Nickname: “”

 

The Samburu National Reserve is a game reserve on the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro river in Kenya. On the other side of the river is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The park is 165 km² in size and is situated 350 kilometers from Nairobi. It ranges in altitude from 800 to 1230m above sea level. Geographically, it is located in Samburu County. In the middle of the reserve, the Ewaso Ng'iro flows through doum palm groves and thick riverine forests. It provides water, without which the game in this arid region could not survive. The Samburu National Reserve was one of the two areas in which conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the best selling book and award winning movie Born Free. The Samburu National Reserve is also the home of Kamunyak, a lioness famous for adopting oryx calves.

​

Lying on the edge of northern Kenya's arid savannahs, the Samburu National Reserve is a destination that will appeal as much to the safari first-timer as it will to the veteran. The most rewarding of the three national reserves that cluster around the life - giving Ewaso Ngiro River; the others being Shaba National Reserve and Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Samburu's game viewing is famously first-class and there are adventure activities and fascinating cultural interactions too. A top attraction in Samburu National Reserve is the Sarara Singing Wells, local watering holes where Samburu warriors sing traditional songs while hauling water for their cattle to drink. Tourists here may also be rewarded with sightings of big cats and wild dogs. Samburu National Reserve can be entered via the Ngare Mare and Buffalo Springs gates.

​

There is a wide variety of animal and bird life seen at Samburu National Reserve. Several large game species common to Kenya's northern plains can be found in abundance here, including the following dry - country fauna: gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, oryx and reticulated giraffe. All three big cats known as the Masai lion, Tanzanian cheetah and leopard can also be found here, as well as the elephant, Cape buffalo and Hippopotamus. Other mammals frequently seen in the park include olive baboon, warthogs, Grant's gazelle, Kirk's dik-dik, impala, and waterbuck. The rhinoceros population is no longer present in the park due to heavy poaching.

​

No matter your budget, contact us and we will help you decide on the destination of your choice and design an affordable and memorable safari experience that fulfills your safari desires, dreams and expectations. Contact us today and Unleash Your Spirit of Adventure with The Big Five Adventure Safaris!

 

KEY FEATURES

​

Location: Samburu County, Rift Valley Province, Kenya.

 

Size:​

 

The park is 165 sq km in size.

​

Distance:​

 

The reserve is located around 345 km (214 miles) from Nairobi and can be accessed through Nairobi - Isiolo - Marsabit road and Maralal - Wamba - Isolo road. Samburu National Reserve can be entered via the Ngare Mare and Buffalo Springs gates.

 

Birds:​

 

Over 450 bird species have been recorded including grey-headed kingfisher, sunbirds, bee-eaters, Marabou stork, tawny eagle, Verreaux's eagle, bateleur, vulturine guineafowl, yellow-necked spurfowl, lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird, superb starling, northern red-billed hornbill, yellow-billed hornbill, and various vultures including the palm-nut vulture.

 

Wildlife:​

 

Several large game species common to Kenya's northern plains can be found in abundance here, including the gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, oryx and reticulated giraffe. All three big cats known as the Masai lion, Tanzanian cheetah and leopard can also be found here, as well as the elephant, Cape buffalo and Hippopotamus. Other mammals frequently seen in the park include olive baboon, warthogs, Grant's gazelle, Kirk's dik-dik, impala, and waterbuck.

 

Activities:

​

Biking. Bird watching. Cultural tours. Camping. Game viewing. Photography. Scenic.

 

When to go:

​

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.