Elsa’s Kopje (Meru National Park)

Elsa’s Kopje is sculpted into Mughwango Hill in Meru National Park, Kenya. Unashamedly romantic and beautifully styled. It is named after Elsa the lioness, from George and Joy Adamson’s biographical book and film, Born Free. Elsa’s Kopje overlooks George’s original camp where he raised and released orphan lions. Long before conservation became fashionable

There is a fertile spring to the east of the hill and guests can watch vast herds of elephant, buffalo and giraffe make their way across the plains below. Meru National Park is a wild and semi-arid landscape. Dotted with doum palms and traversed by weaving green lines of the 13 life-giving rivers, home to basking hippo. It offers wonderful game watching opportunities, and is one of the best locations to view rhino in their natural habitat.

Elsa’s Kopje is an environmental award-winning, boutique lodge and  is widely renowned as one of the most elegant lodges in Africa.

Elsa’s Kopje is one of only two lodges in the National Park, and so guests will have this vast wilderness practically to themselves. An elegant and comfortable lounge and dining area, gorgeous infinity pool, and stunning sundowner viewpoint help make Elsa’s Kopje the ultimate safari retreat. Massages are available and there is free WiFi in public areas and rooms.

Unique Selling Points

• Rhino Sanctuary
  Meru National Park incorporates an 84km² rhino sanctuary, home to over 70 white and 30 black rhinos, making Meru one of the best areas in Kenya to see rhinos in their natural habitat.
• The Adamson Story
  The lodge overlooks 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. The lodge is full of memorabilia and images of George, Joy and their lions.
• Exclusive Meru Park Safari
  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 has a special licence to walk, fish, and conduct night game drives (pre-dinner). The highest peak in Meru Park, Mughwango Hill enjoys 360° panoramas over the volcanic plains.
• Unique and Elegant Boutique Lodge
  The lodge is beautifully designed and furnished with elegant antiques and historical pictures. Elsa’s Kopje boasts one of the most picturesque infinity pools, it’s design incorporating the natural rocky features.
• Abundant Birdlife
  For bird lovers, Meru offers spectacular bird watching opportunities, with over 450 species recorded in the park.

Skip to Elsa’s Kopje Rates or Specials and Packages

Elsa’s Kopje Accommodation

Every cottage is the ultimate ‘room-with-a-view’. Uniquely designed and crafted, incorporating the natural features of the rocky hillside.

Cottages

The 6 x spacious cottages offer views from their private verandas across the adjacent plains. Each cottage consists of a main bedroom, en suite bathroom and a private deck or verandah.

N.B. Cottage 3 has a private sitting room rather than a deck.
2 of the rooms can fit one extra bed, to accommodate children under the age of 16yrs.

Family Cottage

The Family Cottage is a spacious 2-bedroom cottage with a double and a twin room, both of which are en-suite. A beautiful living room, large private deck and an outside bath by the master bedroom complete this cottage. There are panoramic views of the park.

The family cottage can fit two extra beds, suitable for children under 16yrs.

Honeymoon Suites

The ultimate in romance and seclusion, the honeymoon suites overlook the vast plains of Meru National Park. Elsa’s Kopje has 3 x Honeymoon Suites. Two of the suites have romantic outside baths and one suite has three levels featuring a private sitting room, main bedroom with en-suite bathroom, and a small private deck.

Private House

Elsa’s Private House is slightly away from the main lodge, overlooking the vast plains of Meru National Park and facing Mt Kenya. It consists of one en-suite master bedroom with dressing room, and one en-suite twin bedroom. The master en suite has a bath and an outdoor shower. While the twin en suite has an indoor shower. The Private House can fit two extra beds, for children under 16yrs.

The Private House is an exclusive retreat for families, with its own garden, infinity swimming pool, sitting room and dining area.

Meru (Kenya) Family Safari

Elsa’s Kopje is not only romantic and ideal for honeymooners, but also a very family friendly lodge.

Children’s Activities include:
Camp and Mughwango Hill bush walks with family friendly guides who are great with children (age restrictions for children under 16yrs for Mughwango Hill walks)
Fishing
Swimming pool (the private house also has its own swimming pool)
School visit – normal term times and at an extra cost
Children’s menu

Child Policy

Children under the age of 12 year sharing with an adult	Child(ren) free of charge plus adult single rate
Children aged 12-17 years in their own room (2 minimum)	75% of the adult sharing rate
Child(ren) aged 12-17 years sharing with 1 adult	50% of the adult sharing rate for the child , adult per person sharing rate
Child aged 12-17 sharing with 2 adults	Triple rate applies

*Child aged 12-17 sharing with 2 adults Family room rate to apply at Star beds
*Child policy applies in all the Elewana properties except Kilindi where there are no children allowed.
For the activities the child rates start from 3 to 17 year old.

