The Samburu Special Five and the Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu sits in northern Kenya’s semi-arid lowlands, a landscape of golden savannah, rugged hills and riverine forest quite different from the parks further south. Three things set it apart.
The Samburu Special Five. Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich are all adapted specifically to this dry northern landscape, and this is one of the few places in the world to see them together.
The Ewaso Nyiro River. Flowing from Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Ranges, the river is Samburu’s lifeline, drawing elephant herds to bathe and drink, and sustaining lion, leopard and cheetah along its banks year round.
A living research landscape. Samburu is headquarters to Save the Elephants, founded by Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton, and home to the Ewaso Lions Project, some of Africa’s leading elephant and predator research happens here, not somewhere you just drive through.
Samburu culture. The reserve takes its name from the Samburu people, semi-nomadic pastoralists closely tied to this land, and many safaris include a visit to a local village.
Wildlife You’ll See on a Samburu Safari
- The Samburu Special Five, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich, the main reason most people visit
- Elephants, large herds gathering along the Ewaso Nyiro River to drink and bathe
- Lions, leopards and cheetahs, all resident, with strong predator sightings thanks to open terrain and a healthy prey base
- Hippos and Nile crocodiles, along the riverbanks
- Over 450 bird species, from eagles to colourful bee-eaters
The Landscape
Samburu’s terrain shifts from open savannah to rugged hills and dry riverbeds lined with doum palms, with the Ewaso Nyiro cutting through the arid landscape as its permanent water source. It forms part of a larger ecosystem with neighbouring Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves, where wildlife moves freely across all three.
How to Get to Samburu National Reserve
By road from Nairobi. About 5 to 6 hours, roughly 320 kilometres, through the Aberdare Ranges and Laikipia Plateau, crossing the equator on the way, with Mount Kenya visible on the horizon.
By air. Scheduled and charter flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, cutting the journey to under an hour, we can book this for you.
Best Time to Visit Samburu National Reserve
June to October and January to February. The dry seasons, wildlife concentrates along the Ewaso Nyiro River, making sightings easier.
March to May and November to December. The rains bring greener scenery and fewer visitors, though wildlife spreads out more, so sightings take a little longer.