Meru National Park | Kenya Game Reserves

This was the wilderness into which George & Joy Adamson released Elsa the lioness, creating the much-loved film Born Free.

Size & Location: 900km², 350km north-east of Nairobi below the Nyambeni hills
When to visit the park: June - October (warmer - preferred), January - March (hottest season)
Climate: Warm with low humidity.
Rainfall: 635-762mm in the west and 305-356mm in the east.
Altitude: 304m - 1036m above sea level

Park Information:

Straddling the equator and bisected by 13 rivers and numerous mountain-fed streams, Meru National Park is wild and one of the most beautiful parks in Kenya. A green paradise compared to the dry savannah of Kenya's parks, this was the wilderness into which George & Joy Adamson released Elsa the lioness, creating the much-loved film 'Born Free'. It has diverse scenery from woodlands to wide-open plains, meandering riverbanks, hilly landscapes and rich grey aluvial volcanic soil deposits. Three large rivers border the reserve: the Tana to the south, the Ura to the south-west and the Rojeweru to the east.

Game viewing in Meru includes large herds of buffalo, bushbuck, duiker, eland, elephant, gazelle, genet, giraffe, hartebeest, impala, kudu, waterbuck and zebra. Expect to see baboons, hyena, jackal, kudu, large prides of lion, mongoose, Oryx, Oribi, Vervet monkeys and warthog. You may see wild dog, bushbaby, caracal, cheetah, civet, Dik-dik, leopard, otter, bush pig, porcupine, Black and white rhino. The rivers abound with hippo and crocodile and fishing is permitted at camp sites and along the Tana River. Birdlife includes Peter's finfoot which inhabits the Murera and Ura Rivers, the Pel's Fishing Owl, Kingfishers, rollers, bee-eaters, starlings and numerous weavers.

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