Meru National Park, located 350 kilometres north-east of Nairobi, is one of Kenya’s most beautiful yet undervisited parks. Made famous by Joy and George Adamson’s “Born Free” story of raising Elsa the lioness, Meru remains a pristine wilderness covering 870 square kilometres of diverse habitats.
The park is watered by 13 permanent rivers and numerous streams flowing from the slopes of Mount Kenya, creating lush riverine forests, tall grasslands, and palm-lined waterways. This abundance of water supports a rich diversity of wildlife including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, hippos, and the rare Grevy’s zebra.
Elsa’s Kopje, a luxury lodge built on the rock where Joy Adamson released Elsa, offers one of Kenya’s most exclusive safari experiences. The Adamson’s Falls on the Tana River and the Kora National Park extension add to the area’s wild appeal.
Meru receives far fewer visitors than the Mara or Amboseli, offering a genuinely remote and exclusive safari experience. The park’s excellent road network and varied terrain make it ideal for self-drive adventures.