A cub lioness adopted by George and Joy Adamson and made famous by the Movie Born Free. Orphaned as cub when George Adamson had to shoot the mother when she charged him. Elsa was particularly attached to Joy Adamson and was in all senses a domesticated Cat when she was small.
Why is Elsa the lion famous?
Elsa Movie Born free was a book written by Joy Adamson adapted from the same Tittle based on the encounters of raising the Lioness Elsa and also trying to reintegrate Elsa into wild . Elsa died when she was 5 years old from a disease called Babesia while Joy Adamson was in London. Before Joy made it back Elsa died in George’s arms in the door way of his tent.
You also may be interested to check out:👉Top Ten Famous African Lions of all Time
How many cubs did Elsa have?
By the she died Elsa had three cabs which later released in the Serengeti national park. Only one of her cabs was ever seen by George in the Serengeti 19 months later.
Born Free The Movie
Born Free is one of the most Famous Safari movies of all Time. The couple is played by Real life Couple Virginia Mckenna and Bill Tamers which was based on the experiences of trying to reintroduce Elsa into the wild other than shipping her to Netherlands in a Zoo.
Which Lioness Played Elsa in Born Free?
The Part was mainly played by Mara a Cub rescued from a rain storm in the Masai Mara and was raised by a British couple Irene and David Grindland. The older Elsa was played other seventeen lionesses from various parts of Africa.
Awards and Accolades For Born Free
The Movie won Best Academy awards for Original Music Score, won Academy Award for Best original song and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Songs for Born Free.
It was Nominated for :
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama: Virginia McKenna
- Grammy Award for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture: John Barry
- DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: James Hill
Born Free Foundation
Born Free Foundation set up by Virginia Mckenna who played Joy Adamson, it is an organization that deals with wildlife charity that focuses to “Keep Wildlife in the Wild”. It protects wild animals in their natural Environment and campaigns against the keeping of wild animals in captivity and rescues wild animals in need.
Hotel Named After Elsa: Elewana Elsa’s Kopje lodge
This is a 5 Star rated, Award Winning Lodge built on a small Hill(Kopje) called Muhwango .The lodge was built on a hill overlooking the exact Camp where George Adamson and Joy had made their Camp. The lodge was built by Stephano Cheli to blend in with the Environment .The Word Elewana means to live in harmony with each other.
The hotel success led to the initiative to preserve the Meru National park which was as results of visitors trickling to the Lodge . On its 20th Anniversary The lodge invited Virginia McKenna and her Family.
The Elewana Elsa’s Kopje is part of ELEWANA COLLECTIONS which is an award winning Boutique safari Lodges with understated Classic safari Look with picturesque locations chosen for each Lodge, Stepped with historically significance of some of Africa’s most historical safari tragedies mixed with favorite British Royal safari locations.
Meru National Park
The George Adamson Camp and currently Elsa Kopje’s Lodge are located in the highly underrated but spectacular Meru National Park. The Park measures 215,000 Acres.
The Park host around 60 to 80 lions as well as other Wildlife. The best aspect about Meru National is its one of the least visited National parks in Kenya thus offers one of the Most Pristine and unspoiled National Reserves in Kenya.
Other Lodges inside the National Park Include: Leopard Rock Lodge(A 4 Star Lodge),Murera Springs Eco Lodge (A 3 Star Lodge) and iKWETA Safari Camp(A 3 Star Lodge).
Check out this highly Rated Lodge in Kenya👇