Area:
The greater Meru Conservation Area comprises
of 40,000 km2 covering Meru National park,
Bisinadi National Park and
Kora
National Park, Mwingi, North Kitui and Rahore Nature Reserves.
Meru National Park 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.
Habitats:
Woodlands, wide open plains, riverines are the main habitats
in Meru National Park.
Getting to Meru National Park:
Drive/fly from Nairobi. From Meru town you can easily hire a
car to the park from the Meru tour operator office:- R&N Xplorer Africa Safaris, 1st Flr. Doris
House, Tom Mboya Street, Tel:+254 723 684 974,
Email:
rnxploresafaris@gmail.com . We are open everyday of the week
between 08:00-17:00 Hrs.
Driving from Nairobi
to Meru National Park:
Meru
National park is linked to Nairobi by all whether road via Murera
gate. There are two routes:-
-
From
Nairobi (348
kms), via Nyeri-Nanyuki-Meru-Mau-Murera Gate via all weather
road.
-
From
Nairobi (348
kms), via Embu-Meru- Mau-Murera gate via all weather roads. The
junction to the park is before you reach Mau town.
-
Gates include-Murera,
Bisanadi, Ura.
Vehicle: All
the main roads to the Park have been upgraded. Thus
the park can be accessed by a standard vehicle. A sedan
can access Meru Mulika Lodge, Leopard Rock Lodge, Kina Park
headquarters and Bwatherongi Bandas . However to fully
enjoy the Meru park, you need a 4WD.
Attractions & Physical Features
In Meru National Park:
-
Mammals-Meru National Park has a large mammal population including- Lion, elephant, cheetah, leopard ,Lesser Kudu, duiker,
Dik Dik, buffalo, reticulated giraffes (Endangered), black and white
rhinos, Grevy's zebra (Endangered),
eland, Oryx, Impalas, buffaloes. Black and white Rhinos (
Endangered). Aquatic
life include hippo and crocodile. Fishing for barbus and catfish is
permitted at camp sites and along the Tana River.
-
Uninterrupted view of Mt
Kenya.
-
Over
300 species of birds
recorded in Meru National Park.
-
Adamson's grave and camp
-
Pippa's Grave- Pipa was
Cheater brought up by Joy Adamson.
-
Elsa's Grave-Elsa was the
lioness of the born free fame.
-
Swamps- Mughwango, Mulika,
Bwatherongi, Mururi and Leopard Rock. Animals congregate in
the swamps during dry season
-
Rivers- Meru has a total of 14
permanent rivers and numerous streams including Murera, Rojowero,
Kiolu, Ura, Bwatherongi. Tana River forms its southern
boundary.
-
Rhino Sanctuary:
The rhino sanctuary can be
accessed from Murera gate.
Activities/ What to do in Meru National Park
Meru National 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. Fishing,
rafting and nature walks can be organized along Tana River. Afternoons are
best spent on cultural tours or just relaxing at the hotel swimming
pools. A special experience in Meru is translocation of wildlife.
In the 1970's Meru National 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 Rhinos in Meru National Park, the lone
survivor Mukora was trans-located to Lake Nakuru National
Park. Now he is back to his home once more. In
2002, seven White Rhinos, including Mukora were once more
re-introduced to Meru from Lake Nakuru National Park.
Restocking
Meru National Park has seen 66 Elephants trans-located from Laikipia
Private ranches like
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 to Meru National Park include:-
-
20 Grevy's Zebra. The Grevy's Zebra is highly venerable to extinction.
In
2003, 39 reticulated giraffes were trans-located to Meru National
Park from Lewa Conservancy. This makes a total of 51 of these rare species in Meru park.
Lodges,
Camp sites and Bandas.:
Meru Mulika
Lodge ( Temporally closed for renovation)
The Meru Mulika Lodge
is a few metres from Murera gate. Meru Mulika Lodge is
currently under renovation.
