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    Meru National Park

    Kenya

    Meru National Park

    Point of Interest

    Meru National Park is located east of Meru town, approximately 350 kilometers from Nairobi, in the lowlands between Mount Kenya and the Tana River.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu
    9. Meru National Park
    Meru National Park is located east of Meru town, approximately 350 kilometers from Nairobi, in the lowlands between Mount Kenya and the Tana River. It was here that George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, whose story became world-famous through the book and film 'Born Free'.Following a reconstruction between 2000 and 2005, the park is once again home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, black and white rhinos, and Grevy's zebras.

    Sights in Meru National Park

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    Meru National Park (Murera Gate)
    Park

    1Meru National Park (Murera Gate)

    Main entrance of Meru National Park on the west side. Nearby is the iKweta Safari Camp.
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    Restaurants in Meru National Park

    History

    Elsa and the AdamsonsGeorge and Joy Adamson raised the lioness Elsa in Meru and re-wilded her here. Elsa is buried in the park, and some of Joy's ashes were scattered on her grave. Elsa's Kopje Lodge stands on Mughwango Hill above the Adamsons' former camp.RebuildingBetween 2000 and 2005, the Kenya Wildlife Service, with support from the Agence Française de Développement and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, rebuilt the almost derelict park. Funds went into infrastructure, vehicles, and anti-poaching measures.LandscapeIn the wetter west, tall grass and swamps thrive; towards the east, it becomes drier. Rivers such as Murera and Rojewero crisscross the park; the Tana River and Adamson's Falls lie along its southern border.

    Practical Details

    Getting ThereThe park is located east of Meru town; Murera Gate is the main entrance. It is about 350 kilometers from Nairobi.AdmissionThe Kenya Wildlife Service manages the park; payment is via the eCitizen portal. As of October 2025, KWS states entry for adult non-residents is 70 US dollars per day.AccommodationElsa’s Kopje and Leopard Rock Lodge at Murera are located within the park.Rhino River Camp and iKweta Safari Camp are on the periphery; iKweta is two kilometers from Murera Gate.Elsa’s Kopje is licensed for walks and night game drives.

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    Nearby

    Shaba National Reserve

    Shaba National Reserve

    The Shaba National Reserve borders Samburu and Buffalo Springs to the east and spans approximately 240 square kilometers south of the Ewaso Ng’iro, which forms about 34 kilometers of its northern boundary. The 2,145-meter-high Shaba Hill volcano, lava fields, springs, and riverine forests characterize the landscape.Joy Adamson released the leopardess Penny here and was murdered in the reserve in January 1980.
    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa is a private Wildlife Conservancy at the northern foot of Mount Kenya, south of Isiolo in Meru County, which originated from a Craig family cattle ranch. It protects more than twelve percent of Kenya's black rhinos and the world's largest single population of Grevy's zebra.Since 2013, Lewa, along with the adjacent Ngare Ndare Forest, has been part of the Mount Kenya UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Samburu National Reserve

    Samburu National Reserve

    The Samburu National Reserve lies approximately 350 kilometers north of Nairobi on the Ewaso Ng'iro, whose doum palms and riverine forests attract elephants, lions, and leopards to the arid landscape. Together with the Buffalo Springs National Reserve on the south bank, it is the most renowned safari destination in northern Kenya.Here you can spot the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and Somali Ostrich.
    Mount Kenya National Park

    Mount Kenya National Park

    The Mount Kenya National Park protects the high altitudes of Africa's second-highest mountain, just south of the Equator in central Kenya. Trekkers ascend via the Sirimon, Naro Moru, or Chogoria routes to the 4,985-meter-high Point Lenana, while the main peaks Batian and Nelion are reserved for climbers.Since 1997, the park and mountain forest have been UNESCO World Heritage. Above the mountain forest, you reach glacier remnants and mountain lakes like Lake Michaelson.
    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    North of Nairobi, the land rises towards Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. Around the summit are national parks with mountain forest and moorland, private conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau, and further north the dry reserves of Samburu and Shaba, home to animals rarely seen in southern Kenya.The market town of Nanyuki, on the Equator, is a practical starting point for mountain treks and game drives.

    Sources & method

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