journeying to the remote and dramatic Samburu Game Reserve located 327 Kilometers from Nairobi. This game reserve is located in what used to be called the Northern Frontier District.
We spend 2 Nights/ 3 Days exploring this semi-arid desert region characterized by vast, open landscapes, dried riverbeds (depending on the season of the year) and red volcanic soil. Rock outcroppings contrast against the dense woodland vegetation along the banks of Ewaso Nyiro, the river that gives life to the reserve. The reserve is divided into two parts, Buffalo Springs to the south and Samburu to the north. Both can be easily seen in a day.
The river is at its best in the reserve, broad and often sluggish with a large population of crocodiles and hippo, seen frequently at almost every meandering bend. The crocodile basking in the sun, the hippo breaking surface at regular periods to suck in air noisily before submerging again.
Elephant roam the gaunt hills which punctuate the scrub land and where occasional clusters of vividly colored desert rose break the dusty aridity. These elephant seek solace and continue the shallow waters of the river and from time to time a visitor finds herds drinking and bathing spectacle of uncontrived satisfaction.
Of all the East African major savanna reserves, Samburu is renowned for its rare species of fauna known as the ‘Samburu five’. These five particular animals are usually only found north of the equator – the long necked gerenuk a remarkable antelope which spends much of its time on its hind legs searching for succulent leaves among the withered scrub trees.
The reticulated giraffe which is characterized by its liver-colored geometric patches defined by narrow white lines, the Grevy’s zebra which is smaller than the common zebra and looks more like a horse, the beisa oryx with black horizontal stripe running across its lower flank and the Somali ostrich males which have blue-grey necks and thighs.
A variety of other animals can also be found. These include lion, elephant, leopard, dik-dik, mongoose, waterbuck, impala, baboon, cheetah and monkey. Avid bird watchers will find the reserve very attractive for bird viewing. A camel back safari is also a specialty in Samburu as well as a cultural visit to the Samburu people who depend on their cattle, goat, sheep and donkey.