The Samburu Special Five
Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and beisa oryx are all found here, and seeing all five on a single game drive is entirely possible.
Kenya Reserves & Conservancies
Samburu National Reserve
Sun-baked scrubland, rocky kopjes and the palm-fringed Ewaso Ng'iro River make Samburu one of Kenya's wildest and most distinctive safari destinations, home to species found almost nowhere else.
- Location
- Northern Kenya, north of the equator
- Size
- 165 km²
- Known For
- Samburu Special Five
- Best Time
- June – October
Discover Samburu
Where the dry north comes alive along the river.
Samburu National Reserve covers 165 km² and lies roughly 200 miles north of Nairobi, tucked into the hot, dry country of northern Kenya just north of the equator. It is a landscape of kopjes, arid scrubland and immense rocky outcrops, all centred on the meandering Ewaso Ng'iro River, whose doum palms and riverine forest form a green ribbon through the semi-desert.
This magical reserve supports animals uniquely adapted to drier, rockier environments. Its most famous residents are the Samburu Special Five: the Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and beisa oryx, species found mainly in Samburu and the wider north of Kenya. Elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs share the reserve with them, and over 450 bird species have been recorded, making it a true paradise for birders.
During the dry spells, most animals congregate along the river to drink, wallow and bathe, creating superb and concentrated game viewing. Samburu is also the homeland of the Samburu people, close cousins of the Maasai, whose bright beadwork and pastoral traditions add a rich cultural dimension to any visit.
Why Samburu
A safari unlike anywhere else in Kenya.
Samburu rewards travellers with rare northern species, a dramatic river setting and a sense of remoteness that is hard to find on the busier southern circuit.
Life Along the River
The Ewaso Ng'iro River draws elephants, buffalo and plains game in the dry season, with crocodiles basking on the sandbanks and leopards resting in the riverine trees.
Excellent Birdlife
More than 450 bird species have been recorded, including the vulturine guineafowl, Somali bee-eater, golden-breasted starling and many birds of prey.
Big Cats in Open Country
Lions, leopards and cheetahs are all present, and the sparse vegetation often makes predators easier to follow than in thicker bush.
Samburu Culture
Visit a Samburu village, meet warriors in their beads and red cloths, and learn about a pastoral way of life closely tied to cattle, camels and the land.
Rugged Landscapes
The flat-topped Ol Lolokwe mountain and Koitogor hill rise above the plains, creating dramatic backdrops for photography, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Location
Where is Samburu National Reserve?
Samburu National Reserve lies in Samburu County in northern Kenya, on the northern bank of the Ewaso Ng'iro River, roughly 350 km by road from Nairobi. The drive takes around 5 to 6 hours via Nanyuki and Isiolo, passing Mount Kenya on the way, and the main access town is Archer's Post. Scheduled and charter flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport land at airstrips in and around the reserve in about an hour.
Across the river lies Buffalo Springs National Reserve, and to the east Shaba National Reserve; together with Samburu they form a single ecosystem where wildlife moves freely. Samburu combines naturally with Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Mount Kenya and the wider Laikipia plateau, and from Arusha it is usually reached via Nairobi.
When to visit
Every season tells a different Samburu story.
Samburu is hot and dry for much of the year, and game viewing is good in most months, but the river makes the dry seasons especially rewarding.
Long Dry Season
The best time to visit. Water elsewhere disappears and wildlife concentrates along the Ewaso Ng'iro, with elephants crossing the river and excellent predator sightings.
Short Rains
Brief afternoon showers turn the scrubland green and bring migratory birds from Europe and Asia. Animals disperse a little, but scenery and birding are superb.
Short Dry Season
Hot, dry weather returns and animals gather by the river again. A great time for photography and quieter game drives.
Long Rains
The wettest months, with greener landscapes, newborn animals and very few visitors. Some tracks can be muddy after heavy downpours.
What is the best month to visit Samburu?
The dry months from June to October and January to March bring the most concentrated wildlife, while the rains bring green landscapes and excellent birding.
Hot and dry, with animals returning to the river and very good game viewing.
One of the hottest months, with wildlife concentrated along the Ewaso Ng'iro.
Still largely dry, with the first clouds building before the long rains.
The long rains arrive, bringing green growth, newborn animals and few visitors.
Rains continue but ease towards the end of the month, with lush scenery and good birding.
The dry season begins, and elephants and plains game start to gather by the river.
Dry, sunny and pleasant, with excellent game viewing along the riverbanks.
Peak dry season, with elephants, Special Five species and predators near the water.
Very dry, with dense wildlife concentrations and superb photographic light.
Hot and dry, with the river at its most important for wildlife before the rains.
Short rains refresh the land and migratory birds arrive in numbers.
A mix of sunshine and short showers, with green landscapes and festive-season safaris.
Explore the area
Discover the different faces of Samburu.
Samburu and its neighbouring reserves offer a surprising variety of habitats, from river forest to open semi-desert and rocky hills.
Southern boundaryThe Ewaso Ng'iro RiverThe lifeline of the reserve, lined with doum palms and acacia forest. Elephants, crocodiles, leopards and countless birds are drawn to its banks, especially in the dry season.
Open plainsScrubland and KopjesDry thornbush and rocky outcrops where gerenuk, beisa oryx, Grevy's zebra and reticulated giraffe roam, and where cheetahs hunt in the open.
