Safari Activities to do in Samburu National Reserve

Safari Activities to do in Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve is one of the great wildlife destinations in Kenya, located in Samburu County on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River, the reserve borders Buffalo Springs National Reserve and Shaba National Reserve, which are both on the other side of the river, as well as the Kalama Community Conservancy and the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy just a little further North.

Samburu National Reserve is a vast expanse of remote pristine remoteness measuring 165 square kilometers; the reserve is characterized by an arid and semi-arid climate with stunning landscapes with wide open spaces for as far as the eyes can see.

Samburu National Reserve is a unique wildlife conservation haven famous for the abundance of rare species of wildlife known as The Samburu Special Five – the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and the Beisa Oryx. The reserve is also renowned for its huge population of elephants, recorded to be close to 900 elephants. There are also predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs.

Samburu National Reserve is one of the best locations in Kenya to see leopards and lions; the reserve is famously known for Kamunyak, the famous Lioness that adopted a baby Oryx.

The Samburu wildlife ecosystem comprises a number of conservancies and group ranches bordering the main reserve, such as the Kalama Conservancy, West Gate Conservancy and Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy.

Kenya Safari Activities to Do in Samburu National Reserve

Game Drives

Samburu National Reserve is one of the best destinations in the northern region of Kenya for game viewing experience, the reserve is famous for the Samburu Special Five—Grevy’s Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and the Beisa Oryx which are rare species only found in this area.

Game drives in Samburu National Reserve are done on several trails running through the reserve and from the comfort of your vehicle, you will enjoy excellent sightings of various animals, including Nile Crocodiles, leopards, lions, and cheetahs, among others.

The best site for game viewing in Samburu National Reserve is along the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which is the main water source feeding the ecosystem. The river is frequented by animals to drink water and cool off.

Bird Watching

Samburu National Reserve is one of the best birding sites in Kenya and among the Important Birding Areas, the reserve is home to more than 390 bird species found in various habitats, the reserve offers excellent sights of a number of Northeast African dry-country species that are shared with Ethiopia and Somalia.

Birds to look out for during bird watching in Samburu National Reserve include the Chestnut weaver, Chestnut-headed sparrow lark, Donaldson Smith’s sparrow-weaver, Fischer’s starling, Golden pipit, Golden-breasted starling, Greater kestrel, Grey wren-warbler, Hunter’s sunbird, Lanner falcon, Mariqua sunbird, Northern brownbul, Palm-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, Singing bush lark, Somali bee-eater, Somali ostrich, Spotted palm-thrush, Von der Decken’s hornbill, Vulturine guineafowl, White-headed mousebird and Yellow-vented eremomela, among others.

The best time for bird watching in Samburu National Reserve is during the period of November to April, when the migratory bird species arrive to join the resident species.

Camel riding

Camel riding in Samburu National Reserve is the most eco-friendly way to explore the semi-arid plains of the reserve; camel riding is the best alternative to the normal game viewing experience in a safari vehicle. While you ride on a camel, you will get up close with the game, such as zebras, giraffes, and others.

Visiting the Samburu People

The Samburu People are one of the few tribes in Kenya and the world as well with cultures and traditions that have not been affected by modernity and technology, the Samburu people are Nilotic people and semi-nomadic pastoralists, depending on livestock herding as a way of life, including cattle, sheep, goats and camels.

The Samburu People live in communities along the boundaries of Samburu National Reserve and their villages are visited for a Samburu cultural experience, on the visit, you will be entertained by local dances and drama, take part in livestock herding and milking of the cattle, and be entertained by local dances and drama, among other things.