Elsa's Final Resting Place - 2010
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Elsa the Lioness
Many visitors to Kenya, visit Meru Park to pay their respects to the Adamsons
and Elsa the sweet Lioness of Born Free fame who is buried in Meru Park.


The following photos were taken in Meru, Kenya in 2010....
Much thanks to Ericka for sharing these lovely photos.


 


Ericka writes of her experience,
"It is a beautiful, moving, peaceful resting place."

 


Elsa died with her head in George's lap.
After George buried her, George and his scouts fired 20 volleys of shots over her grave
in the hopes that her mate may have heard them and paused.
 


River view next to Elsa's final resting place.

 


Riverbank next to Elsa's grave.

 


Beautiful and Peaceful at the river side next to Elsa's grave.


Animals grazing near the area of Elsa's grave.


Kopje (Rocky outcroppings) where Elsa used to lay.

 


Signpost to Elsa's Kopje


Rock Hyrax at Elsa's Kopje
When Elsa was just a little lion cub Joy Adamson had a pet Hyrax name Patti (written about in her book Born Free).


Joy wrote to a close acquaintance about repairing Elsa's grave.
(Excerpt is from actual copy of letter written by Joy Adamson.)

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MORE Photos of Elsa's Grave
2021 Photos of
Elsa's final resting place .... 2021_Photos
MORE .... Photos

Elsa is the Beloved Lioness made famous in the award winning movie BORN FREE
and the best selling book written by Joy Adamson with the same title.
Elsa is buried in Meru National Park in Kenya, East Africa.
Visitors to Meru can visit her grave to pay their respects.

Tribute to Elsa the Lioness....Elsa Lioness

Photos at Elsa's Kopje Lodge....Photos

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READ ABOUT ELSA in the best selling book,'BORN FREE'. - - The story of Elsa the Lioness will touch your heart.

This is a remarkable TRUE story of a lion cub (George Adamson's first lion) and the Love and Trust she shared with her human family. She is returned to the wild and yet continues to cross the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the human world and the radically different world of life in the wild.  Books

It clearly shows that even wild animals are individuals capable of great trust, understanding and affection.
Many photos.  Video with same title. This true account of Elsa's life and George and Joy Adamson's determination to return her to the wild with her own kind.

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George Adamson wrote in his book:

"Who will now care for the animals, for they cannot look after themselves? Are there young men and women who are willing to take on this charge? Who will raise their voices, when mine is carried away on the wind, to plead their case?"

George Adamson
1906-1989

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Do you have photos pertaining to Elsa's Resting Place in Meru or George's grave in Kora OR photos of Joy or George Adamson? - - If so please SHARE with others, by offering to donate the 'viewing' of item(s) on this non-profit site.
NOTE: This is a NOT-for-profit site dedicated to conservationists George and Joy Adamson. If you have any information about items pertaining to the Adamsons or if you have photos of or letters from George or Joy that you would like to share so that others may also have the opportunity of enjoying and learning more about the Adamsons, please share item(s) and send by
.  THANK YOU!

One visitor to Elsa's final resting place had this to say....

.... a visit is a pilgrimage of sorts, since Meru is where the famed lioness "Elsa" was released back into the wild after being raised by George and Joy Adamson, visiting Elsa's grave, especially on this trip, was extremely important to me.

.... How does one begin to describe Elsa's Kopje? "Heaven on earth" is appropriate. ....
It is built on top of Mughwango Hill, which was George Adamson's first camp, then known as Elsa's Camp. Even driving up to the accommodation, you cannot see it until you pull up into the parking area. The entrance is dotted with wonderful pictures of George and Joy Adamson and, of course, Elsa. ....

.... My visit to Meru would not have been complete without a visit to Elsa's grave, which is appropriately alongside a river at the edge of the park boundary. Although she does not know it, Elsa paid a huge role in my life. From the moment I saw "Born Free" when I was four years old, I was obsessed with Africa.

I asked Michael(husband) and our guide to leave me alone for a while and they obliged. I sat on Elsa's grave and talked with her and told her of my journey thus far. I told her about all the lions I saw in the Serengeti and that perhaps one was related to her. (When Elsa died she had three cubs, which were later taken to the Serengeti for release by George and Joy Adamson.)

I told Elsa how important she was to me and how it was my mother who introduced me to her - "Born Free" was the first movie my Mom ever took me to see.

I cried my heart out at Elsa'a grave, but, you know what? It felt good. I just wish my Mom(who had passed away) had been there with me to pay homage to Elsa. My Mom would have known that my tears were those of joy not sadness.

All in all a very emotional and sometimes bittersweet trip, but one that I would do all over again.
-



Elsa, Always Affectionate and Loving....
Pictured here with Joy.



George's Final Resting Place In Kora - Photos

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