Western SamburuKoitogor HillA rocky hill rising from the plains, with sweeping views over the reserve and a favourite haunt of leopards and klipspringers.
South of the riverBuffalo Springs National ReserveSamburu's neighbour across the river, with clear springs, open grassland and similar northern wildlife.
EastShaba National ReserveA wilder, less visited reserve of lava rock, springs and rugged scenery, ideal for travellers seeking solitude.
Beyond the reserveOl Lolokwe MountainThe flat-topped mountain sacred to the Samburu, visible from across the reserve and a landmark of the northern frontier.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Samburu
Samburu's wildlife is defined by the dry north. Alongside elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs, the reserve is the best place in Kenya to see the Samburu Special Five, species uniquely adapted to arid country. Over 450 bird species have been recorded, and in the dry season the river becomes the centre of all activity.
12 animals to look for
Grevy's zebra
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Open scrubland and plains
The largest and most endangered zebra, with narrow stripes, a white belly and large rounded ears.
1 / 12
Reticulated giraffe
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Acacia woodland near the river
Strikingly patterned with bold, clean-edged polygons, and found mainly in northern Kenya.
2 / 12
Gerenuk
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Dry thornbush across the reserve
A long-necked antelope that stands on its hind legs to browse leaves out of reach of others.
3 / 12
Beisa oryx
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Open plains and semi-desert
An elegant antelope with long straight horns, perfectly adapted to survive with little water.
4 / 12
Somali ostrich
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Open plains
Males have distinctive blue-grey necks and legs, unlike the pink of the common ostrich.
5 / 12
Elephant
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Along the Ewaso Ng'iro River
Large herds come to drink, bathe and cross the river, especially during the dry season.
6 / 12
Lion
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Riverine areas and plains
Prides patrol the river and plains, preying on zebra, oryx and other game.
7 / 12
Leopard
Chance of seeingOccasional
Where to look: Riverine forest and rocky kopjes
Samburu has a reputation for good leopard sightings, often in the trees along the river.
8 / 12
Cheetah
Chance of seeingOccasional
Where to look: Open plains
The open country suits cheetahs, which are seen hunting gazelles and gerenuk.
9 / 12
Nile crocodile
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Ewaso Ng'iro River
Large crocodiles bask on the sandbanks and wait in the shallows.
10 / 12
Vulturine guineafowl
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Thornbush and riverine edges
A striking guineafowl with cobalt-blue plumage, one of Samburu's signature birds.
11 / 12
African wild dog
Chance of seeingRare
Where to look: Wider Samburu ecosystem
Packs range widely across northern Kenya and are occasionally seen passing through.
12 / 12
The Samburu Special Five
Five species, one remarkable reserve.
Samburu is the place to find the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. All are adapted to the dry north and are rarely seen on Kenya's southern safari circuit, which makes ticking them off one of the great pleasures of a northern safari.
Your guide will take you along the river and out onto the scrubland in the cool of early morning and late afternoon, when animals are most active. Add a bush meal, a guided nature walk or a camelback excursion with Samburu guides for a complete northern Kenya experience.
Safaris to 中文
Tours that include Samburu
Kenya itineraries that include Samburu, often combined with Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara.
Kenya · 10 days
10-Day Kenya's Grandeur Safari
Samburu National Reserve · Ol Pejeta Conservancy · Lake Nakuru · Masai Mara
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Kenya · 8 days
8-Day Ultimate Kenya Safari Experience
Samburu National Reserve · Ol Pejeta Conservancy · Lake Nakuru · Masai Mara
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Kenya · 15 days
15-Day Kenya Road Trip: The Magical Kenya Wildlife Odyssey
Samburu National Reserve · Ol Pejeta Conservancy · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
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Usually replies within minutesHeritage
The story behind Samburu.
Samburu takes its name from the Samburu people, semi-nomadic pastoralists who speak a language closely related to Maa and share many traditions with the Maasai. For generations they have herded cattle, goats and camels across this dry land, moving with the seasons in search of water and grazing. Their colourful beadwork, warrior traditions and age-set ceremonies remain an important part of life today.
The reserve is managed by the local county government, and much of the surrounding land is held in community conservancies, where Samburu communities protect wildlife alongside their livestock and benefit from tourism. Samburu also became known worldwide through the story of Elsa the lioness, whose life with Joy and George Adamson was set in this region of northern Kenya.
What are the Samburu Special Five?
The Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx and Somali ostrich, species mainly found in Samburu and the wider north of Kenya.
How do I get to Samburu?
By road from Nairobi in about 5 to 6 hours via Nanyuki and Isiolo, or by scheduled or charter flight from Wilson Airport in about an hour.
When is the best time to visit Samburu?
June to October and January to March, when it is dry and wildlife gathers along the Ewaso Ng'iro River. The rains bring green scenery and superb birding.
How many days should I spend in Samburu?
Two to three nights is ideal to explore the river, the plains and the neighbouring Buffalo Springs reserve at a relaxed pace.
Can I see the Big Five in Samburu?
You can see elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo. Rhinos are not normally found here, so we often combine Samburu with Ol Pejeta or Lake Nakuru for rhino sightings.
What activities are available besides game drives?
Birding, guided nature walks, cultural visits to Samburu villages, camelback safaris, mountain biking and bush meals, depending on where you stay.
How hot does Samburu get?
Days are hot and dry for much of the year, often well above 30°C, while mornings and evenings are more comfortable. Light clothing, a hat and sunscreen are essential.
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