Meru National 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.

Meru National Park is approximately 870km² and 300/350km north east of Nairobi. The best time to visit the game reserve is between June and October when it is not as hot as other times.

Meru National Park is bisected by 13 rivers and numerous mountain-fed streams, it is an especially wild and 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 Mount Kenya, to wide open plains with meandering riverbanks dotted with doum palms. Three large rivers border the reserve: the Tana to the south, the Ura to the south-west and the Rojeweru to the east.

Wildlife 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.

 

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.

Meru National Park, Elsa's Kopje