The leopard Rock Lodge has been renovated into a high class eco-lodge for those who desire luxury in the wild with
room rates of over USD 470 per person per night. The facilities
in the lodge include conference room, swimming pool, Jacuzzi...With
15 luxury cottages built over a stretch of 3.5 Km along a river
Murera
frontage. It is ideal for privacy. Across the River
is Bisinadi National Park.
Located on
Mughwango Hill, the Elsa's Kopje is on the original site of
Adamson's Camp. It derives its name from Elsa the Lioness of the
born free fame. Each of the 9 cottages is luxuriously
appointed with beautiful views of the surrounding country. The
lodge offers game drives, bush walks fishing, bush breakfasts,
sundowners, night game drives, rafting and fishing on the Tana
River, massage, swimming and open
air bath.
KWS Bandas: Not to be left behind, the KWS runs their best bandas
in Meru National Park.
The Bwatherongi Self
Catering Bandas:- With a swimming pool the Bwetherongi Bandas
are some of the Best in Kenya. Bwatherongi Bandas are well
spaced giving each individual visitor utmost privacy. The Bandas
are located on the banks of bwatherongi river. Bwatherongi
Bandas feature private bathrooms with hot showers. The cooking
area is outside the bandas.
Campsites/Camping in Meru National Park / Meru Campsites
Meru National Park is
ideal for camping. There are numerous campsites through
out the park.
Special Campsites in
Meru National Park 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 Bandas.
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:-
-
Blue Towers Hotel- So far the best place to stay located at Makutano, Meru town
on the junction of Meru Mau Road. Look for Mobile Petrol
Station.
The only drawback to this property is that its near the main
road.
-
White Star Hotel along the Meru Mau road before you reach Kaaga
-
Meru County Hotel-
This is the biggest property in Meru town.
-
Meru Safari Hotel
-
Milimani Hotel
-
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.
Attractions within Meru Town
Meru 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.
-
Meru National Museum: The Meru
Museum formerly a District Commissioner's Office was built in
1916. The Meru National Museum is
ethnographic exhibiting the Meru Culture. On display are various
tools, artefacts, local geology, stuffed mammals and birds.
Besides the museum has a Meru homestead, a crocodile and snake
pit and various herbs.
-
The Njuri Ncheke (Council of
elders) headquarters to learn how justice was dispensed in the
old days among the Meru.
-
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.
-
Visits to Meru Golf Club for
swimming. The pool is good and its rarely used.
-
Lake Nkunga picnic site can be
visited with arrangement.
-
Rukunga's private
museum
Meru Tour
operator/ Travel Agent Car Hire/Rental
R&N Xplorer Africa Safaris-Located at Doris House, Tom Mboya
Street, Meru town, Tel:+254 723 684 974, car hire/rental and safaris to Meru National
Park and the surrounding conservation blocks of parks of
Mt.Kenya National Park,
Samburu, Buffalo springs, Kora and
private game ranches of Ol Pejeta conservancy
and Lewa Down.
To
the East of Meru National park lies Bisinadi National Reserve.
It is located at the border of Meru and the Borana people. Opened in
1979 it occupies an area of 606 Km˛. It
accessible by 4WD vehicles is ideal for camping. There is an
airstrip at Korbessa.
Kora
National Park :
Across
Tana River from Meru National Park.
Covering an area of 1,787 square kilometers. It is in this
park that George Adamson was murdered in his camp. Kora is full of
Inselbergs, rocky outcrops covered with vegetation that seem to
appear randomly above the plains.
Mammal life include elephant, Lesser Kudu, wild dog, striped
and spotted hyenas, leopard and cheetah.
21 species of fish have been recorded, with 500 species of
insect, 33 molluscs and 40 reptiles.
Other
parks in this block include Rahole National Reserve, offering
a wide variety of plains game, hippo, crocodile and excellent bird
viewing; also Mwingi National Reserve, formerly North Kitui.
Game to view includes hippo, crocodile, buffalo and warthog.
