Meru National Park is a Kenyan park that is located east of the town of Meru, 350 kilometers (220 miles) to the east of the capital Nairobi. It is one of Kenya’s best-known national parks, with 870 km2 (340 sq mi) and over 200,000 people. There is plenty of rain in this area, with 635–762 mm (25.0–30.0 in) in the western part of the park and 305–356 mm (12.0–14.0 in) in the east. In the west, the park receives 635–762 mm (25.0–30.0 in) in the east. Tall grasses and lush marshes are produced due to the heavy rainfall.
In the park, you can see a variety of wild species, including the African bush elephant, the lion, the African leopard, the cheetah, the eastern black rhinoceros, the southern white rhinoceros, the Grévy’s zebra, and the hippopotamus (hippopotamus).
Meru was one of two locations where conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson fostered Elsa the Lioness. The latter became renowned due to the best-selling book and award-winning film Born Free, based on the same name book. Here, Elsa, the Lioness, is buried alongside Joy, and a portion of Joy’s ashes is sprinkled on her gravestone.
Meru National Park was transformed from a near-destruction site to one of the most promising tourist destinations in Eastern Africa, thanks to the assistance of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The Kenya Wildlife Service was also able to eliminate the park’s poaching problem. A $1.25 million donation from IFAW was made to this large restoration project. The funds raised were used to improve basic infrastructure and provide vital equipment and vehicles for law enforcement duties.
It has been part of a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005, and the protected area has been designated as such since 2005.
Other tourist attractions include the former residence of George and Joy Adamson, Adamson’s Falls, the burial places of Joy Adamson and Elsa the Lioness, views of Mount Kenya, and the Tana River, in addition to the scenic beauty and animals.