Kenya / Laikipia & Samburu / Samburu National ReserveSamburu National Reserve
The Northern Special Five Along the Ewaso Ng'iro
Hot, dry bush country north of Mount Kenya, cut by the Ewaso Ng'iro river, where elephants come to drink and dig for water in the sand. Samburu and neighbouring Buffalo Springs have animals the southern parks do not: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich and the long-necked gerenuk, the "Samburu Special Five", along with leopards in the riverine trees. The Samburu people, cousins of the Maasai, live around the reserve.
Highlights
- Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and gerenuk
- Elephants digging for water in the Ewaso Ng'iro riverbed
- Leopards in the riverine acacias
- Buffalo Springs
- Samburu village visit
- Reteti community elephant sanctuary
Things to do
- Morning game drive along the Ewaso Ng'iroMorning · 3h 30m
- Afternoon game drive in Buffalo SpringsAfternoon · 3h
- Samburu village visitAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Sundowner by the riverEvening · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.
When to go
Best time: June – October, December – March
Worth knowing
Long Rains: Muddy Roads, Some Camps Closed
⚠️ The long rains fall from about April to May: heavy afternoon storms, black-cotton soil roads that trap vehicles, and some tracks and river crossings closed. Many seasonal camps in the Mara, Samburu and Laikipia close; those that stay open cut their prices. Allow extra time on the roads, and bush flights can be delayed.
Heads up
Short Rains
The short rains bring brief showers, mostly in the afternoon, from about November into early December. Game drives still run; tracks can be muddy for a day after a storm.