Elsa’s Kopje Activities

Guests can enjoy inimitable seclusion in the vast expanse of Elsa’s Kopje, boasting 870km² , the equivalent of 215,000 acres, of authentic African landscape. The park offers a thriving rhino sanctuary, and is famous for large elephant herds, hippo, lion, and bird life. Meru National Park is recognized as having more diversity of animal species than any other park in East Africa.

The Elsa’s Kopje guides are all Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified.

Activities

Morning and Afternoon Game Drives

Elsa’s Kopje has open game drive vehicles. The vehicles are unrivaled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography. Open sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets. Exclusive use of vehicles can be pre-booked at an extra charge.

The park has enormous diversity of habitat and wildlife. Game drives will take you through forests, past giant baobab trees, and through clear spring fed streams lined with palms. This is lion and elephant country. But also Meru has many rare species specific to Northern Kenya. These include the beautiful Lesser Kudu, aardwolf, Grevvy’s zebra, Somaili ostrich, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk. Plus an abundance of common game and over 400 species of birds.

Rhino Sanctuary

The National Park incorporates an 84 sq km rhino sanctuary, home to over 70+ rhino, both black and white. The size of the sanctuary ensures that finding the rhino is still a game driving challenge!

Day Excursion to Tana River

Take a picnic lunch, and take the whole day to explore the sandy Tana River, Kenya’s longest. Rising in the highlands of Mt Kenya and traveling 704kms before emptying into the Indian Ocean.

Guided Bush Walks

Leave the vehicle behind and enjoy a slower pace with your guide. Enjoy the smaller things – tracks, dung bettles, naked mole rats and micro-ecosystems. Take a walk up to the very top of Mughwango Hill. Enjoying a 360 degree view of the snow-capped Mt Kenya in the west to the vast Meru plains to the east.

Line Fishing

Take your rod, afternoon tipple with some canapés and a good book, and settle on the palm lined banks of one of Meru’s many rivers. The fishing is fun, with plentiful catfish, tilapia and barbell. Share your prey with herons, monitor lizards and spectacular kingfishers.

Bush breakfasts and sundowners

Take a moment to sit back, enjoy the spectacular views, the smells, the colors, and the gentle breeze.

Alongside a freshly brewed coffee, drink in the sights and sounds of the African bush over a full breakfast, served with a view over the plains or along the Tana river.

After a day spent on safari relax with a gin and tonic and watch the spectacular sunset.

Visits to the local school and community

Elsa’s Kopje works with closely with the local community, and they will happily take you to visit a local village or school.

A small donatation goes towards ongoing projects or for the purchase of school books and supplies.

Meru National Park History

In the 1980′s and 90′s, poachers slaughtered many of the elephants in Meru National Park and rhinos were completely eradicated from the area. The park’s infrastructure was deadened with a horrendous blow to conservation. Tourism plummeted and rumors circulated that the government was at the point of de-proclaiming the park. Despite the park’s state of despair, with a passion for this beautiful wilderness, Elewana believed that they could build a successful lodge to secure Meru’s future existence. Since then, Meru National Park has experienced a steady increase in tourist numbers and now has a reputation as one of the best wilderness areas on the safari circuit.

Elsa’s Kopje contributes to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) through lease payments and park fees. This has enabled at least 1,350 animals being successfully translocated to Meru. Species include reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, impala, Bohors reedbuck, leopard and elephant. The rich diversity also includes more than 400 bird species.

KWS has also opened a 20,750 acre rhino sanctuary which now protects a population of over 70 white and black rhino. All this considered, Elsa’s Kopje has undoubtedly made a huge contribution to ensuring that Meru National Park is once again a viable conservation area.

How To Get To Elsa’s Kopje

Mughwango Airstrip (private airstrip) is a 5 min drive fromthe lodge; Kinna Airstrip is a 45 min drive from the lodge.
Both are a 1hr flight from Wilson Airport which has daily scheduled flights these airstrips. Private Charters from anywhere into Mughwango Airstrip and there is a helicopter pad at the lodge.
We can arrange road transfers or private air charters to/from any areas in Kenya.

When to go to Meru National Park

The days are hot, but comfortable with minimal humidity. Evenings are warm.
The wet months are April, May & November.
Elsa’s Kopje is located in a dry area of low population density, as such it has a very low malaria risk. The cottages are sealed with mesh screens and beds have mosquito nets.

