Elsamere Conservation Centre

"I had the pleasure of stopping at this conservatory. What a lovely spot to stay at while studying local habitat."

Lorry Patton

Home of the late Joy Adamson of "Born Free" fame located on beautiful Lake Naivasha among birds and wildlife. Centre is a functioning conservation complex and provides accommodation for 15-18 people in cottages set in the gardens around the main house. The rooms are bright and attractive and all have ensuite bathrooms.

Guests may also choose to stay in the main house in Joy Adamson bedroom, which has easy wheelchair access.

Meals are included and tea is served daily at 4pm. Local attractions include Hells Gate National Park, the only park that permits walking and Mt. Longonot, a 2,800 metre extinct volcano.

Children under 7 are not allowed

Boat hire is available for excursions on the lake

Non resident full board rate is US $140 per double and Single $85.

ELSAMERE AND THE FIELD STUDY CENTRE

Joy Adamson, together with her husband George became world famous for their pioneering conservation work and relationship with the lioness Elsa as told in the best selling book and film Born Free.

Elsamere is the perfect place to discover and enjoy nature. It is also within easy driving distance of Nairobi, approximately 90 minutes on good tarmac roads.

WORK OF THE ELSA CONSERVATION TRUST

The Elsa Conservation Trust, a registered charity, established the Elsamere Field Study Centre in 1990.

The Elsamere Field Study Centre offers an ideal environment for groups or individuals wanting to study nature or for those wishing to hold a conference in pleasant surroundings.

The Co-ordinator can tailor make special weekend packages for groups. Long term accommodation is also available for back packers, research students and gap year students.

The main purpose of the FSC is to educate local children in conservation issues. The centre offers free conservation education programs for local Kenyan schoolchildren. The children participate in a range of practical activities such as composting, recylying and crop rotation. For many of the local children this is their first experience of Lake Naivasha and its wildlife.

The ECT hopes to impart Joy's passion to local children, so that they may help protect their continent's fragile environment. By staying at the FSC you are also helping to support this ongoing conservation education program for Kenya's poorer students.

ACCOMMODATION

ELSAMERE: can accommodate 16 guests in 8 rooms with private facilities all facing the lake.

The Elsamere Field Study Centre : can accommodate up to 40 people in four accommodation blocks.

Blocks A and B are divided into four spacious rooms with two to four people sharing a room. Each room has its own bathroom and toilet.

Block C and Block D are divided into three rooms per block with shared shower and toilet facilities. Each room accommodates four people in bunk beds. All rooms are extremely clean, bright and simply furnished.

MEALS

Meals at Elsamere and the Field Study Centre are taken communally in their main dining halls. The meals are simple but nourishing. Fresh local produce is used in all meals.

ACTIVITIES

Groups can hire the conference hall and a small resource library is also available. There is a range of conservation material and various conservation education displays on local wildlife. A resident naturalist and bird guide can lead groups on the property's nature trail and accompany groups on boat trips.

The FSC co-ordinator can also give lectures on the wildlife and biodiversity of the Naivasha region. Guests at the FSC are also invited to participate in the conservation classes organised for the visiting local children.

WILDLIFE

Guests staying at the Elsamere FSC and Elsamere have the chance to encounter some spectacular wildlife. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded around the lake. Boat rides are an ideal way to spot the many species of waterfowl and brilliantly coloured kingfishers.

Elsamere has also become quite famous for its resident troop of colobus monkeys. Other frequent visitors include a pod of hippopotami, which often graze on the lawns during the evening.

FACILITIES

Guided boat trips on the lake or to Crescent Island.
Guided bird and nature walks on the property and the Elsamere nature trail. [/br] The museum contains a small collection of Joy's paintings and artifacts. Memorabilia from the film Born Free and photos documenting the Adamson's work with wildlife are also on display.
Biological displays on the local fauna and flora
A video library of conservation and wildlife documentaries.
Conference hall is available for hire

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Elsamere Field Study Centre is conveniently located near Hells Gate National Park. Hells Gate is one of the only National Parks in Kenya that permits walking. Visitors can hike or cycle through the park and enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife. Leopard, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and a large variety of plain games are regularly sighted in the park. Hells Gate N.P is also famous for its raptors including the rare Lammergeyer, which has recently been successfully re-introduced into the area.

A trek up Mt Longonot, a 2,800 metre extinct volcano is another interesting day's outing. Visiting Crater Lake with its emerald green coloured water and flocks of flamingos is yet another option.

BOOKINGS Contact : The Manager
Elsamere
PO Box 1497
Naivasha, KENYA

Tel: +254 311 21247
Fax: + 254 311 21248
Mobile : 072 648123
Email: elsa@africaonline.co.ke