Meru National Park doesn’t get many visitors, so it stays completely natural. There aren’t many places that can compare to its wild and remote feel. People know it from the book and movie Born Free, which was written by George and Joy Adamson. Joy Adamson’s ashes were also spread at her grave spot, which you can visit.

Famous because of the book and movie Born Free, which were based on George and Joy Adamson’s work putting lions they had raised as pets back into the wild. Kenyan standards say the park is small, but it is home to a lot of different animals.

How to Get There

The Murera Gate leads to Meru National Park, which is 348 km (215 miles) from Nairobi via Nyeri.

Airport: There are two airstrips: Kina’s main airstrip and Elsa’s Kopje Airstrip.

Meru National Park’s Best Features and Attractions

Go see where Elsa the Lion is buried.
Black and White Rhinos can be seen in the Rhino Sanctuary, which used to be the home of Joy and George Adamson and Elsa the lioness.
Views of Adamson Falls, Mount Kenya, and rivers and wildlife along rivers

Ideas for things to do in Meru National Park:

You can see animals in the park by driving yourself or by going on an organized game drive with the lodge where you stay. Elsa’s Kopje has a special permit that lets them run night tours and game walks in the park.There is only one house in the park, so it will feel like you have the whole place to yourself.

What It Was Like

Meru Park is on the equator and is crossed by 13 rivers and many mountain streams. Compared to Kenya’s other parks, which are mostly dry grassland, Meru Park is a green paradise. It has a lot of different kinds of landscapes, from forests to wide open fields, winding riverbanks, kopjes, and rich volcanic soil deposits. This is the wild area where George and Joy Adamson let Elsa, the cougar that the movie “Born Free” was based on, go.

Large groups of elephant, buffalo, gerenuk, lesser and greater kudu can be seen in Meru. Beautiful lions, leopards, and black and white rhinos.

There are a lot of rivers here, so don’t forget to bring your fishing rod. Have some snacks and read a book by the water. Bearfish, catfish, and tilapia are all easy to catch. You can also take a guided walk to the top of Mughwango Hill if you’re feeling more energetic. From the top, you can see Mount Kenya in the west and the huge Meru plains in the east.

A fence has been put around part of the area to give 40 White Rhino and 20 Black Rhino a safe place to live. This is one of the best places in Kenya to see these rare animals.

Places to Stay in Meru National Park

This lodge is named after Elsa the Lion, who became popular thanks to George and Joy Adamson. It is a beautiful, high-end lodge that fits in with the hill it is on. Cottages with beautiful views and high-end furnishings are used as guest rooms. The main house has a dining room and bar with open sides that are next to an infinity pool with a view of the plains of Meru.

The weather

The days get warm (up to 30 deg C), but they are comfortable because there isn’t much humidity, and the nights are cool. About 350 mm of rain falls each year, mostly in April and May.