attractions for the visitor.  Firstly it is part of the domain made famous by Elsa the lioness, whose association with this wild and lovely country is well known through Joy Adamson's books.  An excursion to Elsa's camp on the Ura River in the south of the Park is well worth while.

Secondly, a section of the Park has been designated as a wilderness area, in which there are no roads. The energetic visitor who would explore must proceed on foot, escorted by an experienced ranger guide and with porters to carry camping equipment and food.  Such an expedition furnishes the opportunity to experience the pleasures, and perhaps some of the hazards, of a foot safari as it was at the beginning of the century.  Approaching elephant, rhino and buffalo under these conditions is a very different proposition to viewing the animals from the safety of a motor vehicle. The third novelty Mero has to offer is its introduced White Rhinos – the only Park or Reserve in Kenya to possess these animals.

Meru National Park ranges from 1036m in the foothills of the Nyambeni range, its northern boundary, to less than 3040M on the Tana River in the south-eastern sector.The area is well watered, the main rivers being the Rojerwero, Ura and Tana; all three are

Margined by dense riverine forest or magnificent stands of Doom and raphia palms.  Most of the Park is covered by bush of varying densities, Combretum bush prevailing in the northern section and commiphora in the south.  The north eastern quadrant is open doom palm country, grassland and acacia woods, and in the extreme north there is a small patch of rain forest, an outlier of the Ngaia forest

A well-planned network of roads ensures excellent game viewing and big game often includes Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, plentiful in the Rojerwero and Tana Rivers, Reticulated Giraffe, Grey, s and Common Zebra, Grant's, Lesser Kudu and Generuk.  Lion, Leopard and Cheetah may be found and Beisa Oryx is quite plentiful. In addition to game viewing on land, a motor boat suitable for four passengers plus crew is available for anyone wishing to explore the country from the rivers. This is perhaps the best area to locate the shy African Finfoot, a very elusive bird to seek from the riverbanks.

Birds are abundant and colorful.  In doom palm areas the Red-necked Falcon is often to be seen.  There are at least three species of Coursers, but one, Heuglin's is seldom observed on account of its nocturnal habits. Pel's Fishing Owl occurs on the Tana River and campers in this part of the Park should listen for its loud cry; an unforgettable sound. Those remarkable birds the honeyguides are represented by four species, and the resplendent Golden-breasted Starling is often encountered in flocks, but is usually shy and difficult to approach.

In the acacia woodlands along some of the rivers lives the smallest of the long-tailed Sunbirds, the diminutive Smaller Black-bellied Sunbird, which gathers insects and nectar from the branches of red-flowered parasitic loranthus growing in the trees.

Accommodation in Meru includes Meru Mulika Lodge with full hotel facilities, and the Leopard Rock Bandas and Bwathongen Bandas.  The latter are near the Park Headquarters, and can be booked through the Game Warden.  These provide shelter, beds and cooking facilities only.  Meru Mulika Lodge is sited a few miles from the main gate, overlooking a large swamp, which is a favored haunt of elephant and buffalo.  Leopard Rock Lodge is father north near the rocky outcrop from which it takes its name.In addition there are campsites, near the Leopard Rock and in the south on the Tana River.

There are two routes to the Meru Park from Nairobi. The first is the main road via Nyeri, Nanyuki and Meru: the second is via the Embu-Meru road, from which a new access road now forms the best approach to the Park via the Ura gate.From Meru there is also a dry –weather route through Mathata and Kangeta towards Maua.

After Kangeta and some three miles along the Maua road a left turn on the Kinna road leads to the National Park gate, where instructions will be given on how to reach Leopard rock or Meru Mulika Lodge.  The road from Meru is well signposted.In addition to access by road the visitor can fly to airstrips at Leopard Rock Lodge and Meru Mulika Lodge.