Mount Meru National Park is characterized by wooded grasslands, savannah grasslands, thorny bushland, riverine forests, rivers, swamps, jungles, and Mount Meru. It is one of the least visited national parks in Kenya, hence not crowded like other national parks, and provides a pristine wilderness.
Mount Meru National Park is bisected by 13 rivers, featuring five distinct types of vegetation that provide diverse habitats for various wildlife at the park. Although the park suffered great poaching in the early 2000s, it has recovered through conservation efforts, making it one of the most promising safari destinations in the country.
Mount Meru National Park was home to Elsa the lioness, at George Adamson and Joy Adamson’s camp.
Entry Fee The entry fee for Mount Meru National Park is $60 for foreign non-resident adults, $20 for foreign non-resident children, 300 KES for foreign resident adults, and 215 KES for foreign resident children. East African citizens and Kenyan citizens will also pay 300 KES for adults and 225 KES for children.
History Part of the 1966 famous film “Born Free” was shot in Mount Meru National Park. The park is famous for naturalists and conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson, who raised Elsa the orphaned lioness that was later released back into the wilderness.
The park was established in 1966 to protect and conserve its wildlife and habitats. Although Mount Meru National Park suffered massive poaching between the years 2000 to 2005, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare helped the Kenya Wildlife Service in the restoration of the park’s wildlife. The conservation efforts put in place have seen the park thrive in recent years, and it is also considered a lion conservation unit.
Location Meru National Park is located 348 kilometers from Nairobi using one route and 290 kilometers using another. The park can also be accessed by air through chartered flights from Nairobi. It is situated along the equator in central Kenya.
Best Time to Visit The weather and climate of Mount Meru National Park make it suitable for visits all year, although some months are better than others. The best time to visit Mount Meru is during the dry seasons of June to August and December to February when hiking trails are in good condition and wildlife is easier to spot because the vegetation is not thick.
The best time for birders to visit is from November to April so that you can have a chance of sighting migratory birds from North Africa and Europe.
Accommodation There are a number of accommodation options to choose from while visiting Mount Meru National Park, and where to sleep will depend on tourists’ budgets and choice. Accommodation ranges from mid-range to budget and luxury. Some of the hotels, lodges, and campsites you can stay in include Elsa’s Kopje Lodge, Leopard Rock Lodge, Rojewero Campsite, Golo 1 and 2 Campsites, Meru Guest House, Kinna Cottages, Fisi Campsite, Murera Cottages, Kinna Guest House, Mugunga Campsite, Baridi Campsite, Chuma Campsite, Kenmara Campsite, and Wathorenyi Campsite, among others.
Animals Mount Meru National Park provides excellent wildlife habitat for various wildlife species. Some examples of animals found within the park include Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, African elephant, African wild dog, hartebeest, hippos, buffalos, lesser kudus, bush pigs, leopards, lions, black rhinos, white rhinos, reedbucks, pythons, cobras, dik-diks, oryx, duikers, jackals, cheetahs, hyenas, and many more.
What to Do
Wildlife Watching The park offers a unique wildlife watching experience. Some of the animals you might see include elephants, bush pigs, Grevy’s zebras, elands, reticulated giraffes, leopards, Bohor reedbucks, hartebeests, buffaloes, lesser kudus, gerenuks, dik-diks, bushbucks, hippos, African wild dogs, and much more. Mount Meru is also home to reptiles such as puff adders, pythons, and cobras, to name a few. The best time for wildlife watching is early morning or late afternoon, when you have a chance to spot nocturnal animals either emerging from or returning to their dens after night hunting.
Birding Mount Meru National Park is a birder’s paradise with 427 species of birds recorded, making it one of the top birding destinations in the country. Birds in the park include the eastern chanting goshawk, Pel’s fishing owl, palm nut vulture, Somali bee-eater, saddle-billed stork, bat hawk, black-faced sandgrouse, rufous chatterer, yellow-necked spur fowl, Taita fiscal, Somali ostriches, vulturine guineafowl, African finfoot, Boran cisticola, buff-crested bustard, golden-breasted starling, Grant’s wood hoopoe, Hinde’s pied warbler, northern pied babbler, martial eagle, Egyptian goose, crested francolin, speckled pigeon, red-eyed dove, chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Kori bustard, white-browed coucal, Eurasian nightjar, gray crowned crane, water thick-knee, black-winged stilt, blacksmith lapwing, Caspian plover, and black-headed heron, among others.
Hiking Mount Meru National Park offers great hiking opportunities within its hills, with several trails established. The summit usually provides superb views of Mount Kenya. Hikers should come prepared with waterproof hiking boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, plenty of drinking water, energy-giving foods, long-sleeved clothes, and hats.
Nature Guided Walks You can get close to the wildlife, especially primates, of Mount Meru National Park by taking a guided nature walk with an armed ranger guide. The best place for nature walks is at the riversides, where you will encounter many primates and birds in the riverine forests.
Mountain Climbing One of the most common tourist activities in the park is mountaineering.
Visit Joy Adamson’s Grave and Elsa’s Grave Joy Adamson, an artist, author, and naturalist famous for her book “Born Free,” and her husband George are known for raising Elsa the lioness. After Elsa’s death from babesiosis in 1961, leaving three cubs behind, the Adamsons transferred the lions to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. In 1980, Joy was found dead in Shaba National Reserve. Her ashes were cremated and laid to rest near Elsa the lioness’s grave in Mount Meru National Park.
Fishing Mount Meru National Park is home to about 13 rivers, providing great fishing opportunities for anglers. You can hire or bring your fishing gear and enjoy the activity in one of the designated rivers and sometimes enjoy your catch for dinner.
Picnics There are many great picnic spots in Mount Meru National Park where you can enjoy a picnic lunch while listening to the sounds of the pristine wilderness.
Attractions/What to See
Superb Views Mount Meru National Park offers excellent views of the Tana River and Mount Kenya, which is the highest mountain in the country.
Adamson’s Waterfalls The magnificent cascading 50-meter waterfalls found at the nearby Kora National Park are worth a visit while at Mount Meru National Park. The falls derive their name from Joy Adamson, a famous late conservationist who raised Elsa the lioness. The waterfalls provide one of the best birding destinations in the park.
Kora National Park Tourists visiting Mount Meru National Park shouldn’t miss out on Kora National Park. It’s home to diverse wildlife species, Kora rapids, Grand Falls, Adamson’s Falls, various bird species, and so much more. It was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1973 and later upgraded to a national park in 1989 following the murder of George Adamson.
Kora National Park is where George Adamson, husband of Joy Adamson, was murdered and buried while trying to rescue tourists from poachers in 1989. The park suffered great poaching in the past but is now recovering, with several wildlife species recorded.
Mugwangho Hill Mugwangho Hill provides 360-degree stunning views of Mount Meru National Park and Mount Kenya. It is also the location of the Adamsons’ camp where Elsa was raised.
