Samburu National Reserve is a rugged and semi-desert park located in Samburu district in the Rift Valley Province in central Kenya. The park neighbors the homes of the Samburu tribe of Kenya, a tribe known for their remote culture, pastoral and nomadic way of life. The Ewaso Nyiro River is the lifeline of the area. Crocodile and hippo share the river with many small herds of elephant who bathe and frolic in the muddy brown waters during the heat of the day, before returning later to browse the lush vegetation of the riverine forest.
Filled with wildlife, including many desert-adapted specials, Samburu is also incredibly scenic: the park is relatively compact, framed between austere, barren mountains and the fertile banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. You’re in the heart of Samburu country here, which provides a fascinating cultural backdrop, too. Samburu offers great wildlife viewing and four of the Big Five are present. Rhinos are absent, but herds of elephant cross the reserve. Of the big cats, leopards are commonly seen, with some high-quality sightings possible. Most interesting are the northern Kenya specials, often called the Samburu Five: Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich and gerenuk. Samburu is one of few parks where you can see the lesser kudu.
Due to its remote nature, Samburu has become the preferred game reserve for tourists looking for a quieter safari with fewer game vehicles; however, it receives the second-highest number of visitors after the Masai Mara. The Samburu people live on the outskirts of the reserve in rural villages that surivive primarily off the land. There is a lot of cultural interest at these villages and guests are given the opportunity to visit as a part of day-trip activities. Samburu National Reserve is the best place to view several endemic Northern species including the long necked gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and Beisa oryx. Buffalo, cheetah, leopard, lion and plains game can be found in the reserve. On rare occasions, packs of African wild dogs are sighted passing through the reserve.
Samburu National Reserve offers great wildlife viewing, and good densities mean that many safari animals can be seen within a couple of days. Leopard sightings in the woodlands along the riverbanks are among the best in Kenya. Elephants are plentiful, and there is a variety of antelope, including both the greater and lesser kudu with their impressive horns. Only rhino is absent from the Big Five.
Grevy Zebra at the Samburu National ReserveThe reserve is considered a bird viewing paradise by ornithologists. The forests along the river banks are home to many species of bird including the Palm Nut vulture, Vinaceous dove, blue-legged Somali ostrich, and numerous weaver birds. Poaching has completely wiped out the rhino herds however Samburu is visited by large herds of elephant, drawn by the promise of water.
There have been more than 390 bird species recorded in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. The reserves protect a variety of habitats, including arid acacia savannah, scrub and gallery forest alongside the Ewaso Nyiro River. The dry, open country offers very rewarding birding opportunities and boasts a number of northeast African dry-country species shared with Ethiopia and Somalia, such as vulturine guineafowl, Somali bee-eater and golden-breasted starling.
Somali Ostrich at the Samburu National Reserve
