Meru National Park
Meru National Park is one of the underrated parks not only in Kenya but in entire Africa. It was seriously affected by poaching in the early 1980s. The park came into the world map during the error of George Adamson who filmed Born free in 1989. After the death of Adamson, the park was almost forgotten and dropped off from the tourist map. The park is nicknamed as “complete wilderness” because of the great number of wildlife at the park. The different vegetation cover at the park gives an added advantage to wildlife habitats. The vegetation ranges from rivers to the termite molds.
Meru National Park was established in 1966 covering a total land area of 870 kilometers squared. It is located on the Eastern side of Meru town. The park is 350 kilometers away from the capital city Nairobi. The park is a home of all the African big 5 i.e. Lions, leopards, Rhinos, Elephants, and Buffalo. Other animals at the park include zebras, hippos, oryx, and others. The park is one of the two parks where the prominent and renowned conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the free lioness from. It is where the writing of different books including “Born Free” hit the ground and attracted several tourists to the park to see Elsa. The rare lioness who loves nature to the extent that she could always raise the young Oryx when she gets them. She could protect them from any kind of danger including the fellow lions till they are grown and she releases them.
After the death of Elsa the great lioness the family of Adamson decided to bury it inside the park. Just next to Joy Adamson’s grave, the ashes of joy were scattered on the grave of Elsa to show love and respect to it.
The Meru National park is governed by Kenya Wildlife Services which with the help of the International Fund for Animal Welfare restored and rehabilitated the park from the grass as it was affected highly by poaching. With a donation from IFAW basic infrastructure was developed and essential equipment for law enforcement was bought.
The park can be accessed by both air and road transport, it is just 350 kilometers away from Nairobi through Meru town. If by road one can choose one of the two known and well-tarmacked routes. One passing through Nyeri, Nanyuki and then connect to the main gate of Meru National park. The other option is through Embu to Meru highway which is the most scenic route and loved by tourists always. It enters the park through the URA gate, the minor route which is an alternative but restricted to be used only during the dry season is passing through Mathara and Kageta towards Maua to Kinna road then enter to the park.
By air, one can access the park two airstrips which receive flights directly from Wilson airport and Jomo Kenyatta international airport. This is a good option for old guests and those who cannot sit for long drives in African rough driving roads. The driver-guide will meet you at the airstrip and pick you up and drive you to the lodge.
Attractions in Meru National Park
The unspoiled and less crowded Meru National park is having much to offer to the tourists. The park is gifted with a wide range of attractions that include the following:
Adamson’s Falls: The 50 meters high waterfall was named after the prominent conservationists Adamson Gorge and Joy Adamson who were the first to settle in the park. Located in the caves of Hastings is great place where sightseeing is paramount. At first the waterfalls were inaccessible but currently, the route is cleared making it easy for the guests to reach the falls. It takes around 2 to 3 hours to hike to the falls depending on the guest’s physical ability. Creekton falls is higher located in rough high altitude which needs more technical hikers to reach.
Wildlife: Though Meru National park is less popular but the park is gifted with a lot of wildlife including the African big 5 (lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and Rhinos). Its hard and technical to view the leopards but experienced driver guides always try their luck to make sure the guests see the leopards during their trip in Meru National park. The other animals at the park include zebras, kudu, giraffes, Gerenuk, hyenas, wildebeest, cheetahs, oryx, hippos and many more.
Burial Sites of Joy Adamson and Elsa the lioness: Joy Adamson is a wife to Gorge Adamson, they were the first explorers to settle in Meru National park. They did a lot of great work at the park and published a lot of documentaries that made them famous not only in Kenya but worldwide. The wife of Gorge died and he buried her inside the park near Elsa the great lioness grave. The home and burial ground of the family of Adamson is still till date the highest tourist attraction at Meru National park. Guests come and enjoy the historical event at the park viewing the house and the burial grounds of the actors of Born free crew. The Dutch family always come to the site for the commemoration of their fellow conservationists.
Birds: The Meru National park inhabits over 300 bird species with both forested, swamp ad open savannah bird species. The park has rare endemic birds that cannot be seen from other parks. The most sited birds are Maasai Ostriches, guineafowl, Boran cisticola, African finfoot, ibis, Palm weaver, fish eagles, kori bustard, starlings extra.
Activities Meru National park
Visiting the burial grounds of Elsa and Joy Adamson: The historical site is a turning point of Meru National park as the family of Adamson contributed greatly to the development of the park. Most guests come to view the foundation of the park, visiting the graves of Joy and the prominent lioness Elsa. With their book “born free” which sold the park very much. The unique character of Elsa the only lioness which defended and raised the young Oryx.
Nature walks and visiting the waterfalls: With the headship of the trained game ranger, guests can enjoy nature walks at the park as the ranger escorts them. The park authority does not allow are walks of the guests with no rangers as it risks the life of the guests. We walk around the rivers, hike to the top of the falls and other points of the park. We go close to the wildlife on foot.
Birding: Meru National park has over 300 bird species which guests can enjoy viewing while on their birding trip in the park. With 13 rivers across the park more water animals can be seen, the most prominent birds are Chanting Goshawk, ostrich, Hartlaub’s Bustard, secretary bird, Wattled starling, Saddle-billed stork, Taita Fiscal, Martial eagle, Boran Cisticola, Bat Hawk, Rufous chatterer mention but a few
Game viewing: This is the top activity in almost all national parks of Africa except primate world parks. Game viewing is excellent at Meru National park which can be done throughout the year though the best time is during the dry the months of the year. Open safari vans are the most common among all tour operators which gives guests enough space for viewing the big game, one comes closer to the animals during the game drives. The home of Elsa the great lioness has more lions, leopards, elephants black and white rhinos, hipoos, crocodiles, hyena, zebras, topi, Kudu and others.
You are most welcome to the remote but most rewarding national park of Kenya a home of George Adamson and Joy Adamson alongside their adopted Lioness Elsa. The park has both black and white Rhinos with other African big 5.
