Samburu Safari Guide: The Special Five and Northern Kenya Wildlife
Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya is one of the country’s best safari destinations for travelers who want something different from the southern parks. The landscape is drier and wilder, and it is home to rare animals you won’t easily find elsewhere in Kenya. This guide explains what makes Samburu special and how to plan your visit.
What is Samburu National Reserve?
Samburu is a semi-arid reserve in northern Kenya, set along the Ewaso Nyiro River. The landscape is a mix of dry bushland and savanna, with acacia and doum palm woodland along the riverbanks. The river is the lifeline of the area, drawing elephants, big cats and many other animals to its water, especially in dry weather.
What is the Samburu Special Five?
The Samburu Special Five are five northern species that are much easier to see here than in Kenya’s southern parks:
- Grevy’s zebra: larger than the common zebra, with narrow stripes
- Reticulated giraffe: with a bold, net-like coat pattern
- Gerenuk: a long-necked antelope, sometimes called the giraffe gazelle, that stands on its hind legs to browse
- Beisa oryx: a handsome antelope with long, straight horns
- Somali ostrich: a distinctive ostrich with bluish-grey neck and legs
What other wildlife can I see?
Samburu is home to elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs and buffalo, along with crocodiles in the river, plus many smaller animals. Birdwatchers can look forward to hundreds of species. Large elephant herds gathering near the Ewaso Nyiro River are a highlight.
When is the best time to visit Samburu?
The dry seasons are generally best, when animals gather along the river and are easier to find. Samburu can be visited all year, and the wildlife stays rewarding outside the dry months. Samburu is also a good choice during the July to October Maasai Mara peak, when you may prefer a quieter alternative.
What can I do in Samburu?
- Game drives in the early morning and late afternoon, when animals are most active
- Riverside wildlife viewing along the Ewaso Nyiro
- Birdwatching in the riverside woodland
- Cultural visits with the Samburu people, whose homeland this is
How many days do I need?
Plan on two to three nights. Samburu is a long drive from Nairobi, so it works best as part of a wider northern Kenya or classic Kenya itinerary rather than a one-night stop.
Plan your Samburu safari with us
Samburu features in our Northern Circuit Special, a 15-day safari that includes a full day searching for the Samburu five. It is also part of our Best of Kenya and Tanzania and Kenya in Luxury journeys.
If you’d rather travel at your own pace, you can hire a safari 4×4 with a professional driver guide. See our safari vehicles for hire. For packing, weather and health advice, read our safari FAQs.
Message us on WhatsApp at +254 706 287 600 or email info@africasafaridiscovery.com to start planning.