Elsa’s Kopje Accommodation Rates

Elsa’s Kopje Camp offers either full board or ‘game package’ rates.

Full board rates include accommodation, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), soft drinks, beer, house wines and selected spirits, teas, coffees and refreshments (on the property), and laundry services.

Game package rates include full-board package, scheduled and shared game drives, bush breakfast, fishing activity, visit Meru Rhino Sanctuary, sun downers, transfers to and from our designated airstrips.

Both rates exclude park fees, champagne, private cellar wines and premium spirit/beers.

Elsa’s Kopje Accommodation Special Offers and Packages

Elsa’s Kopje features on the Elewana SkySafari Kenya itineraries.

Offers cannot be combined unless specified.

Pay 3 Stay 4

Stay longer for less at select Elewana properties

Offer 1 is valid for travel until 31st August 2023 and valid at the following lodges:
Tanzania: Arusha Coffee Lodge, Serengeti Migration Camp
Kenya: Elsa’s Kopje Meru, Loisaba Star Beds, Loisaba Tented Camp, Loisaba Lodo Springs, Tortilis Camp Amboseli

Offer 2 is valid for travel from 1st September 2023 until 31st May 2024* and valid at the following lodges:
Tanzania: Arusha Coffee Lodge, Serengeti Pioneer Camp, Tarangire TreeTops, The Manor at Ngorongoro
Kenya: Elsa’s Kopje Meru, Loisaba Star Beds, Loisaba Tented Camp, Sand River Masai Mara, Tortilis Camp Amboseli

Both offers:
Must always combine at least 2 properties – one of which must be featured in this list
Applicable to new bookings only and subject to availability
Terms and conditions apply
*Blackout dates: 20th December 2023 to 5th January 2024 and 29th March 2024 to 1st April 2024

The rest of 2024 Offers are still being finalized but there is a good chance the same offers will apply – just check with us when you know your dates.

Elewana Circuit Discount

Elsa’s Kopje is part of the Elewana Collection. A collection of luxury boutique lodges, camps and hotels in iconic locations across Kenya and Tanzania. Stay longer at any combination of these properties and get great discounts in 2023 and 2024:
6+ nights: 10%
9+ nights: 15%
12+ nights: 20%

Valid in mid and low season at Arusha Coffee Lodge until 31st May 2024* but all year at all other Elewana properties.

*1st November 2023 until 19th December 2024 and 4th January to 31st May 2024.

Advance Purchase Special Offer

Stay 4+ nights and save 10%, stay 7+ nights and save 15%,
stay 10+ nights and save 20%
Applicable when combining one or more properties, excluding Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Cannot be combined with any other special offer.
Bookings must be made a minimum of 90 days prior to arrival. All bookings must be paid in full upon booking confirmation.
Subject to availability and blackout dates apply*. Valid for Non-resident rates only.
Terms & Conditions apply. Valid until 31st December 2023.

*Black out dates: 1st July – 31st October and 20th December – 5th January

Both the Circuit Discount Offer and the Advance Purchase Special are valid at:
Tarangire Treetops, The Manor at Ngorongoro, Serengeti Migration Camp, Serengeti Pioneer Camp, Kilindi Zanzibar, (PLUS Arusha Coffee Lodge in mid and low season on the circuit discount) in Tanzania
OR:
Loisaba Tented Camp, Loisaba Star Beds, Loisaba Lodo Springs, Lewa Safari Camp, Kifaru House Lewa, Sand River Mara, Elephant Pepper Camp, Tortilis Camp Amboseli, Elsa’s Kopje or AfroChic, Diani Beach (closed for major refurbishment) in Kenya.

The Advance Purchase Special exclude stays at Arusha Coffee Lodge.

Ultimate Exclusivity

Stay 4 nights and get complimentary private vehicle and guide (worth min. $2000)

Offer valid between: 1st March – 31st May, 1st November – 15th December 2023

Kenya Honeymoon

There is nothing more romantic than a safari! Already an unforgettable, once in a lifetime and pampered experience; safaris offer incredible sunsets, romantic accommodation with spectacular views, and relaxed al fresco dinners.

All the cottages at Elsa’s Kopje are outstanding suites, but they also have honeymoon suites which can be booked especially for a honeymoon.

Being a very special holiday, they often have special offers and upgrades for honeymooners.

Elsa’s Kopje Wedding or Renewal of Vows

Over the years, Elsa’s Kopje has hosted very many beautiful weddings, blessings, and renewal of vows for its guests.

From small simple ceremonies involving merely a glass of champagne at the end of a game drive. To elaborate three day events, with over 20 guests taking over the whole property.

Discuss your ideas with us.

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