Game drives · Northern Kenya
Samburu National Reserve
Wild, arid and home to the 'Special Five'
North of the equator, Samburu is harsher, hotter and home to species you'll see nowhere else in Kenya. The Ewaso Nyiro river is the lifeblood — wildlife converges on it.
- The Samburu Special Five
- Strong elephant and big-cat populations
- Striking Samburu cultural visits
- Spectacular dry-country landscapes
Best time to visit
June to October and December to March. Wildlife concentrates along the river in the dry season.
Getting there
1-hour flight from Nairobi Wilson, or a 5–6 hour drive past Mount Kenya.
What you'll see
Wildlife you can reasonably expect on a typical Samburu National Reserve game drive.
- Grevy's zebra — the largest and rarest zebra
- Reticulated giraffe — unique to the north
- Gerenuk — the long-necked 'giraffe gazelle'
- Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich
- Strong leopard and lion sightings along the river
Experiences here
River sundowners
Sundowners on the Ewaso Nyiro with elephants drinking nearby.
Samburu village visit
Closely linked tribe to the Maasai but with their own distinct culture and dress.
Camel-back safari
Optional camel walks through the arid scrub with a Samburu guide.
FAQ
Samburu National Reserve — common questions
- Is Samburu worth adding?
- Yes — the wildlife is genuinely different from southern parks. Great for repeat safari-goers.
- How many nights?
- Two nights is enough to see the special five and enjoy the river.
Plan your Samburu National Reserve safari
Tell us your dates and we'll send back a handcrafted itinerary, usually within 24 hours.
