Located on the northeastern slopes of Mount Kenya, Meru is a bustling town in the heart of Kenya. It is home to the Meru people, a Bantu ethnic group whose name translates as “shining light”. According to legend, they were guided here by the magical powers of a divine leader, Mugwe.
Things to do in Meru
Sprawling west of Meru is Mount Kenya National Park, which centres around the second-tallest peak in Africa. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to African elephants, Cape buffaloes and black-and-white colobus monkeys. If you’re feeling energetic, you can tackle the multi-day hike that leads to Mount Kenya’s 5,199-metre-high summit, taking in glaciers, mineral springs and alpine vegetation along the way.
A short drive north of Meru is Lake Nkunga, which is named after the mythical, seven-headed dragon believed to inhabit its waters. Aquatic grass covers the surface of the crater lake and appears like a huge, floating mat. Elephants occasionally come to rehydrate along its shores, together with a variety of monkeys.
On the other side of Meru is the Murithi Mpuri Cultural Centre, which is located on a tributary of the Kathita River. It details the migration of the Meru people from North Africa to the foot of Mount Kenya, with traditional artefacts, costumes and rock inscriptions on display. Also exhibited are coins and notes used during the British colonial era and passbooks that were required to be carried by local ethnic groups.
Getting around Meru
Meru is just over four hours’ drive from Nairobi and 4.5 hours from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Long-distance buses connect to Meru while local services travel throughout the town. Taxis are also available for getting around.