Samburu, Kenya — Giraffes in Samburu National Reserve

Reticulated Giraffe at Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve derives its name from the Samburu people of Kenya who have lived in the area for many years. The Uaso Nyiro River cuts through this reserve, drawing a big population of Kenya animals to the park. The river bustles with activity from its huge population of Nile crocodiles. The reserve's topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees, forest, thorn trees, and grassland vegetation...

Activities

Game Viewing: In the southern part of the park, you are guaranteed to see most of the Kenyan animals found in Samburu, namely: cheetahs, lions, leopards, impalas, buffalo, hippos, and dik-diks, as well as the native gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, and Beisa Oryx. You are guaranteed to see most animals during the dry season as they converge at the Usaso Nyiro River, their main source of water during the long dry weather. Elephants are also spotted during this time, and you can watch the Nile crocodiles swim in the river.

Bird Viewing: Samburu National Reserve is a paradise for bird lovers, with over 350 species of birds already recorded. You can enjoy a colorful assortment of birds such as vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs, guinea fowl, Somali ostriches, and many more.

Samburu Cultural Tours

Visit the local Samburu villages where you get a chance to interact with the colorful Samburu people in their traditional setting and experience their culture. This is a good opportunity to purchase traditional Samburu souvenirs, art, and collectibles.

Climatic Conditions

The Reserve lies within ecological zone V- which is classified as arid and semi-arid with a moisture index of 42 to 57, which indicates that evapotranspiration is greater than available moisture. The days are extremely hot while the nights are cool. The annual mean temperatures range between 18ºC and 30ºC, while the mean annual rainfall is 354mm with peaks in November and April. The dry season starts in late May and goes up to early October when a large concentration of wildlife is found in the reserve due to the availability of lush vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River, the main source of water to the Reserve and the nearby communities.

Accommodation

Safari lodges in Samburu include the Samburu Sopa Lodge, Samburu Serena lodge, Samburu Game Lodge, Sarova Shaba, and Samburu Intrepids Camp, as well as the luxurious and eco-friendly Larsens Tented Camp. Campsites are available but most of them do not have any facilities, you must provide all of your own camping gear.

When to visit

The months of December through March and July through October are dry, making them by far the best months to visit the Samburu National Reserve. April through June are also good months but might be rainy.

Available games to see

The reserve is rich in wildlife with fame for an abundance of rare northern specialist species such as the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, and the Beisa Oryx (Also referred as Samburu Special). The reserve is also popular with a minimum of 900 elephants. Large predators such as the Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah are an important attraction (Kamunyak the Miracle Lioness that adapted the baby Oryx is a resident in the reserve). Wild dog sightings are also a common attraction to this unique protected area. Birdlife is abundant with over 450 species recorded. Birds of the arid northern bush country are augmented by a number of riverine forest species. Lesser Kestrel and the Taita Falcon are species of global conservation concern and they both utilize the reserve. Five species categorized as vulnerable have been recorded in the reserve. These are the African Darter, Great Egret, White-headed Vulture, Martial Eagle, and the Yellow-billed Ox-pecker. Critically endangered species under CITIES – Pancake tortoise (malacochersus tornieri) is found in the reserve.

Getting there

Samburu National Reserve is situated at the southeastern corner of Samburu District in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya.

By Road: Use your own vehicle, take public transportation, or book an open-topped minibus or safari van tour with a tour guide. The park is located about 345km (approx. 214 miles) from Nairobi, or about a five-hour drive. The roads and tracks to the park are all-weather. The reserve is accessible by road via Isiolo and Archer's Post.

By Air: The game reserve is accessible by air and there are daily flights from Nairobi to Samburu that you can book online. Travel time is about 45 minutes and the flights land at the park's airstrip. Private charter flights are also allowed to use the airstrip.