Samburu National Reserve

Home of Kamunyak

The Samburu National Reserve is a game reserve on the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro River situated northern Kenya's arid savannahs. On the other side of the river is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The park is 165 km² in size and is situated 350 kilometers from Nairobi. It ranges in altitude from 800 to 1230 m above sea level. Geographically, it is located in Samburu County.

In the middle of the reserve, the Ewaso Ng'iro flows through doum palm groves and thick riverine forests. It provides water, without which the game in this arid region could not survive.

The Samburu National Reserve was one of the two areas in which conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness, made famous in the best-selling book and award-winning movie Born Free. The Elephant Watch Camp, of which Saba Douglas-Hamilton is director, lies within the park.

The Samburu National Reserve is also the home of Kamunyak, a lioness famous for adopting Oryx calves.

By Road:

The reserve can be accessed by road from Nairobi through Isiolo on all weather bitumen while Isiolo Archers Post is gravelled. The road section distance from Isiolo to Archer’s gate is 34.3 km.

By Air:

The reserve has an airstrip that is the Oryx Samburu Airstrip.

The “Samburu Special Five”

These rare species are highly adapted to Samburu’s dry ecosystem and are seldom found elsewhere in Kenya:

Grevy’s zebra – largest and most endangered zebra species
Somali ostrich – uniquely blue-gray and suited to arid grasslands
Reticulated giraffe – famous for its bold, net-like coat patterns
Beisa oryx – long-horned antelope well adapted to arid plains
Gerenuk – known as the “giraffe gazelle” for its graceful browsing stance

Diverse Wildlife

Home to around 900 elephants, with long-term research conducted by Save the Elephants.
Big cats - including lions, leopards, and cheetahs thrive here, with Samburu being one of the best places in Kenya to spot elusive leopards.
Also hosts populations of African wild dog, hippos, Cape buffalo, rare black rhino (recently reintroduced), baboons, Grant’s gazelle, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, and Kirk’s dik-dik.

Birdlife & Rare Sightings

Over 450 bird species recorded rich habitat variety includes vulturine guineafowl, marabou stork, Verreaux’s eagle, tawny eagle, superb starling, lilac-breasted roller, bee-eaters.
Species of conservation concern like the lesser kestrel, Taita falcon, African darter, white-headed vulture, martial eagle, and yellow-billed oxpecker frequent the reserve.
The critically endangered pancake tortoise has also been recorded here.

Conservation & Community

Save the Elephants and the Grevy’s Zebra Trust operate from Samburu, implementing research, collaring, monitoring & community-based protection.
Surrounding community conservancies (e.g. Kalama, West Gate, Namunyak) create wildlife corridors and distribute tourism benefits directly to local Samburu communities through sustainable practices.

Samburu Culture & Visitor Experience

The Samburu people, closely related to the Maasai, are semi-nomadic pastoralists with vibrant beadwork, distinctive ceremonial practices, and cultural tourism opportunities that support local livelihoods.
Conservation tourism blends wildlife safaris with cultural village visits, guided field research experiences, camelback safaris, walking safaris, stargazing, and helicopter flights

Sources: https://www.samburureserve.com/