Samburu National Reserve

Samburu national reserve is a premier hot and dry distinct and appealing place located in Northern Kenya’s Laikipia. The reserve is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River adjoining Buffalo Springs National Park and Shaba National Reserve. The Ewaso Ng’iro River is the longest in Northern Kenya and, and is the primary supply of water in this semi-arid region. The Reserve is about 165 square kilometers and ranges in elevation from 800 to 1230 meters above sea level. Moreover, Samburu National Reserve’s eco-system also includes several conservancies and ranches that border the main reserve, including the Kalama Conservancy, Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, and West Gate Community Conservancy.

Samburu National Reserve takes its name from the Samburu people, nomadic pastoralists with one of Africa’s most vibrant traditional attires and closely affiliated with the Maasai. The Samburu were drawn to this location by the Ewaso Ng’iro, which provides water for their livestock. The river is an important element in this pristine semi-arid terrain, providing water to the abundant species that inhabit the reserve. Ewaso Ng’iro runs south through Samburu National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve, and Buffalo Springs National Park.

Samburu National Reserve is one of Kenya’s least visited but most rewarding game reserves. The reserve encompasses several natural habitats including palm gloves, riverine forests, savannah, and semi-arid environments that form a spectacular area of distant primeval wilderness. Though small in size, Samburu National Reserve more than makes up for it with fantastic biodiversity. The reserve offers a fascinating Kenya safari with the quantity of gigantic African big cats, wild canines, and large mammals. The reserve is home to five wild animal species that aren’t anywhere else in the country; commonly known as the Samburu special five, they include the Gravy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk & Beisa Oryx. The area is also home to Kamunyak, a lioness noted for adopting oryx calves. Other wildlife species in Samburu include Cape buffaloes, elephants, gazelles, warthogs, impalas, bushbucks, waterbucks, olive baboons, Kirk’s dik-dik, and cheetahs, among others.

Furthermore, Samburu offers some of the most realistic wildlife safari experiences in Kenya, with numerous sightings of wild dogs, enthralling elephant herds, an abundance of Africa’s big cats, and a variety of bird species that wander about the reserve. And with over 350 recorded bird species, Samburu National Reserve is also an impressive birdwatching hotspot.

Attractions in Samburu National Reserve

The Samburu Special Five

The Samburu Special Five are the five unusual northern species found in Samburu National Reserve. With the magnificent Ewaso Ng’iro River running through the reserve, these particular five of the National Reserve have made it their home and may thus be found here. Samburu’s special five include Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, long-necked gerenuk, and Beisa Oryx.

Samburu Wildlife

Samburu’s most famous animals are its own Big Five – Grevy’s zebra, with their smart pin-stripe pattern; gerenuk, with its impressively stretchy neck, the Beisa oryx, with pointed horns and distinctive markings, the reticulated giraffe which is clad in attractive coats and the Somali ostrich, a feathery delight. But the reserve thrives with plenty of lions and leopards, as well as elephants which are the reserve’s most dominant species. Samburu is home to over 900 elephants and you may get up close and personal with them for the ultimate elephant experience while visiting the reserve.

More wildlife in Samburu includes cheetahs, hyenas, and the occasional wild dogs; though the big cats are rare. The reserve’s savanna supports a diverse range of herbivores such as Grant’s gazelles, Kirk’s dik-dik, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, and olive baboons, to mention but a few. On the other hand, the Ewaso Ng’iro river is home to an impressive population of hippopotami and crocodiles.

Samburu Birds

Over 350 bird species have been reported in this magnificent wilderness, including Secretary bird, vulturine guinea fowls, and Superb Starlings. Samburu also boasts of the globally endangered Lesser Kestrel and the Taita Falcon. Other notable bird species in the reserve include the African Darter, Martial Eagle, White-headed Vulture, Great Egret, Tawny eagle, Superb Sterling, Yellow-necked spurfowl, Lilac-breasted roller, Northern red-billed hornbill, Vultures, Yellow-billed woodpecker are among the others.

Samburu Culture

Samburu (which means butterfly) culture is one of the most exciting African cultures to explore while on a Kenya safari to Samburu National Reserve. The Samburu people are a unique tribe of people who are primarily renowned for their livestock keeping and use camels as their mode of transportation. On a cultural visit to the Samburu community, you can experience a camel ride. The Samburu culture is a truly African traditional culture, with their distinctive method of dressing up and painting their faces with striking designs to highlight their gorgeous facial characteristics.

