What Do You Know About Meru National Park?

Talk to most people about Kenya National parks and the masai mara comes up. But Kenya has lots of other national parks each unique in its own right.

Meru National Park is a Kenyan forest reserve located east of Meru, 350 km from Nairobi. Covering an area of 87,044 hectares,it is one the lesser known parks of Kenya. It has abundant rainfall, 635-762 mm in the west of the park and 305-356 mm in the east.The rainfall results in tall grass and lush swamps, which make it difficult to spot game. It has a wide range of wild beasts like elephant, hippopotamus, lion, leopard, cheetah, black rhinoceros and some rare antelopes.

Once in the verge or ruin, today its one of the most promising tourist destinations in Eastern Africa.

Despite the fact that it’s today one of Kenya’s major national parks, this destination is still overlooked by the majority of tourists.

Due to high rainfall the area has tall grass and dense swamps making it more difficult to spot game, unlike other African parks.

Today visitors visit this park 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. One lodge and two tented camps are planned inside the Park. There are eight special campsites which must be pre-booked, one public campsite, Kenya Wildlife Service self-help banda and Leopard Rock bandas (total 120 beds).

Elsa the Lioness is buried in this park and part of Joy’s ashes were scattered on her gravesite. Joy Adamson released Pippa the cheetah in this park.

On the border of Meru National Park is Bisanadi National Reserve. Known as ‘Kinna’, the border between Meru and Bisanadi Parks is the traditional division between the Meru and Boran tribespeople. The Reserve was opened in September 1979 and occupies an area of 606 square kilometers. A true wilderness area without any accommodation it is only accessible by 4WD vehicles. There is an airstrip at Korbessa.

Another area made famous by the Adamsons is Kora National Park. Opened in October 1989, 280 kilometers northeast of Nairobi, it is an easy outing from Meru National Park. Covering an area of 1,787 square kilometers, bounded by the Tana River, George Adamson’s camp was here until he died. A feature is the sudden appearance of lush green “oases”, created by the lines of doum palms which shelter the banks of the Tana River. Striking are the Inselbergs — isolated rocky outcrops covered in vegetation which create random islands above the plains. Kora has diverse wildlife: 21 species of fish have been recorded, with 500 species of insect, 33 molluscs and 40 reptiles. Species to view include: elephant, Lesser Kudu, wild dog, striped and spotted hyenas, leopard and cheetah.