving each year, including Meru’s ‘bush’ lions; leaner, scarred and lacking the bushy mane of the lions found in the Mara, with more Mohican-style tufts instead.