Samburu County · northern Kenya
Samburu National Reserve
Dry northern country along the Ewaso Nyiro, with species you will not see further south.
- Country
- Kenya
- Typical access
- Road from Nairobi via Nanyuki and Isiolo
- Usual stay
- 1–2 nights
- Terrain
- Semi-arid scrub, doum palm riverine forest, rocky hills
Overview
What Samburu is.
Samburu is semi-arid: doum palms along the Ewaso Nyiro river, red soil, rocky hills and thin acacia scrub. It looks and feels different from the Mara, and it is quieter.
The reserve is best known for a set of dry-country species found here and rarely further south — Grévy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Guides in northern Kenya usually refer to them together as the Samburu Special Five.
The river is the organising fact of the place. In the dry season almost everything comes to it, which makes wildlife viewing here unusually concentrated.
Wildlife
What you are likely to see.
- Grévy's zebra and reticulated giraffe
- Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich
- Elephant along and across the river
- Lion, leopard and cheetah
- Crocodile in the Ewaso Nyiro
Experiences
How the days work here.
River-line game drives
Morning and afternoon drives worked around the Ewaso Nyiro.
Dry-country species
A genuinely different species list from Kenya's southern parks, which makes Samburu a strong second-safari destination.
Best time to visit
When to come to Samburu.
- June – OctoberDry. Game concentrates along the river.
- December – FebruaryHot and dry, with good river-line viewing.
- March – May, NovemberRains. Green, quiet, and the landscape changes completely.
Where you stay
Our shortlist at each level.
Properties Ndurumo may recommend or use at each level. Final accommodation is confirmed with your quotation and remains subject to availability.
Budget
Samburu Riverside Camp
Midrange
Ashnil Samburu Camp
Luxury
Sasaab
Routes that include Samburu
Safaris through here.
Kenya · 6 daysclassic safari
6 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Samburu Private Safari
South-west grassland, Rift Valley rhino, then the dry country of the north.
Nairobi · Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Samburu · Nairobi
Kenya · 7 daysprivate safari
7 Days Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara Private Safari
Northern dry country, rhino conservancy and the Mara, on a private vehicle.
Nairobi · Samburu · Ol Pejeta · Lake Nakuru · Maasai Mara · Nairobi
Kenya · 9 daysprivate safari
9 Days Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Maasai Mara & Amboseli Private Safari
The long way round Kenya: northern deserts, Rift Valley lakes, grassland and Kilimanjaro.
Nairobi · Samburu · Lake Nakuru · Lake Baringo & Bogoria · Maasai Mara · Amboseli · Nairobi
Questions
About Samburu.
What makes Samburu worth adding?
A different species list and a much quieter reserve. It pairs particularly well with Ol Pejeta, which is on the same road north.
Plan your safari
Build a trip around Samburu.
Tell us your dates and how long you have, and we will shape a route that gives Samburu the time it deserves.