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Lusso Travel Ltd, No. 1 Glasshouse - 1LG1,
Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK10 4TG

Kenya Meru National Park

Wild, remote and gloriously crowd free, Meru National Park is one of Kenya’s best-kept secrets.

At a glance

A beautiful, wild and untamed national park

Made famous by the conservationists George and Joy Adamson, who released Elsa the lioness back into the wild here

Great game viewing with increasingly frequent sightings of all the Big Five

Meru's acclaimed rhino sanctuary is one of the best places to see black and white rhinos in their natural habitat

Exceptional birding with over 420 recorded species, including the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl

Overview

Rugged and untamed, Meru National Park is where George and Joy Adamson famously raised the lion cub Elsa, an experience immortalised on page and screen in the classic Born Free. Located north-east of Nairobi and to the east of Mount Kenya, the park covers 870 square kilometres and crosses the equator. Its striking scenery includes a heady mix of savannah and woodland, with belts of tropical riverine forests woven together by a network of rivers, creating the perfect sanctuary for a rich mix of wildlife.

Though the sound of roaring lions can still ring out across the park, it’s actually rhinos that tend to cause the most excitement, with the park’s successful rhino sanctuary gaining worldwide acclaim. In fact, all the Big Five can be seen here, as well plenty of other species, including giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and zebra. While Meru’s most significant waterway, Rojewero River, is a reliable place to spot hippo and crocodile. Yet despite its game viewing easily rivalling other parks in Kenya, Meru is often overlooked when planning Kenyan safaris, meaning those that do go get it virtually to themselves.

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Meru National Park, Kenya Elewana Elsa's Kopje

A beautifully styled and romantic lodge, built above the site of George and Joy Adamson’s original Meru camp, where they famously raised the lion cub Elsa, an experienced immortalised in the classic Born Free.