Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve is located in Northern Kenya and is a premier game reserve situated on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro river. This vast expanse of remote pristine wilderness measures 165 square kilometers in area and borders the Ewaso Ng’iro River to the south, which separates it from the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Samburu Reserve is a unique wildlife conservation haven famous for an abundance of rare species of animals such as the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and the Beisa Oryx. The reserve is also home to a population of close to 900 Elephants. Large predators such as the Lion, Leopard and Cheetah are an important attraction (Kamunyak the famous Lioness that adapted a baby Oryx is a resident in the reserve). Samburu is infact one of the better locations in Kenya to spot Leopard. Wild dog sightings are also a common attraction to this unique protected area and Birdlife is abundant with over 450 recorded species.

Things to do in Samburu National Reserve.

Game Drives

Samburu national reserve is one of the best destinations in the northern region of Kenya to do game viewing, the reserve is famed for the Samburu Special Five and a variety of other wildlife species which are used to living in the arid plains. The Samburu special 5 are the highlight of the game viewing experience and game drives can never be complete without spotting some of them, the Samburu Special 5 that are Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, reticulated  giraffe, Gerenuk and Somali Ostrich are called so because they are rare species and found in no other destination in Kenya. 

Bush meals and sundowners.

Tourists during their safari in Samburu National Reserve do enjoy having the bush meals and sundowners that are provided by the campsites and the lodges that gives  the dinner to the tourists in the wilds of Africa, this is where the families, friends and also the groups do  experience the nature wilderness and they are enjoying the bush meal in Samburu National Reserve, this gives them the best moments while enjoying the meal accompanied by the sounds of the wildlife at the same time as they are enjoying the sound of Ewaso Ng’iro while flowing.

Bird Watching

Samburu national reserve is a prime birding destination in Kenya perfect for birder who to have an exciting Kenya birding experience, the park hosts more than 390 bird species inhabiting in the variety of habitats scattered around the reserve that is acacia savannah and gallery forests alongside the Ewaso Nyiro river. Samburu national reserve offer very rewarding birding opportunities as it boasts a number of north east African dry-country species which are shared with Ethiopia and Somali.

Some of the birds to lookout for during birding in Samburu national reserve include Acacia tit, Bare-eyed thrush, African palm swift, Ashy cisticola, Black-bellied sunbird, Black-capped social weaver, Brown-tailed rock chat, Chestnut-headed sparrow lark, Chestnut weaver, Donaldson-Smith’s sparrow-weaver, Fischer’s starling, Golden pipit, Golden-breasted starling, Greater kestrel, Grey wren-warbler, Hunter’s sunbird, Lanner falcon, Mariqua sunbird, Northern brownbul, Palm-nut vulture, Pink-breasted lark, Pygmy batis, Red-bellied parrot, Red-necked falcon

Nature Walks

Samburu national reserve is a fascinating Kenya destination for nature walks, the park has a semi arid landscape which is crossed by the Ewaso Ng’iro river the permanent source of water in the area. Nature walks are mainly conducted along the banks of the river where you will see animals such as hippos, elephants, hippos, crocodiles and many birds. Nature walks in Samburu national reserve are done in the presence of an experienced guide and an armed ranger for security purposes, this activity is done on variously trails running through to the reserve.

Visit The Samburu People

In your Kenya safari at Samburu National Reserve, don’t miss the fascinating Samburu people. As Nilotic individuals and semi-nomadic pastoralists, their livelihood centers around herding cattle, sheep, goats, and camels. Residing on the reserve’s boundaries, the Samburu offer a cultural immersion with their Maa language and preservation of age-old traditions.

Their diet predominantly consists of milk and blood obtained from their cattle. The Samburu settlements, known as manyattas or huts, are crafted from hide, mud, and grass mats, forming protective enclosures for 5 to 10 family members. In Samburu culture, men take on the role of safeguarding the community and the entire tribe, while women are responsible for gathering sustenance, caring for children, and managing water resources.