Samburu National Reserve, together with the adjoining Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserve is located in the dry and hot northern Kenya. Popularly referred to as “Kenya’s jewel of the north”, Samburu is the most popular park not just in this arid and semi-arid region, but also in Kenya. However, its remote location in what was formerly Kenya’s northern frontier district make it one of the least visited wildlife reserves in the country.
Behind the discouraging features of Samburu – remote, hot and dry- lies the secret that is the unique wildlife experiences and the amazing landscape that make Samburu stand out from the crowd. The reserve is simply awe inspiring. The Special Five (animals that only exist north of the equator) have their home in Samburu. These are, Beisa Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra and the Somali Ostrich.
In this reserve characterized by desert like climate in a rugged area, River Ewaso Nyiro cuts across, giving life not just to the wildlife but the vegetation too. Elephants, Zebras, Lions among many other mammal species frequent Samburu’s only source of water every day to quench their thirst. Visitors to Samburu are certain to witness the abundant display of wildlife in this gem of a reserve, as they make their way to the River Ewaso Nyiro. Sometimes you will even find them right at the River as they cool their bodies in a park whose daytime temperatures can reach 40 Degrees between January and October.
Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves are though under different management often treated as one park, not least by the wildlife itself as the animals’ roam freely within the three.
Samburu National Reserve has the scenic Mount Ololokwe as its background has vegetation that mainly consists of a narrow stretch doum palms and some woodlands that border the Ewaso Ngiro River. Away from the River, you will find acacia woodland and a hot, dusty scrubland. It is also common to come across termite mounds and weaver bird nests while on your drive around Samburu. The endangered Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe and Beisa Oryx seem to have adapted to this desolate landscape and are commonly sighted in this part of the reserve. At the River, you are likely to spot Hippopotamus and Nile Crocodiles. The fascinating Gerenuk, also known as the Giraffe Necked Antelope which is adapted to standing on its hind feet when searching for food can be sighted browsing in the desiccated bushes. Samburu is home to Lions with Leopards and Cheetahs also regularly sighted. Others include Hyenas, Elands, Gazelles, Fringed eared Oryx to name but a few. It’s important to note that the Samburu eco system hosts over 900 African Elephants. Herds of these peaceful creatures gather at the life sustaining Ewaso Ngiro River.
With Samburu boasting of an abundance of bird species, you have a good chance of seeing large flocks of Helmeted Guinea Fowls as they drink water from the River banks in the afternoon. Some other bird species that form Samburu’s exciting avian life of over 390 species include, marabous, white headed vultures, kingfishers, Somali ostrich, vulturine guinea fowls, golden breasted starling, Somali bee-eater, white bellied bustard, Verreaux’s eagles, the rare Taita Falcon and migratory species like Kestrels and William’s Lark.
The Ewaso Ngiro bridge which was built in 1964 links Buffalo Springs National Reserve to Samburu National Reserve to the south. Buffalo Springs shares much of the same wildlife as Samburu but intriguingly, it also forms habitat to the Plain’s Zebra which is not found just over the bridge on the northern side of the river. In the reserve also lies a crater that was caused by some misjudged bombing by an Italian pilot during the Second World War. This crater has since become a clear water pool with some saying that its actually safe to swim in.
Covering an area of 246 square kilometers, Shaba National Reserve is the third largest of the three linked reserves. It got its name after Mount Shaba, a sand stone that lies which lies partially within the reserve and which over 5,00 years ago oozed lava down the Nyambene Hills. Shaba has four water springs, making it more watered than Samburu and Buffalo Springs. During heavy rains, the tracks in this area are only manageable by 4×4 vehicles. This makes the area reputable among local and international tourists seeking an authentic Kenyan experience. In this area, it is common to see Elephants, Cheetahs, Leopard, Water Bucks well as other mammals that have adapted to the harsher conditions of Samburu to the north.
Samburu is a land of endless, magical possibilities. Together with Elsamere in Naivasha, Shaba is one of the two places where conservationist Joy Adamson raised and nurtured Elsa the lioness. The story of Elsa is told in the book and movie; BORN FREE. It is also notable that Samburu was home to KAMUNYAK (It means the blessed one in Samburu language). The renowned Lioness is famous for having adopted an Oryx calves a few years ago. As seen in the film, The Heart of a Lioness, “Kamunyak” fought off predators as she protected the Oryx calf (prey) from fellow canines with care and motherly instincts that would be exhibited by a mother Oryx.
While in Samburu, we highly recommend a taste of the cultural experience of the indigenous Samburu tribe. Living in the villages that border the reserve, the Samburu men and women immerse visitors to their way of life as they show them around their homestead and also perform some of their traditional dances.
Access: Samburu is accessible from Nairobi both by road and air. On a road safari, the journey of about 330 kilometers takes about 7 hours of traversing through the lush central Kenya highlands, before proceeding north past the Equator to the pastoralist town of Isiolo. We normally recommend a one night stop over at Aberdares, Mount Kenya or Ol Pejeta instead of driving all the way to Samburu. Scheduled flights to Samburu are also available from Nairobi. Essenia Safari Experts offers both by road and by air safari packages to Samburu. Talk to us on holidays@esseniasafaris.co.ke for a safari holiday customized specially for you.