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Meru National Park
is a holiday destination of choice for nature lovers and
adventurous alike. It is a beautiful paradise for Wildlife
safaris and adventures, sight seeing, camping and
relaxation. Also called Elsa's Country, Meru
National Park is a complete wilderness off the beaten tracks
away yet within close vicinity of the civilization. The
Park is 4 and half hours (385 Km) from Nairobi or approximately
45 minutes flights from Wilson Airport.
Meru is a safari
destination for those passionate about wildlife. It is a
prime game watching destination with a history of exceptional
wildlife encounters. It is in Meru National Park that Joy
and George Adamson raised Elsa, the lioness of "born free
fame", a story re-told in "living free" and "forever free".
Elsa was among three lion cubs raised up in the wilderness of
Meru National Park. While two cubs were donated to a zoo
in Germany, Joy opted to be left with the most popular of the
cubs, Elsa. Things were good for both Elsa and Joy.
However nothing lasts forever. Joy being a compassionate
wildlife conservationist was determined to see Elsa living
freely in the wilderness mating and bringing up her own cubs.
Being a domestic cat, Elsa's survival in the wild was limited.
She was venerable, knew not how to hunt and she had no pride.
The Adamson's had to teach her how to hunt and identify a
friendly pride to adopt her. Their fears were real. Elsa's
attempt to attack a warthog was disastrous an the warthog turned
on her and chased her the way back to the car. One day after
being left with the prospective pride, Elsa returned back to the
camp. Keeping a mature female lion in their camp was even
dangerous as she could easily attract wild male lions.
However by and by all that starts well ends well. Elsa was
successfully integrated into the wild and even had her own cubs.
When she died, Adamson buried her in Meru National Park. Elsa's
grave attracts lots of pilgrims and is one of the main
attractions in Meru Park.
Meru is a big game
destination. It has large herds of elephants and features a
Rhino Rhino Sanctuary. Animals population is moderate and
species representations is quite impressive. In the park
are lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, reticulated
giraffes, grevy's zebras, warthogs, lots of baboons, topis, dik
diks, gazelles, waterbucks, impalas an oryx. On the river
banks and pools are crocodiles and hippos. Bird live is
exceptional with over 300 species recorded. Bird species in the
park include the unlikely King of the bird, the Hamerkop and the
stately Somali Ostrich. Others include egrets, weavers, white
eyes, francolins, guinea fowls including the vulturine guinea
fowl and many more. With all these, a safari game drive is quite
a spectacle of sorts. The best safari game drives are at
dawn or at dusk. Dawns are particularly ideal as animals
are rising up and preparing for a day. In the wild, days
are longer than you think. Animals have to keep on their
toes. The appearance of a big predator like a lion causes
lots of unease or even a stampid. A well coordinated lion
hunting is a sight to behold.
Attractions in Meru Park
Besides the Elsa story
and wildlife another important attraction in Meru Park is the
climate. Unlike other savannah parks, Meru is lush. This
is attributed to the parks location on the eastern slopes of
Nyambene hills, a source of 13 permanent streams. This
makes it the most watered park in Kenya. Mt Kenya is
clearly visible from every corner of the park.
A
gorgeous, Friendly and Welcoming people
Tourism is about
people meeting and interacting with the local people. Cultural
safaris are an eye opener to the visitors. They allow the
visitors to meet the locals and sample their way of life.
Visitor/ local interactions in the rural Kenya are more
elaborate allowing visitors to participate in local activities.
Some families do allow home stays, where guests
participate in daily activities, eat local meals and sleep at
home. The larger Meru conservation area is a cultural
melting pot. The success of the Park is intertwined to the
generosity of the local communities. To the west of the park on
the slopes of Nyambene hills are the agricultural Meru with
hectares of
Miraa (Catha edulis)
Tea and
Coffee .
Other communities bordering the park are Kamba ,the Borana and
Orma pastoralists. A safari to the Park is not only
about the big five experience but also a good opportunity to
meet and interact with these communities, learn about their
culture with long traditions of conservation. Always bear in
mind that without their sacrifice, there would be no Meru Park.
Unique Settings for Memorable Stay
Lodge Safaris are
popular with visitors. Lodge safaris means guests will
stay in game lodges within or without the park. Usually
they are made of local materials to compliment the local
architecture. Some simple, individually owned providing a
place to sleep and simple meals. Others are luxury
establishments owned by international hotel chains. They offer
luxury self contained accommodation with all the trapping of a
five star Hotel. Though some are made of local materials,
others take the form of canvas tenting. Though
limited, accommodation in the park is diverse. Luxury facilities
like
Leopard Rock Lodge,
Elsa's Kopje Lodge,
Rhino River Camp and Off Beat Camp are well complimented by
mid range and budget properties. These facilities enjoy
spectacular settings and offer high notch service. The
staff in these facilities are helpful and will go an extra mile
to make your stay memorable. Murera River Lodge, Kinna
Guest House and
Ikweta
Safari Camp
are in mid range category. Meru has some of
the best self catering Bandas in the country. (Bwatherongi,
Murera and Kinna are run by KWS).
Camping Safaris
The traditional safari
was camping in nature. Camping safaris allow guests more
interaction with nature. In camping safaris, guests stay
temporally shelters- tents. Park authorities usually
provide with a secure campsite area with basic facilities- water
and toilets and lighting. Guests have to bring in their
own tents, cooking gas, food etc. Guests have to prepare
their own meals and set up their tents with or without
assistance. Some campsites are privately owned and provide
tents and meals for the guests.
Camping opportunities
exist. in Meru National Park. There are numerous campsites
through out the park. Special Campsites include
Kampi Baridi; Kitanga; Makutano; Rojoweru; Mugunga; Ken Mare and
Kanjoo. These ones have no facilities and prior booking is
required.
