Encased in a wild enclave of highland plains and flat-topped acacia trees on the northeast slopes of Mount Kenya, Meru is one of the busiest urban centres in all of East Africa. In a cascade of corrugated roofs and steep roadways, it plays host to countless excursion operators and Meru tour guides, all eager to help travellers break out to the natural wonders that abound in the area. These include attractions such as the zebra-peppered grounds of the Buffalo Springs and Samburu national reserves, the less-trodden Vivienne Falls, the verdant water pastures of the Nkunga Sacred Lake, as well as the volcanic plugs of Ithanguni on the ridges of the great mountain itself.