Elsamere Camp is a haven for lovers of nature, set in Acacia forest on the banks of Lake Naivasha in Kenya's Rift Valley. It is the former home of the late Joy Adamson who, together with her husband George Adamson, became world famous for their pioneering conservation work and relationship with the lioness Elsa, as told in her best selling book and subsequent film, 'Born Free' and she did much of her writing at Elsamere up until her murder in 1980. Her relationship with Elsa the lioness who she raised from a young cub and later successfully released back into the wild .

The Adamsons devoted their lives to wildlife conservation and Elsamere continues to be maintained as a functioning conservation centre. By staying at Elsamere Lodge you have the unique opportunity to tour an active base for local conservation projects and a chance to experience life in one of Kenya's most historic homes. Many of Joy's paintings still decorate the houseElsamere Conservation Center is a bird watcher's paradise, over 200 species of birds have been recorded and rare species such as the Verraux's Eagle Owl are regularly sighted. Early mornings at Elsamere Conservation Center are as special time: the African Fish Eagles herald the dawn with their memorable ringing cry and the chorus of the bird song continues through-out the day.

Morning boat rides are an ideal time to spot the many species of waterfowl and brilliantly colored kingfishers. The lake is home to the largest waterfowl population in Kenya. Elsamere Conservation Centre has also become famous for its resident troop of black and white colobus monkeys, which visit the centre regularly. Guests may easily view the troop from the lakeside lawn. Other frequent visitors to the centre are pod of hippopotami, which often graze on the lawn at night.
Lake Naivasha is very important ecologically. The Elsamere Conservation Center provides information on the lake ecology and regularly hosts researchers who monitor the lake and local wildlife.

The Elsa Conservation Trust - In 1960 Joy Adamson published Born Free, the best seller in which she describes the release of her pet lioness Elsa into the African bush; it made her rich and famous overnight.  In the years which followed she and her husband George devoted a succession of books, films and television programmes to their adventures in returning to the wild a cheetah, a leopard and many more lions. Together the Adamsons revolutioned our attitudes to wild animals and warned the world that unless it protects their habitats, many of the most magnificent species would be extinct there within a few decades. As Joy's fame as a conservationist grew, so did her fortune - but neither she nor George had any personal interest in money.  As soon as she received her first royalty cheque, she planned and quickly established a charity she called the Elsa Wild Animal Appeal, which is now named The Elsa Conservation Trust.  Joy then made over to it all her earnings except her basic expenses.  After their murders, ten years apart, George and Joy each left their entire estates including Elsamere - Joy's house on Lake Naivasha - to this trust.

During the last forty years the trust has donated millions of dollars to wild life education and conservation projects, large and small, helping to create the famous Kenyan parks and reserves at Meru, Samburu, Shaba, Kora and Hell's Gate and also a Field Study Centre at Elsamere.  Today its principle activities and aims are further conservation and worldwide conservation education, particularly in East Africa. At the present time the Trust maintains a conservation centre at Elsamere, the home of the Adamsons, on the shores of Lake Naivasha, where it is possible to stay. 
"For years I had been looking for a house where George and I could live. Eventually I found a place that seemed to combine all we wished for. It would be impossible to imagine a more attractive site for a home. We decided to call our home Elsamere." Joy Adamson

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