Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve is one of Kenya’s most distinctive wildlife destinations offering species and landscapes markedly different from the country’s better-known southern parks. The reserve straddles the Ewaso Ng’iro River in Kenya’s arid north and its semi-desert habitat supports a suite of unique dry-country species collectively known as the Samburu Special Five — Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk (the giraffe-necked antelope that stands on its hind legs to browse). The reserve’s predator sightings are excellent with healthy populations of lion, leopard, and cheetah while the Ewaso Ng’iro’s pools attract large numbers of elephant and Nile crocodile. The cultural dimension of visiting Samburu is equally compelling with the opportunity to learn about the semi-nomadic Samburu people whose traditional way of life endures alongside the wildlife.