Meru, Kenya
Elsa's Kopje
Built atop a granite hill, Elsa’s Kopje is an idyllically situated boutique safari lodge in the Meru National Park. It was opened in 1999 by Virginia McKenna, and the eponymous Elsa is the lioness star of Born Free. The lodge has been credited with single handedly reviving the fortunes of this beautiful national park. Built atop a granite hill, Elsa’s Kopje is an idyllically situated boutique safari lodge in the Meru National Park. It was opened in 1999 by Virginia McKenna, and the eponymous Elsa is the lioness star of Born Free. The lodge has been credited with single handedly reviving the fortunes of this beautiful national park.
Built atop a granite hill, Elsa’s Kopje is an idyllically situated boutique safari lodge in the Meru National Park. It was opened in 1999 by Virginia McKenna, and the eponymous Elsa is the lioness star of Born Free. The lodge has been credited with single handedly reviving the fortunes of this beautiful national park. Built atop a granite hill, Elsa’s Kopje is an idyllically situated boutique safari lodge in the Meru National Park. It was opened in 1999 by Virginia McKenna, and the eponymous Elsa is the lioness star of Born Free. The lodge has been credited with single handedly reviving the fortunes of this beautiful national park.
Location
Elsa’s Kopje has been carefully and considerately constructed on the slopes of Mughwango Hill. The lodge sits above the original camp where George Adamson raised and released orphan lions and offers a calm, tranquil atmosphere with seemingly endless views over the Meru National Park.
Accommodation
This is one of the most imaginatively designed lodges in East Africa with accommodation in cottages and suites, though you can also opt to take exclusive use of the private house. The cottages are all open fronted, and comprise a master bedroom, an en-suite bathroom, and then either a living room or outside deck.
They’re made almost entirely from natural materials - stone, adobe, timber, and thatch - so you feel very much part of the wilderness which surrounds you. The architectural design certainly blends in with the natural surroundings, and the lodge has been awarded a Gold Eco-Rating in recognition of its innovative policies to minimise its environmental impact.
They’re made almost entirely from natural materials - stone, adobe, timber, and thatch - so you feel very much part of the wilderness which surrounds you. The architectural design certainly blends in with the natural surroundings, and the lodge has been awarded a Gold Eco-Rating in recognition of its innovative policies to minimise its environmental impact.
Dining at Elsa’s is a real feast for the senses. The menu has a strong Italian bent, but with wonderful fusion dishes such crispy tempura made with local vegetables, and aubergine, tomato, and feta stacks with parmesan crisps. The bread and pastries are homemade, and the salad ad herbs are grown in the kitchen garden.
Experiences
- Dining here is a real feast for the senses and has a strong Italian influence, with homemade breads and pastries, and herbs and salads from the kitchen garden.
- If you’re interested in seeing rhino, this is the place to be! The Meru National Park is home to over 60 black and white rhino.
- With only two lodges in the area, you can enjoy game drives, bush walks and sundowners with the wilderness practically all to yourself.
- Spend a day exploring Kenya’s longest river, the sandy Tana River - with a stop for an al fresco lunch, of course!
- The Meru National Park is incredibly diverse in both habitat and wildlife - along with commonly seen elephant and lion, you could also see hundreds of bird species and rare caracals or aardwolf.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
Conservation
Located within Meru National Park, a huge sanctuary for incredibly rare white and black rhino, Elsa’s Kopje plays a key role in the protection of these critically endangered animals.
Environment
The camp boasts a prestigious Gold Eco-Rating awared by Eco-Tourism Kenya. Their environmental sustainability efforts include 100% solar power, sourcing food from local economies, reducing food miles and supporting local businesses and reducing packaging of all supplies.
Community
Elsa’s Kopje’s parent company, Elewana runs the “Land & Life Foundation. The foundation works closely with local schools and clinics to tackle issues of education and health by helping to identify their development priorities.
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