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    Samburu National Reserve
    "Daniel Fafard (Dreamdan)" / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Kenya

    Samburu National Reserve

    Point of Interest

    The Samburu National Reserve lies approximately 350 kilometers north of Nairobi on the Ewaso Ng'iro, whose doum palms and riverine forests attract elephants, lions, and leopards to the arid landscape.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu
    9. Samburu National Reserve
    The Samburu National Reserve lies approximately 350 kilometers north of Nairobi on the Ewaso Ng'iro, whose doum palms and riverine forests attract elephants, lions, and leopards to the arid landscape. Together with the Buffalo Springs National Reserve on the south bank, it is the most renowned safari destination in northern Kenya.Here you can spot the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and Somali Ostrich.

    Sights in Samburu National Reserve

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Buffalo Springs National Reserve
    National Park

    1Buffalo Springs National Reserve

    Reserve on the south bank of the Ewaso Ng’iro in Isiolo County, with wildlife similar to Samburu. It is known for its many leopards.
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    Ewaso Nyiro River
    Natural Feature

    2Ewaso Nyiro River

    The river is the lifeblood of Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba. Doum palms and riverine forest line its banks, where elephants, crocodiles, and other animals gather before it disappears into the Lorian Swamp.
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    Restaurants in Samburu National Reserve

    Nature Safeguard

    The Special FiveGuides call Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich the Special Five, as they are much easier to see here than in southern Kenya's parks. Plus, over 350 bird species and many Nile crocodiles are found in the river.Samburu County ReserveFounded in 1985, the roughly 165-square-kilometer reserve belongs to and is managed by Samburu County. After a 25-year absence due to poaching, black rhinos were reintroduced. The lioness Kamunyak, known for adopting young oryx antelopes, gained fame.Buffalo SpringsSouth of the river, the Buffalo Springs National Reserve in Isiolo County adjoins. It boasts similar wildlife and is known for its many leopards; further east lies the Shaba National Reserve.

    Practical Details

    Getting ThereFrom Nairobi via the A2, the reserves are reached through Archer's Post, with Archer's Gate as the main entrance.Entry and Game DrivesSamburu and Buffalo Springs are managed by the Counties, not by KWS. Current fees can be obtained from your accommodation or tour operator.Travel Season and SafetyThe dry months, June-October and December-March, are best. Check the current UK FCDO travel advice, linked on the country page, before you travel.

    Accommodations in Samburu National Reserve

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    Nearby

    Shaba National Reserve

    Shaba National Reserve

    The Shaba National Reserve borders Samburu and Buffalo Springs to the east and spans approximately 240 square kilometers south of the Ewaso Ng’iro, which forms about 34 kilometers of its northern boundary. The 2,145-meter-high Shaba Hill volcano, lava fields, springs, and riverine forests characterize the landscape.Joy Adamson released the leopardess Penny here and was murdered in the reserve in January 1980.
    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa is a private Wildlife Conservancy at the northern foot of Mount Kenya, south of Isiolo in Meru County, which originated from a Craig family cattle ranch. It protects more than twelve percent of Kenya's black rhinos and the world's largest single population of Grevy's zebra.Since 2013, Lewa, along with the adjacent Ngare Ndare Forest, has been part of the Mount Kenya UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    North of Nairobi, the land rises towards Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. Around the summit are national parks with mountain forest and moorland, private conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau, and further north the dry reserves of Samburu and Shaba, home to animals rarely seen in southern Kenya.The market town of Nanyuki, on the Equator, is a practical starting point for mountain treks and game drives.
    Nanyuki

    Nanyuki

    Nanyuki is a market town in Laikipia County at the western foot of Mount Kenya, whose southern part is crossed by the Equator. It is the base for tours up the mountain and for safaris in Ol Pejeta and the other conservancies of the Laikipia Plateau.British settlers settled here in 1907. Today, markets, lodges on the outskirts, and handicrafts characterize the town of over 70,000 inhabitants.
    Mount Kenya National Park

    Mount Kenya National Park

    The Mount Kenya National Park protects the high altitudes of Africa's second-highest mountain, just south of the Equator in central Kenya. Trekkers ascend via the Sirimon, Naro Moru, or Chogoria routes to the 4,985-meter-high Point Lenana, while the main peaks Batian and Nelion are reserved for climbers.Since 1997, the park and mountain forest have been UNESCO World Heritage. Above the mountain forest, you reach glacier remnants and mountain lakes like Lake Michaelson.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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