Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve is situated 200 miles north of Nairobi in the arid lowlands of northern Kenya, a little distance north of the equator, adjacent to Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves. The Reserve was established in the late 1960s, where the lush greenery of the surrounding area transitions into desert scrubland, kopjes, and vast rocky outcrops, all focused around the winding Ewaso Ngiro River. This remarkable landscape harbors species specifically adapted to its arid, rugged conditions. Samburu National Reserve is a captivating safari destination in Kenya, renowned for its distinctive wildlife that thrives despite the arid climate. This enchanting reserve is one of the two locations where Joy Adamson raised and nurtured Elsa the lioness, whose story was immortalized in the best-selling book and film “Born Free,” further enhancing the reserve’s fame.
Samburu National Reserve is among the more renowned parks in Kenya and has consequently become somewhat crowded over the years. An excellent location, as the surface waters recede during the dry season, ensuring reliable game viewing. It is named for the Samburu tribe, nomadic pastoralists renowned for their exquisite and delicate traditional adornments. The Samburu continue to inhabit manyattas (villages) that are mobile to pursue fresh pastures for their donkeys, goats, and cattle. Camels were introduced at some point after the arrival of Arabian trade, and these desert animals naturally flourish in this semi-arid environment. This is one of the rare locations in Africa where one can embark on a camel trip, accompanied by proficient and informed Samburu guides in pursuit of wildlife. Samburu National Reserve is an extraordinary safari destination in Kenya, famed for its resident lioness, Kamunyak, which translates loosely to “the blessed one.” The Samburu National Reserve is renowned for being the residence of Kamunyak, a lioness that adopted six orphaned Oryx calves. It is also one of the designated areas in Kenya where the lioness Elsa was nurtured by conservationists Joy and George Adamson. The reserve served as the primary setting for the best-selling book and award-winning film “Born Free.” Kamunyak valiantly defended the lives of Oryx calves, at one juncture repelling predators to rescue the newborn orphans, a sequence depicted in the film “The Heart of a Lioness.”
Samburu National Reserve comprises arid, open bushland and savanna, bordered by a riverine forest of acacias and substantial doum palms along the Ewaso Ngiro riverbank. This river is the park’s centerpiece, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and attracting a diverse array of wildlife throughout the year, particularly against the vivid and arid red soil. A variety of animals approach the river to hydrate and refresh themselves, while crocodiles and hippos conceal themselves in the shallow sandbanks, ensuring unexpected encounters. Samburu National Reserve boasts a notably high number of elephants, including large familial groups. The park serves as a migratory corridor utilized daily by herds traveling between Laikipia, Samburu, and Mount Kenya in search of sustenance, breeding opportunities, and minerals. The Mount Kenya Trust has achieved significant success in the population of elephants utilizing both anthropogenic and natural regions of the migratory corridor, markedly diminishing human-elephant conflict.
The reserve boasts a rich and diverse array of wildlife, featuring the Samburu “Special Five”: Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx. These species are predominantly observed in Samburu and Northern Kenya, and are rarely encountered in other frequently visited reserves in Kenya, such as Maasai Mara National Reserve or Amboseli National Park. The most often observed mammals are elephants, which are abundant throughout the reserve. The Samburu Laikipia Ecosystem hosts Grant’s gazelles, impalas, waterbucks, dik-diks, hippos, olive baboons, warthogs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, Cape buffalo, hyenas, elands, jackals, klipspringers, mongooses, and bats. The reserve is home to groups of Wild Dogs, although sightings are rare due to their extensive range and constant movement. Avian diversity is prolific, with more than 450 species documented.
Primary Activities Undertaken in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya: Engaging with premier tour operators in Samburu National Reserve offers clients a diverse array of experiences through various safari activities, hence enhancing the significance of their African journey. We provide our guests with a diverse selection of premier safari activities conducted both within and beyond the reserve. These premier activities can be undertaken by automobile, on foot, or on horseback, and are accessible both during the day and at night. The activities encompass the following:
Wildlife observation
Samburu National Reserve is home to diverse animal species and is renowned for its exceptional game viewing safaris. A Kenya game viewing safari in Samburu National Reserve provides a very gratifying experience through morning, afternoon, and night game drives. The game viewing experience will provide an exceptional opportunity to observe a plethora of wildlife, including gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, oryx, reticulated giraffe, lions, African leopard, elephants, Cape buffalo, hippos, gazelles, impalas, waterbuck, warthogs, and several others.
In the dry season, the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River are the premier location for a Kenya game viewing safari, offering the opportunity to observe numerous animals drinking water with substantial populations of Nile crocodiles.
Bird watching
Samburu National Reserve is a premier birding safari location in Kenya, boasting over 350 bird species. Birdwatching in Samburu National Reserve is a pleasurable safari pastime that provides exceptional views of several birds, such the Acacia tit, Bare-eyed thrush, and 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, Falco rupicoloides, Grey wren-warbler Hunter’s sunbird Lanner falcon. Mariqua sunbird. Northern brownbul Palmae-nut vulture, Pink-breasted lark Pygmy Batis Red-bellied parrot, Red-necked falcon, Red-winged lark. Reichenow’s seedeater Rosy-patched bush-shrike Secretary bird. Aves lark vocalizing Somali bee-eater, Somali ostrich. Spotted palm-thrush, Von der Decken’s hornbill, Vulturine guineafowl, White-headed mousebird, and Yellow-vented eremomela, among others.
Camelback expeditions. Camelback safaris in Samburu National Park offer a distinctive and traditional method of exploring the wilderness, allowing participants to appreciate the expansive landscape adorned with stunning scenery and diverse wildlife. While riding camels, tourists can approach the animals closely.
Breakfast in the bush. Samburu National Reserve provides an exceptional breakfast in the park’s wilderness, allowing visitors to savor their meal while observing wildlife roaming freely.
Mount biking.
Mountain biking is an exhilarating pursuit in Samburu National Park, entailing the use of bicycles to explore the countryside. In this semi-arid plain within the park, one can appreciate the captivating vistas of the flora, fauna, avifauna, and the river coursing through the forest.
Notable avian species to observe at Samburu National Reserve include migratory birds, which are present in the area from November to April.
Cultural expeditions
Samburu National Reserve provides not just wildlife viewing and birding safaris but is also renowned for its captivating cultural safaris within the remarkable Samburu population neighboring the reserve. The Samburu people are nomadic pastoralists with a captivating culture, customs, and traditions that have withstood the influence of technology and modernity. The Maasai people embellish their bodies with vibrant shukas and exquisite beads, creating a striking visual spectacle. During your time in the Samburu village, you will experience cultural dances, songs, and theater, engage with the elders, and tour local marketplaces and schools.
Walking safaris
Samburu National Reserve features a scenic landscape characterized by remarkable natural tranquility, providing exceptional walking safaris in Kenya. These safaris traverse various trails that meander through the savannah grasslands, which dominate the reserve’s terrain, and alongside the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which flows centrally through the reserve before draining into Lorian Swamp. The experience entails observing a variety of species, including Nile crocodiles, elephants, lions, Grevy’s zebras, gerenuk, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, hyenas, and hippos, as they graze, drink, and swim in the river’s waters.
