Meru National Park

Meru National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location of Meru National Park
Location	Eastern Province, Kenya
Nearest city	Meru
Coordinates
Area	870.44 km2 (336.08 sq mi)
Established	1966
Governing body	Kenya Wildlife Service

Meru National Park is a Kenyan Game park located east of Meru, 350 km from Nairobi. Covering an area of 870 km², it is one best known National Parks in Kenya. It has abundant rainfall, 635–762 mm in the west of the park and 305–356 mm in the east. The rainfall results in tall grass and lush swamps.

The park has a wide range of wild animals including the African bush elephant, Masai lion, African leopard, Tanzanian cheetah, eastern black rhinoceros, southern white rhinoceros, Grévy's zebra, hippopotamus.

Meru was one of the two areas in which conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the best selling book and award winning movie Born Free. Elsa the Lioness is buried in this park and part of Joy's ashes were scattered on her gravesite.

History

Between the years 2000 and 2005, the Kenya Wildlife Service, helped by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), restored Meru National Park from near ruin to one of the most promising tourist destinations in Eastern Africa, solving the parks poaching problem. IFAW donated $1.25 million to this major restoration project, and with this money aided in improving the basic infrastructure and provided essential equipment and vehicles for law enforcement activities.

Attractions

Aside from the beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife, Tourist attractions include the once home of George and Joy Adamson, Adamson's Falls, views of Mount Kenya, and the Tana River.

External links

• Kenya Wildlife Service – Meru National Park
• Elsa Lioness Grave. FatherOfLions.org
• Meru National Kenya, Safaris, Car Hire, Accommodation Lodges