Mkuru is situated on the North side of Mount Meru. From a distance the area can be easily recognized through the remarkable shape of Ol Doinyo Landaree, the little mountain that looks like a pyramid.

Maasai families live in small traditional bomas scattered throughout the area. In the early morning, the warriors start wandering with their cattle looking for pasture and water. Young children take care of the goat and sheep, and sometimes assist their mothers in fetching water and collecting firewood. With assistance from Heifer Project International some Maasai have also started keeping camels, and come to understand the benefits of this animal. On behalf of the requests from Maasai societies Heifer Project International is providing camels to individuals and groups.

Since the introduction of camels in Tanzania in the early nineties, Mkuru has become one of the centers for camel promotion in the country. Over a hundred camels stay in the camel camp, from where they are lead every day into the plains to search for forage. At the end of the afternoon, all camels return to the camp and are milked by Maasai warriors. The area around Mkuru is alive with colorful birds.

The rufous crowned roller, the red and yellow barbet and the Fischer’s lovebird are some of the more special species. Small game also regularly passes the area and in the plains to the north, giraffes and zebras are common animals