SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE

- Samburu National Reserve - ï»¿

 

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Measuring in at a relatively modest 165km2 and located in the remote North, Samburu is one of Kenya’s smaller and lesser known parks, but this vast expanse of remote pristine wilderness is one of Kenya’s hidden jewels. In fact, Samburu was listed as the second most beautiful place in the world by CNN Travel in 2019 for its landscapes and wildlife.


You might even recognise the landscapes from the award winning movie “Born Free”, as Samburu is the chosen home of Joy Adamson, the famous naturalist and author who raised the lion cub called Elsa. Home to the Big 5 and most typical safari species, it is also home to the very rare and  endemic “Samburu Special Five” – Somali ostriches, grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes, beisa oryxes and gerenuks.

Adventurers will love Samburu, as it is one of the only places in Africa which offers black rhino tracking on foot. Heading into the thick bush of one of the most untouched reserves in Africa with only your very experienced armed guide, is an exciting adventure which you will remember for a lifetime. Due to the abundance of rare and endangered species, it is a hotspot for conservation and there has been invaluable collaboration with communities to lessen human-wildlife conflict. There are fascinating opportunities to interact, engage and learn from researchers, trackers and organisations who have chosen Samburu’s unique ecosystem for their studies. 


You will also have ample opportunity to meet the fascinating Samburu people, and to observe their extraordinary culture and tradition, totally untainted by the modern world. 

One extraordinary experience which should not be missed, is the daily ritual at the Singing Wells. Samburu families take their herds of cattle to the drink at the wells, where they dig for water to fill up troughs for their cows, goats and camels. Since Samburu can be quite arid for a large majority of the year, these wells run deep, requiring a chain of people passing up buckets to the surface. Whilst working, each family sings their individual family song, which the cattle correctly recognise and they will head to the correct trough. As the lucky observer, you will feel privileged to be part of such an extraordinary routine everyday African experience.


Samburu can be a pricier destination as the more remote areas can only be reached by small plane, but at The Travel Cafe we consider it one of Kenya’s most exciting destinations. 

Each region is unique!

Click on the different regions below to find out more about the unique beauty each offers, and when the best time is to visit.

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- Best time to visit Samburu -

Best time to visit Samb

Winter (June - October): As with the rest of Kenya, Samburu experiences it long dry season during winter. You can enjoy sunny days and daytime temperatures are stable at around 27°C / 80°F. The arid landscape of Samburu National Reserve does bear resemblance to a desert climate, and like most deserts, experiences night-time lows, that drop to around 16°C / 65°F. We recommend that you bring additional layers of clothing, to fend off the chilly evening safari air. 

Nevertheless, this is the perfect time to go to Samburu, as water sources are limited due to the absence of rainfall, and the animals congregate along the Ewaso River to drink. 


Summer (January - March): For a quieter safari consider the short dry season of January and February, after the short autumn rains have dispersed. This season is almost as perfect as winter, and yet surprisingly unknown by the majority of tourists who wish to travel to Samburu. 


Spring (November - December): Spring is the season of the short rains in Samburu.  The rain falls in form of short late afternoon showers, so it won’t really impact your game viewing while on safari in Kenya. 


Autumn (April - May):  April and May bring the long rains, with torrential continuous downpours and muddy washed-out roads, some of them unpassable. At The Travel Cafe, we consider it our least favourite of the seasons to go to Samburu, even though is slightly less impacted by the rains than the more Southern parks. 
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