Meru National Park

 

One of Kenya's best kept secrets

Meru National Park lies to the east of Mt Kenya, whose permanently snow-capped peak provides a dramatic back-drop to this fascinating park. Meru is one of the most geographically diverse parks in the country and is less visited than most of Kenya's parks and reserves. In fact, on a visit to Meru National Park, you are unlikely to come across another safari vehicle (except near the lodges), something that immeasurably enhances any safari experience. It is loved by true safari afficianados, who do not need the promise of the 'big five' to lure them to areas teeming with fascinating game.

 

An afficionado's dream

This area has high rainfall and there are many watercourses that flow down from the Mt Kenya massif into the region supporting woodland, forest, bush, swamp and grassland. This vegetation, in turn, provides food and shelter for a great range of animals. The park's poaching history is a sad one as elephant numbers were seriously badly affected. However, with substantial foreign investment from animal welfare agencies and development trusts, the situation is definitely improving. Elephants can often be seen around the marshy Bisandi Plains at the north of the park and Meru is also home to lion, cheetah, giraffe, lesser kudu, eland, waterbuck, gazelle, oryx, buffalo and the beautiful Grevy zebra.

In and around the many watercourses that cross the park, there are crocodiles, monkeys and a huge diversity of birds including the Palm Nut vulture and Marshal eagle, kingfishers, bee-eaters and the lilac breasted roller.

Meru is where George and Joy Adamson carried out much of their pioneering work, released captive-raised lions back into the wild. It is where they raised Else, the lion cub made famous by Joy Adamson's book, 'Born Free', which was later turned into a film.