Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves lie side by side in the hot, semi-arid north of Kenya, where the Ewaso Ng’iro River draws wildlife from far across the dry country. It is a very different safari from the Masai Mara: red earth, doum palms along the river and rocky hills on the horizon, with far fewer vehicles.
The north is home to species you will not find further south. Look for the “Samburu Special Five” – Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx – alongside elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs. This is also the homeland of the Samburu people, pastoralists closely related to the Maasai. The reserves are reached by road from Nairobi via the Mount Kenya region, or by light aircraft.
Highlights
Wildlife
Things to do
Frequently asked questions
What are the “Samburu Special Five”?
Five species adapted to Kenya’s dry north that are rarely or never seen in the southern parks: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx.
