Conservation & Social Responsibility

• Elsa's Kopje is a great advocator of responsible tourism. We aim to minimize energy consumption, fitting the lodge with energy saving bulbs and LEDs as well as keeping generator use to as little as 6 in 24 hours. Otherwise, Elsa's power and water heating are fully reiliant on solar energy.
• At Elsa's, the fresh produce served by the kitchens is mainly procured from the farmers surrounding Meru National Park. In fact, wherever possible, we try to source supplies from local traders, which servce both to support the local communities and reduce the carbon output of the lodge.
• All firewood at Elsa's is brought in from renewable sources and we take every measure to ensure the lodge has only positive impacts on the reserve.
• We train our staff to separate waste for recycling or responsible disposal. Recyclable rubbish is taken back to Nairobi where glass is sold to the recycling plant 'Central Glass'. We donate the funds raised from selling this glass to the East African Women's League, North Lake Branch, Naivasha, specifically to finance a family planning program.
• Upon assessment by Eco Tourism Kenya, Elsa's Kopje was awarded "Silver Level" in recognition of its commitment and adherenece to high standards of environmental responsibility.

Between May and October 2011, thanks to the great number of donations we received from Elsa's generous visitors, we fulfilled our project goal of donating 729 school text books accross all subjects for the entire school, including teachers, and are delighted to have raised a further KES 393,000 to finance substantial repair and reconstruction work to Ura Gate Primary's kitchen, dining area and classrooms.

We are now 'selling' bags of cement for $10 each in the shop at Elsa's Kopje, so that you can 'buy' one, two, or as many bags as you please and contribute to this long term reconstruction project of Ura Gate Primary School, especially for rebuilding their kitchen and dining area.

Recently, the parents of Ura Gate Primary bought a large energy-efficient stove with capacity to cook for all 480 pupils in the name of investing in their children's nutrition. To protect the stove, they constructed a makeshift kitchen, but a storm in September blew it away. Now lacking this protection from the African sun, the valuable stove is exposed to progressive weather damage.

In remote Kenyan schools, the presence of cooking facilities increases the likelihood of gaining support from government feeding programmes, which in turn encourages student attendance as parents who struggle to feed their children at home take advantage and bring them to school.

By donating one or more bags of cement, you will help ensure that the children of Ura Gate Primary are not only well fed, but well educated too.

Please Contact Us to find out how you can support the Cement Project.

Pack for a Purpose

Interested in bringing school and medical supplies out to Kenya? Click on the image below for detailed information on what to bring and how best to pack for a purpose!