Samburu Safaris

Samburu National Reserve consists of low lying, semi arid plain on the southern bank of the northern Ewaso Ngiro River. The reserve which lies 9km east of Buffalo Springs National Reserve was gazetted in 1974 and is administered by the Isiolo CC.

The beautiful stark landscape is dominated by Samburu Hill in the south, at the foot of which is a rugged area with steep ravines.

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How to get there

Samburu National Reserve is accessible by road via Isiolo and Archer's Post.
Driving time from Nairobi is approximately 6 hours. The reserve has well established internal roads and tracks.
SUNSAFARIS can arrange for transfers to the camps and lodges in Samburu National Reserve.

Air
To/From Nairobi: Daily flights from Nairobi to Samburu are available with Air Kenya and SafariLink. Private charters can also use this airstrip.

Samburu Lodge

Samburu Lodge is situated on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River in the Samburu National Reserve. It is the perfect place for leopard, lion, elephant and crocodile viewing. The arid, hilly Samburu National Reserve is dotted with doum palms, acacia woodland and scrubland is a dramatic and rugged landscape in a remote location of Kenya. Fewer tourists in a wildlife rich, desert like setting amidst a colourful local Samburu tribe.

Samburu Lodge

Larsens Tented Camp

Larsens Tented Camp is a small, luxurious tented camp set in lush lawns on the bank of the Uaso Nyiro River in the Samburu National Reserve. There are a number of board games and a library of magazines and wildlife books in the lounge. These include the famous Somali ostrich, kingfisher, humming birds, eagles, vultures and guinea fowl.

Larsens Tented Camp

Samburu National Reserve Game Viewing

Introduction

This remote region with its riverine forests, doum palms, acacia woodland and scrubland was one of the two areas in which conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the bestselling book and award winning movie Born Free. The natural serenity that is evident in Samburu National Reserve is due to its distance from industries and the inaccessibility of the reserve for many years. To get here you will cross the equator at Nanyuki and go to the northern hemisphere by passing the snow capped Mount Kenya lying at the equator line. The huge blue mountain serves as a backdrop, fewer tourists, desert like setting, colourful local tribes and unique game viewing it is easy to see the attraction to Samburu National Reserve.

Game Viewing

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. Buffalo, cheetah, leopard, lion and plains game can also be found in the reserve. On rare occasions, packs of African Hunting dogs are sighted passing through the reserve. 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.
The 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. In the dry season the elephants use their tusks to dig into the dry river beds, unearthing precious water. These waterholes then become a focal point for other game.
There are several private sanctuaries around the reserve that work closely with the Samburu people to protect both their tribal lands and the local wildlife. These sanctuaries are open to guests and are worth visiting for those interested in the Samburu culture.

Seasons

The climate in Samburu National Reserve is hot and dry with cool nights. The average annual maximum temperature is 30C and the annual minimum temperature is 20C. The reserve receives 350mm during the rainy seasons in April and November. Long rains are expected in early April and end of May. Short rains fall from mid October to mid December. Dry conditions usually prevail from June to early October and from January to March.