In the 1960s, Meru became famous thanks to Elsa the lioness and her release into the wild as depicted in Joy Adamson’s book “Born Free.” The 1966 film featured Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, the first to show wild animals as lovable beings, evoking audience empathy. George Adamson worked with lions near Meru National Park until his death in 1989. Joy Adamson and Elsa the lioness are buried there.
Elsa’s Kopje, nestled at the park’s center on Mughwango hill, provides panoramic views from Mt. Kenya to the east and beyond to the west. Below the hill is the site of George Adamson’s camp, and the hill was the playground of Elsa the lion. A fertile spring lies east of the hill, where guests can observe elephant, buffalo, and giraffe herds crossing the plains below. Elsa’s Kopje, one of two lodges in the National Park, offers guests the chance to enjoy this vast wilderness almost exclusively.
- Meru National Park incorporates an 84 sq km rhino sanctuary, home to over 70 white and 30 black rhinos.
- The lodge is built overlooking the site of George Adamson’s camp at the foot of the hill and the park was the playground of Elsa the lioness of Born Free fame.
- Jaw-dropping wildlife encounters, including huge elephant herds.
- With only a handful of camps and lodges in and around Meru, Elsa’s guests have the luxury of enjoying the Park almost entirely to themselves.
- The lodge is beautifully designed and furnished with elegant antiques and historical pictures.
- For bird lovers, Meru offers spectacular bird watching opportunities, with over 450 species recorded in the park.
This accommodation is part of the following packages: