Samburu National Reserve
The Samburu National Reserve is one of the notable tourist destinations for anyone to visit in East Africa. Located in the Northern Park of Kenya the Park is approximately 350 km away from the country’s capital city Nairobi. The reserve spans across an area of 165 square kilometers with an elevation of 800 to 1230 meters above sea level. The reserve has a diverse landscape that ranges from riverine forests to thorn trees and acacia trees. The park has the Ewaso Ng’iro river that provides for most of the water in the park and this is a catchment for a lot of wildlife and aquatic life. The river also acts as a natural boundary between Samburu National Reserve and the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. While at the park you have great views of the mountains of Ololokwe and the Kitogoro mountain. The reserve is well known for its conservation efforts by conservationists Joy and George Adamson for raising Elsa the lioness which became a subject for both a book and movie. “Born Free”. For film crews looking to film lions, Samburu National Reserve is one of the locations to film in with famous resident Kamunyak the lioness that is known for adopting oryx calves and raising them. The reserve extends beyond its boundaries to include Kalama Conservancy, Westgate Community Conservancy, and Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy which makes for its biodiversity.
Unique Wildlife. Samburu National Reserve is famous for having unique wildlife among those are the Grevy’s Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and Beisa Oryx which are uncommon to any other place in Kenya. More to this the park is home to about 900 elephants and other large predators like leopards, lions and cheetahs are commonly spotted in the reserve. It’s easy to see 4 of the Big 5 here with only the rhinos nonexistent. Another rare sighting is that of Wild dogs.
Birdlife. For the birdwatchers, Samburu National Reserve is the park for you to visit, with more than 450 recorded bird species ranging from bee-eaters, sunbirds, eagles, starlings, hornbills, and vultures. Contact us for your booking and we will arrange a package for you.
Climate. Samburu National Reserve is found in a semi-arid region characterized with high temperatures varying from 18°C to 30°C with rains in the months of March to May and October to November and the rest of the months being dry predominantly from June to October and December to February. Get in touch with us for more information.
Activities and attractions in Samburu National Reserve.
Samburu National Reserve offers a variety of activities and attractions that cater to wildlife needs and provide a great experience for visitors:
- Wildlife Viewing with both day and night game drives available.
- Guided Nature Walks
- Bird Watching
- Cultural Visits
- Samburu Village Tours:
- Cultural Performances:
- Scenic Attractions
- Ewaso Ng’iro River:
- Doum Palm Groves:
- Rocky Outcrops and Kopjes:
- Photography and filming trips
- Conservation Activities
- Relaxation and Wellness
- Stargazing
- Fly Camping to spend a night under the stars in the wild.
- Bush Meals and Sundowners for those who want to have a test of the wild
Our top safaris to Samburu National Reserve
4- Classic Samburu Safari
7- Samburu and Maasai Mara Combined
7- Samburu and Laikipia Plateau Adventure
10- Samburu and Mount Kenya Trek
5- Luxury Fly-in Safari to Samburu
12- Samburu, Maasai Mara, and Amboseli Safari
10- Samburu, Aberdares, and Maasai Mara Safari
Are Samburu National Reserve tour activities for everyone.
Trips to Samburu National Reserve are for all ages and inclusive, be it a family or solo traveler, everyone can do this trip and there is no age limit for all. They cover a wide range of interests and fitness levels making them suitable for all age groups. If you are interested in a trip here contact us and we will arrange a trip for you tailoring it to your needs.
When is the best time to visit Samburu National Reserve
The best time to visit Samburu National Reserve has to be during the dry season which is from late June to October and also during January to February. During these months the sparse vegetation and lack of water sources make wildlife easier to spot when they congregate around the Ewaso Ng’iro River. The weather is warm and the temperatures generally low in the morning and evenings which makes it a good time for game viewing. However, Samburu National Reserve can be visited all year round, with the wet seasons in March to May and November to December where the park has green animals roaming all around, it’s harder to stop them gathering but still makes for a good safari experience. Each season offers its own unique experiences. Contact us.
Obtaining a Visa for Kenya
Kenya has now moved to the new visa online application system which requires all visitors to fill in an online application form and pay the required fees where applicable. The process is simple and less time consuming compared to the old system. Click here for the online application portal to complete your visa.
How to get to Samburu National Reserve.
By Road: The drive from Nairobi to Samburu is approximately 350-400 kilometers which is about a 6-8 hours drive but very scenic and is accessible via a well-maintained road. You will travel through towns like Nanyuki and Isiolo which offer a different picture of rural life. The roads are rough but we offer 4×4 vehicles which handle the journey well and are suited for the terrain.
By Air: Three main landing areas Samburu Airstrip, Sasaab Airstrip and Buffalo Springs Airstrip.
Flight options are available and clients can either choose to do a charter or a scheduled option available. The flight time is approximately 1hr 30 minutes to the park and can be got from Nairobi Wilson Airport. We will book the flight for you and have our drivers and guide pick you up when you land to take you to the hotel or start the trip.
Our Transportations services.
We have Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed a window seat. 4×4 Vehicle: If traveling by road are highly recommended due to the rough terrain in some areas. Contact us for transportation services.
Accommodation to stay in while visiting Samburu National Reserve.
Samburu National Reserve offers a wide range of options for accommodation to choose from when out there for a trip ranging from luxury, mid-range, budget and campsite options for you. Being that the high season attracts a lot of tourists, you have to book your safari package in advance if you are to get decent accommodation.
Luxury Lodges and Camps
- Sasaab Lodge
- Elephant Bedroom Camp
- Saruni Samburu
- Mahali Mzuri
- Larsens Camp
Mid-Range Accommodations
- Samburu Intrepids
- Ashnil Samburu Camp
- Samburu Sopa Lodge
- Saruni Samburu
- Kicheche Bush Camp
Budget Accommodations
- Samburu Simba Lodge
- Samburu Riverside Camp
- River Camp
- Kichwa Tembo Camp
- Ewaso Ng’iro River Camp
Campsites
- Samburu Conservancy Campsites
- Samburu Riverside Camp
Flying Camps.
- Sasaab Fly Camp
- Elephant Bedroom Fly Camp
- Kicheche Bush Camp Fly Camping
Is it safe to visit Samburu National Reserve?
Samburu National Reserve is a very safe place to visit and Kenya as a country has prevailing peace and the people also are friendly. Finding crime towards travelers as uncommon as the reserve security does a lot of monitoring work to ensure that this prevails. But like anywhere around the world, you are encouraged to be cautious of your belongings as theft is common especially in the city and urban areas.
Why use Encounter Africa Safaris as your trusted operator.
Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the leading tour operators for the East African region, we have been organizing amazing experiences to Samburu National Reserve for the last 15 years and are in a position to give you the best advice in terms of getting the best out of any penny spent. We have a team of competent safari designers and guides who will make sure that planning and executing your safari is done with ease. Encounter Africa Safaris is owned and run by locals and part of the money paid by you is channelled to benefiting projects that support community development as well as conserving the environment. Follow this easy guide to Samburu National Reserve when choosing to book a safari and I assure you that the package will work out. Encounter Africa safaris is highly recommended on tripadvisor as well as safaribookings. Feel free to visit these platforms and get to see what other clients say about our service.
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