Elsa’s Kopje
Elsa’s Kopje, named after Elsa the lioness raised by conservation icons George and Joy Adamson and made famous in the film ‘Born Free’, was released into the wild here at the Meru National Park. This is no doubt a luxurious oasis in the wilds of Meru National Park.
The word Kopje means ‘small hill’. Elsa’s Kopje lodge blends into the hillside of Mughwango Hill, site of George Adamson’s original camp. Meru is vast with arid, open plains dotted with Doum Palms and Baobab trees and lush vegetation along 13 rivers, like green ribbons, bisecting the Park. The lodge is invisible to the eye as you approach the kopje.
The lodge at Elsa’s Kopje has been sensitively designed using local materials to blend in with the surrounding hillside and is located close to the original camp where George and Joy Adamson released Elsa the lioness into the wilds of the Meru National Park.
Accommodation and Meals
Elsa’s Kopje lodge holds 10 luxurious cottages. The cottages are the ultimate rooms with a view, uniquely designed and crafted, incorporating the natural features of the rocky hillside. Each cottage has spacious double or twin beds with en-suite, elegantly appointed bathrooms. There is an open bar, lounge and dining room with an exceptionally inviting infinity pool overlooking the Meru plains.
Elsa’s Private House is a spacious, stylish, exclusive hideaway set slightly apart from the main lodge. It has 1 double room and 1 twin, both with en-suite bathrooms. There is a living and dining area, leading seamlessly outdoors into its own private swimming pool.
Elsa’s Honeymoon Suite is a 3 level room, with a double bed and en-suite bathroom. With its breathtaking views, this latest addition is most definitely Elsa’s ‘pride’!
Activities:- At Elsa’s Kopje, you can experience day and night game drives with highly trained drivers, bush walks with guides and rangers, or cool yourself and take a dip in the swimming pool that has a view that looks out onto the plains, or spoil yourself to a massage. In the evening watch the sunset in a secluded place while you sip on a cocktail.
Each cottage is provided with a private butler who will be at your service at all times. The food is traditional Northern Italian cuisine blended with a selection of local and international dishes, fresh baked bread, crisp salads and locally grown vegetables.
Elsa’s Kopje is easily accessible by road and by air. Daily scheduled flights are available from Nairobi’s Wilson airport to the Meru airstrip.. Its a 50-minute internal flight to the Mughwango airstrip. On arriving guests are transferred by 4 x 4 safari vehicle, just 5-minutes to the camp. Alternatively, there is a helicopter pad which is a 2-minute drive from the lodge. Elsa’s can arrange private road transfers.
Meru National Park is probably less famous than some of Kenya’s other national parks. But with a wide variety of landscapes including savannah, swamps and riverine forests, it provides excellent game viewing opportunities. Leopard, cheetah, lion, elephant, black and white rhino are some of the game you will spot while exploring the park. Meru National Park is also home to giraffe, zebra, hartebeest, dik dik, impala and hyena to name a few. The area is also excellent for bird watching. Kingfisher, starling, Pelas fishing owl and bee-eaters are some of the birds you will find while exploring Meru National Park.