Public
campsites with showers are available at Bwatherongi Banda
Enquire from Meru tour operator/travel agent -GORILLA
SAFARIS RWANDA.
Area:
The greater Meru
Conservation Area comprises of 40,000 km2 covering Meru,
Bisinadi and
Kora parks, Mwingi, North Kitui
and Rahore Nature Reserves.
Meru alone has an area of 870 km2 and lies at an
altitude of between 1,000-3,400 Ft above sea level and
comprise of that triangle between Rivers Murera and Tana.
Head on combination of
destinations
Meru can be visited
throughout the year. A visit to the Park is best combined with
the nearby attractions. These include
Mt Kenya National Park,
Lewa Down,
Samburu,
Buffalo Springs and
Shaba Reserve, Sweet Waters game
sanctuary. Just email us and let us organize a wonderful
safari to these places including
Maasai Mara,
Serengeti,
Manyara, Ngorongoro and
Lake Nakuru
Combinations.
Our Email:
rnxploresafaris@gmail.com
Getting to the Park:
Meru is accessible from
any part of the world. One can either driver into the park or
fly in. Whether you are in New York, California, Beijing,
Tokyo or Sydney you can easily visit Meru. Just fly into
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta. From Nairobi, flights to Meru National
Pakr take off from Wilson Airport and return to the same via
Samburu, Nanyuki and Masai Mara. It means that one can easily
combine all these together. See
Meru National Park Safaris-Samburu-Masai Mara 7days fly drive Safari.
The park has a total of 16 airstrips. However only 4 (Kinna, Mulika,
Masanduku, Murera) are mostly used. Currently there are no scheduled
flights into the park. Every airstrip has a gate to facilitate
visitor entry.
Driving from Nairobi:
The
park is linked to Nairobi by all whether road via Murera gate.
The distance is 348 Km
via
Nyeri-Nanyuki-Meru-Mau-Murera Gate via all weather road or via
Embu-Meru road .
Activities/
What to do in the Park
This park is about
exclusivity. Bird Watching, Picnics, Camping, Wildlife
Safaris, Adventure and Cultural safaris can all be organized. Game
and bird watching are best undertaken in the morning and evening.
Nature walks, rafting and fishing can be organized along Tana River.
Afternoons are best spent on cultural tours, fishing, rafting
or just relaxing at the hotel swimming pools.
Restocking of Meru
National Park
In the 1970's the park
boasted of more than three hundred Black Rhinos. By 1997, this
population had been reduced to zero. The plan right now is to
re-introduce about 30 Black Rhinos. After the 1989 massacre of
the white Rhinos, the lone survivor Mukora was
re-located to Lake Nakuru. In 2002, seven White Rhinos,
including Mukora were once more re-introduced from
Lake Nakuru.
Restocking Meru National
Park will go in conservation books as one of the largest big mammal
translocation undertaken in human history. In total 66
Elephants trans-located from Laikipia Private-
Sweet Waters game sanctuary & Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Whole families have been trans-located to avoid disruption of family
bonds. Besides Elephants and Rhinos other translocations include:-
.
Meru Hotels | Meru Accommodation | Hotels Meru Kenya
Meru is a small
agricultural town on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. Budget
hotels exist in Meru town. The
hotels in Meru town
include the following:-
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Meru-Mwangaza-White-House-Hotel
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Gatimene Palm Springs
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Meru Three Steers Hotel -Located at Makuno
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Nevada Palace Hotel, Meru Kenya -Located at Makutano
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Meru Incredible Hotel- Located town centre, Kirukuri Roada
opposite old Teachers's House
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West Wind Hotel Meru - Along Meru Mau Road
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Meru County- Town
Centre above Kemu Campus
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Blue Towers Hotel
Min Rate (USD 35.00) BB- located at Makutano, at the
junction of Meru Maua Road.
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White Star Hotel
(Min Rate USD 35.00 BB)along Mau road before you reach
Mafuko Industries. No Alcohol.
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Hotel Royal Prince-
Along Tom Mboya street next to cit clock.
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Meru Safari Hotel
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Brown Rock Hotel
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Milimani Hotel
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Pig & Whistle:
The Pig & Whistle Hotel was built in 1930s. It is in
this hotels that Joy and George Adamson stayed resulting in Joys
divorce from her second husband Peter Bally.
To Book/ Reserve any
of the above hotels email us:
rnxploresafaris@gmail.com
Attractions within Meru Town
The town is an
agricultural centre. Tourism is not prevalent thus if you
desire a hassle free cool place, you can use it as a base to
explore the slopes of Mt. Kenya and Laikipia. The town is
surrounded by agricultural farmlands. Wheat and
horticulture plantations occupy the Timau region adjacent to
Lewa Conservancy. An interested visitor with intentions to
mingle with the locals can sample the following.
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Meru Museum: Formerly a District Commissioner's
Office was built in 1916. The Museum is ethnographic
exhibiting the Culture of the local people. On display are
various tools, artefacts, local geology, stuffed mammals and
birds. Besides the museum has a traditional homestead, a
crocodile and snake pit and various herbs.
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The Njuri Ncheke
(Council of elders) headquarters to learn how justice was
dispensed in the old days among the locals.
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The Gakoromone open
air market for stocking up and chatting with the locals.
Just carry loose change to use in the market and be careful of
pick pockets.
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Swimming is available
at the Golf Club and Fred's Academy. The pool at the Golf
Club is good and its rarely used.
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Lake Nkunga picnic
site can be visited with arrangement.
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Rukunga's private
museum
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Visit the King Muhuru.
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