Things to Do in Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve hosts Kenya's most unusual safari animals—species you won't find anywhere else in the country. The Ewaso Ng'iro River cuts through semi-arid terrain about 350 kilometers north of Nairobi, creating a lifeline that draws wildlife from miles around. Total game changer. This isn't the lush highland scenery most people expect from Kenyan safaris, but the red earth and thorny bushland have their own stark beauty against dramatic escarpments. The Samburu Special Five live here: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and gerenuk. They've adapted completely. These species evolved to handle harsh conditions that make them distinctly different from their southern cousins, while the reserve offers something increasingly rare—authentic wilderness that mass tourism hasn't touched.

Lodges handle all the food. Samburu's remote location means few independent restaurant options, so most lodges serve international cuisine with Kenyan influences using fresh ingredients flown in daily. Bush breakfasts are highlights. These meals happen along the river or at scenic viewpoints with dramatic landscape as backdrop, while some lodges use traditional Samburu ingredients and cooking methods in their menus. Community visits might include camel milk.

Dry seasons deliver the goods. June to October and December to March offer the most reliable wildlife viewing, as animals concentrate around the Ewaso Ng'iro River and vegetation becomes less dense. June to October works best. Clear skies, minimal rainfall, and predictable animal movements make this period excellent, though wet seasons bring dramatic landscape changes and impressive bird numbers when many animals give birth.