# Samburu Safari Guide URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/parks/samburu Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Plan Samburu: Grevy’s zebra and the Special Five, elephants on the Ewaso Ng’iro, community conservancies, the best months and how to pair Samburu with the Mara. **Quick answer:** Samburu National Reserve, in Kenya’s arid north, offers a completely different safari from the Mara: palm-lined riverbanks, red earth and species found only in the north, including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk. Elephants and leopards are excellent along the Ewaso Ng’iro River. Fly from Nairobi in about an hour and stay three nights. - Country: Kenya (Samburu County, northern Kenya) - Best for: Northern species, elephants, leopards, community conservancies - Best time: June–October and January–February (dry) - Getting there: Light aircraft from Nairobi Wilson (about 1 hour); 5–6 hours by road via Isiolo - Ideal stay: 3 nights; 5–6 combined with Laikipia - Malaria: Yes — CDC recommends prevention for Kenya below 2,500 m ## Why add Samburu to a Kenya safari? Samburu brings variety. Together with neighboring Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves, it protects semi-desert country along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, where doum palms and acacia forest line the water and the plains beyond are dry and open. The north is home to the ‘Samburu Special Five’ — Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx — none of which you’ll see in the Mara. The Samburu people, Maa-speaking cousins of the Maasai, are part of the experience too. Our Kenya guide shows how the north fits a wider trip. ## What wildlife will you see in Samburu, and when? Elephants set the river’s daily rhythm, crossing and drinking in family groups that researchers have studied for decades. Leopard sightings are a Samburu strength, and lions and cheetahs are present. Grevy’s zebra is endangered, and northern Kenya holds most of the world’s remaining population. The dry seasons, roughly June to October and January to February, concentrate wildlife along the river. The short rains around November and the long rains around April and May bring greenery and young animals, but the river can flood and some tracks become difficult. ## Should you stay in the reserve or a community conservancy? Camps inside Samburu and Buffalo Springs sit on the riverbank, giving you front-row seats as elephants come down to drink. Surrounding community conservancies, such as Kalama, Sera and Namunyak, add exclusivity, walking, camel treks and cultural visits, with fees that fund community rangers and grazing plans. Sera Conservancy runs a community black rhino sanctuary where you can track rhino on foot with local scouts, and Namunyak is home to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, a community-owned orphanage for rescued elephant calves. Both are among northern Kenya’s most meaningful conservation visits. ## How do you get to Samburu, and what does it combine with? Scheduled light aircraft from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport take about an hour to airstrips in and around the reserve. By road, it’s five to six hours via Nanyuki and Isiolo, a scenic drive past Mount Kenya. Samburu pairs naturally with Laikipia’s rhino conservancies, a short hop away, and with the Maasai Mara for big cats; the contrast between the dry north and the southern grasslands makes a well-rounded first Kenya safari. Our first safari guide has pacing tips. ## How can you visit Samburu responsibly? This is pastoralist country, and livestock and wildlife share the land beyond the reserves. Conservancy fees paid through your camp support schools, healthcare and rangers, so choosing a conservancy camp directly benefits the people who protect this wildlife. Ask before photographing people, and expect cultural visits to include beadwork for sale — buy what you love rather than feeling obliged. Inside the reserves, vehicles keep to tracks and observe daytime driving hours. ## Samburu highlights - **The Samburu Special Five** (Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba): Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx — northern species absent from the Mara. - **Elephants on the Ewaso Ng’iro** (Riverbank camps): Family herds cross the river beneath doum palms, often within sight of camp. - **Rhino tracking on foot** (Sera Conservancy): Follow local scouts to find black rhino in a community-run sanctuary. - **Reteti Elephant Sanctuary** (Namunyak Conservancy): Meet the keepers raising orphaned elephant calves for eventual return to the wild. - **Camel walks** (Community conservancies): Walk alongside a camel caravan with Samburu guides — a slow, memorable way to see the north. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/experiences/walking-safari ## Frequently asked questions **Q: What are the Samburu Special Five?** A: They are five species adapted to northern Kenya’s arid country and rarely seen in the south: Grevy’s zebra, with narrow stripes and large rounded ears; the reticulated giraffe, with crisp net-like markings; the blue-legged Somali ostrich; the long-necked gerenuk, which browses standing on its hind legs; and the beisa oryx. Samburu is one of the best places to see all five. **Q: Is Samburu worth visiting if you’re going to the Mara?** A: Yes. Samburu complements the Mara rather than repeating it: different landscapes, different species and a strong cultural and community-conservation story. Leopard and elephant viewing are excellent. Three nights in Samburu or Laikipia plus three or four in the Mara gives you a far more varied picture of Kenya than the Mara alone. **Q: Can you see rhinos in Samburu?** A: Rhinos aren’t a feature of the national reserve itself, but you can track black rhino on foot in nearby Sera Conservancy’s community sanctuary. Laikipia’s conservancies, such as Lewa and Ol Pejeta, also protect black and white rhinos and combine easily with Samburu. Ask Gigi to build your camps around the rhino experience you want. **Q: How hot is Samburu?** A: Samburu is hot and dry year-round, with afternoons often in the low to mid-30s °C (90s °F) and cooler nights. Game drives run early and late to avoid the midday heat, and camps schedule siestas and pool time in between. Pack breathable, neutral clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen and a light layer for evening. ## Sources - [Northern Rangelands Trust (community conservancies)](https://www.nrt-kenya.org) - [Reteti Elephant Sanctuary](https://www.reteti.org) - [CDC: Travelers’ Health — Kenya](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/kenya)