River Ewaso Ng’iro

This is one of Kenya’s largest rivers and a vital water source for Samburu’s impressive wildlife. The river features superb riverine forest as it flows north to east across Somalia to meet with the river Jubba. River Ewaso Ng’iro is a haven for a large number of Nile crocodiles, and hippos and a great spot for wildlife viewing because a variety of mammals congregate at the river to drink water.

Mount Ololokwe and Mount Koitar

These mountains are located in the center of the reserve, making it more intriguing, and many tiny animals can be observed relaxing there. The mountains offer wonderful views of the reserve and wildlife as well as a memorable topography.

Things to do in Samburu National Reserve

Camel Excursions

Besides being used as a mode of transport by the Samburu, Camel rides in Samburu take travelers on a spectacular exploration of the African wilderness. A camel ride is an excellent alternative to a regular game drive, allowing you to get up close and personal with the park’s special five such as the Grevy’s zebra, ostrich, and giraffe, in addition to a variety of other wildlife creatures and birds.

Camels are calm animals that have been a part of the northern Kenyan way of life for millennia and camel safaris are quite adaptable. You can choose between a 2-hour round trip with sundowners in between and a longer camel safari with fly camping in the bush.

Game Drives

Game drives in Samburu National Park are an outstanding safari activity. They are best done early in the morning while animals are still active and can be the greatest time for them to look for food and in the afternoon when they have gathered around water sources and under shades. Samburu National Reserve also offers full-day game drives which are the finest way to experience wildlife at its fullest, as you experience how the wildlife live, feed, and relax. The special five (Beisa Oryx, Somali Ostrich, Gravy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, and Gerenuk, as well as elephants, lions, leopards, waterbucks, and warthogs among others, are some of the animal species to be explored on the game drive.

More so, the Ewaso Ng’iro River is the greatest spot for safari game drives in the reserve. Game drives in Samburu National Reserve are conducted in the comfort of 4WD safari vehicles and under the close supervision of a game ranger/guide.

Guided Nature Walks

Guided nature walks in Samburu are enjoyed either in the region surrounding your camp or any one of the nearby conservancies and a longer guided nature walk lasts about 2-5 hours. This is a fantastic opportunity to see some of the 350 bird species documented here and the unique Samburu five among other wild species. More so, you will learn more about the fascinating plant life and its applications in local customs. Nature walks in Samburu are best done early in the morning or late in the evening when it is not too hot. As a result, a lengthier walking adventure is sometimes paired with a game drive and picnic lunch.

Samburu is semi-arid, so bring plenty of water, a good hat, lightweight trousers and long-sleeve tops (to protect your arms and legs from thorny shrubs), sunglasses, and appropriate walking shoes.

Bird-watching

Samburu National Reserve is home to over 350 recorded species of birds, making it an ideal birding paradise for birding enthusiasts. The reserve’s incredible habitats are home to species such as yellow-necked spurfowl, yellow-billed hornbill, palm-nut vulture, grey-headed Kingfisher, bee-eaters, Marabou stork, Vulturine Guinea fowl, Secretary bird, Bateleur, sunbirds, lilac-breasted roller, and so on.

Visit Reteti Elephant Sanctuary

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is one of Kenya’s earliest community-run wildlife organizations, located in the neighboring Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy. The sanctuary and its keepers are dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rewilding orphaned and abandoned elephant calves and other species. Visitors can see the elephants come in from their stroll to receive their bottles and then have mudhole fun from a unique observation platform. Visiting hours are from 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m., and then from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. During your visit, you will be accompanied by a keeper who will inform you about their work and give you a behind-the-scenes tour of the sanctuary. They prefer that you dress in green if feasible, and reservations for the tour to the sanctuary must be made at least a week in advance.

Cultural Visits

Cultural visits to Samburu National Reserve offer a thrilling journey to the traditional dwellings of the Samburu people. The visits will provide a unique insight into the traditional lifestyle of these desert pastoralists, whose traditions have diverged significantly from those of their Maasai cousins. More enticing is the chance to witness and enter their traditional Manyattas and explore how they live.

When is the best time to visit Samburu National Reserve?

The best time to visit Samburu National Reserve is during the dry season, which runs from July to October and December to February, when the reserve has a high concentration of wildlife, particularly along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which is also the reserve’s and local villages’ major water source. The reserve, on the other hand, is open to visitors all year.

Getting to Samburu National Reserve

By road, Samburu National Park is only 350 kilometers from Nairobi and so easily accessible by car. The journey to the reserve from Nairobi is about 6 hours drive.

By air, you can a charter flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport in Nairobi to any of the reserve’s airstrips. You will be transferred by car from the airstrip to your camp or lodge.