About this hotel
General information
Elewana Elsa's Kopje Meru is a small Elewana Collection lodge in the heart of Meru National Park, set into the granite flank of Mughwango Hill. The cottages follow the curve of the rock, folding around boulders and trees so that from a distance the lodge almost disappears into the kopje. Each one was designed individually, open-fronted and angled to its own view over the plains, and from the top of the hill the outlook runs a full 360 degrees, as far as Mount Kenya.
There are eleven units in all: six cottages, a family cottage, three honeymoon suites and a private house with its own pool. The lodge runs on minimal power, holds an Ecotourism Kenya Gold eco-rating and is open all year. Full board covers every meal, tea and coffee, soft drinks, beer, house wines, selected spirits and laundry; the game package adds scheduled shared game drives, a bush breakfast, fishing, sundowners and airstrip transfers.
Location
The lodge sits on Mughwango Hill in the centre of Meru National Park, a landscape of thirteen spring-fed rivers lined with palms and riverine forest, with Mount Kenya on the horizon. The private Mughwango airstrip is a 5-minute drive away and Kinna airstrip 45 minutes; both are about an hour's flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, with a daily scheduled flight to Kinna and charters into Mughwango. A helipad lies a minute from the lodge, and Elewana vehicles drive in from Nanyuki and the group's other northern properties in 3.5–8 hours.
Spa
There is no spa as such, but a massage cottage looking out over the park offers treatments after a morning in the field.
Sports & leisure
Meru is lion and elephant country, also home to buffalo, giraffe, lesser kudu, caracal and aardwolf, hippo in the rivers and more than 400 bird species. The lodge offers several ways to explore it:
- game drives in open-sided Toyota Land Cruisers with three rows of seats and camera-friendly fittings, shared or, at extra cost, in a private vehicle;
- night game drives for small groups, charged separately;
- visits to the 84 km² rhino sanctuary, home to both black and white rhino;
- short guided walks to look at tracks, dung beetles and naked mole rats, and a climb up Mughwango Hill for the panorama;
- a full-day excursion to the sandy banks of the Tana River with a picnic lunch;
- river fishing for catfish, tilapia and barbel, with afternoon refreshments on the bank;
- bush breakfasts on the plains and sundowners at the end of the afternoon drive.
Restaurants & bars
The dining area and bar sit on the hillside overlooking the plains, and dinners are often served outdoors. Out in the park the lodge lays on bush breakfasts, sundowners, afternoon refreshments by the river and a picnic on the Tana River day.
Swimming
An infinity pool is built into the hillside with views across the park and bar service by the water. The Private House has its own infinity pool in its garden.
Rooms
Eleven units — six cottages, a family cottage, three honeymoon suites and a private house — are spread across the slope of Mughwango Hill, each with its own layout and its own view of Meru's plains.
Each unit has a bathroom with a bathtub, a private deck or verandah and Wi-Fi.
Cottage
An open-fronted cottage with a double or twin bedroom, an en-suite bathroom and a private deck or verandah facing the plains; one cottage has a private sitting room in place of the deck. For two guests.
Family Cottage
A two-bedroom cottage with a double and a twin room, both en suite, a living room, a large private deck with views across the park and an outdoor bath by the main bedroom. Sleeps two adults and two children.
Honeymoon Suite
A suite overlooking the plains of Meru; two of the three have an outdoor bath, while the third is set over three levels with a private sitting room, an en-suite bedroom and a small deck.
Private House
A house facing Mount Kenya with a main bedroom with dressing room and en-suite bathroom, an en-suite twin bedroom, a large dining and sitting room, a private garden and an infinity pool. For four adults.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.