Meru National Park, wild and remote, lies 10km north of the equator between Mount Kenya and the Nyambeni Mountains, 350km from Nairobi. Meru forms part of a larger conservation area covering 370,000 acres including the adjoining Kora, Rahole and Bisanadi Reserves.

The park was brought to fame in the 60’s through Joy Adamson’s bestselling book, Born Free, the true story about Elsa the lioness.  A gem in the KWS portfolio, Meru National Park is a semi-arid park boasting 13 permanent rivers and springs, which meander through otherwise dry terrain flanked by rich vegetation of Doum and Raphia Palms. The natural habitats of Meru are therefore incredibly diverse, varying from dense thickets and wooded grasslands to open plains. Meru’s rich wildlife diversity includes rare species specific to northern Kenya, such as Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, as well as  buffalo, elephant, hippo, lion, cheetah and leopard. Lesser kudu and greater kudu, as well as caracal are exceptional species found in Meru. The park also incorporates an 84km2 rhino sanctuary, making Meru one of the prime destinations to see rhino in their natural habitat. The birdlife in Samburu and Meru is extraordinarily colourful and abundant with over 400 species of birds.