Attractions In Samburu National Reserve : Samburu National Reserve is a paradise for elephant and predators like lion, leopards and wild dog among others. More so, it is home to an abundant birdlife with over 450 recorded species like vulturine guinea fowl, less Kestrel and the taita falcon among others. More to that, Samburu game reserve is located in northern region of Kenya in Samburu Country on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
The park covers an area of about 165 square kilometers and 350 kilometers from Nairobi the capital of Kenya. More fact, the reserve is also known as the one of the two reserves where two conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness which was made famous in the ‘’Best -selling book and award- winning move Born -Free’’.
The game reserve is one of the impressive destinations to visit on a Kenya Safari, because it houses a variety of tourist attractions and they include;
Attractions In Samburu National Reserve : The Samburu Special Five
The Samburu Special Five are the major key tourist attractions in the reserve, these species are cousins to the world- famous Big5 and they are the reason to why most visitors visit the reserve. The Samburu Special Five are the endemic animals to the Samburu ecosystem, including the reticulated giraffes, the Somali Ostrich, the gerenuk, the Beisa Oryx and the Grevy’s zebra among others.
Attractions In Samburu National Reserve : Wildlife
Samburu National Reserve is home to rich in wildlife species like elephants, lions, wild dogs, greater and lesser kudu many more hence making it a great destination to go for Kenya Wildlife Safaris.
Wildlife in Samburu National Reserve can easily be adventured due to the less vegetation cover in the park, the animals are also easily spotted along the banks of Ewaso Ng’iro River which is a water source that support wildlife’s in the reserve.
Attractions In Samburu National Reserve : Birdlife
Samburu National Reserve is one of the perfect birding locations in Kenya hosting over 450 bird species. Birds to see here are comprised of endemic species, resident species and migratory birds. Some of birds to see include; Secretary bird ,Singing bush lark ,Somali bee-eater ,Somali Ostrich ,Spotted Palm-thrush ,Von der Decken’s Hornbill , Red- necked falcon ,Red-winged lark ,Acacia tit ,Bare-eyed thrush ,Ashy cistcola ,Black-bellied sunbird ,Chestnut-headed sparrow lark ,Chestnut weaver ,Donaldson -Smiths sparrow -weaver ,Fischer’s starling ,Golden pipit ,Golden-breasted starling ,Greater kestrel ,Greywren-warbler, Hunter’s sunbird ,Lanner falcon ,Mariqua sunbird ,Northern brownbul ,Rosy -patched bush -shrike, Secretary bird Singing bush lark ,Somalia bee-eater ,Somali Ostrich ,Spotted palm -thrush ,White headed mousebird and yellow -vented eremomela mentioned few .
Birds in Samburu can be spotted around arid acacia savannah, scrub and galleries of forest along the Uaso Nyiro River. The migratory birds can easily be seen in reserve during the months of November to April.
Attractions In Samburu National Reserve : Samburu People
The Samburu People also acts as the tourist attraction in Samburu National Reserve. Originally, they have been inhabitants of the area presently known at the Samburu National Reserve, grazing their animals in the savannah plains of the reserve.
Samburu people are known as Nilotic people and semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd livestock mainly cattle as a way of life, grazing herds of sheep, goats and camels. They are similar people to Maasai, however, one of the few groups in the world with unique culture, traditional and norms unattached / destroyed by technology
The Samburu people have unique way life and culture such as;
The beautiful bomas ‘’huts’’ constructed using hides, mud and grass mats strung over poles. They fence around their mud huts for protection from wild animals.
Traditionally men look after the cattle, they are also responsible for their safety and for the whole trip.
Samburu women are the one in charge for gathering vegetables and roots, caring for children and collecting water.
Circumcision is one of the major events in the traditions of the Samburu – what they do they groom boys into a Moran ‘’warrior’’.
Samburu people have a unique traditional dances and songs.
How to get to Samburu National Reserve;
Samburu National Reserve lies approximately 355 kilometers north of Nairobi the capital of Kenya, as a visitor on Kenya Safari. It is can be accessed both by road or by air.
By road; The drive is approximately 6 hours from Nairobi.
By Air; Use a domestic chartered flights which can be booked from Wilson Airstrip in Nairobi to Samburu Airstrip.
Best time to visit Samburu National Reserve Kenya;
Samburu National Reserve can be visited throughout the year, located in arid area, so the risk of malaria is very low. Though the best time to do game viewing is during a dry season which happens from June to October – it can be easier to see the highest concentration of animals along the water holes of Ewaso Ngiro River which is a permanent water source feeding the reserve and its ecology.
Accommodation in Samburu National Reserve
Well, Samburu game reserve has got perfect accommodation facilities and are categorized as lodges, tented camps, permanent campsite, special campsite and public campsites
- Lodge and tented camps;
- Samburu Game lodge
- Saruni Samburu Lodge
- Aamburu Larsen’s Camp
- Samburu Sopa
- Sasaab- The safari collection
- Samburu Intrepid
- Elephants Watch camp
- Elephants Bedroom
Permanent Campsites;
- Game trackers
- Lion king safari
Special campsite;
- Doom palm campsite
- Von derdecken’hornbill’’ campsite
- Grevy campsite
- Impala campsite
Public campsites;
- Vervet monkey
- Butterfly
- Kigelia
- Kingfisher
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