SAMBURU NATIONAL PARK

Size
The reserve covers an area of 165 square km.

Location
Samburu National Reserve is situated at the southern corner of Samburu District in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is bordered to the south by Uaso Nyiro River, which separates it from the Buffalo Springs National Reserve.

Distance from Nairobi
345 km to Archer’s Gate (main entrance to Samburu National Reserve)

Samburu National Reserve is one of the lesser known national parks, but is nevertheless teeming with life. Situated alongside Ewaso Nyiro River, there is plenty to attract wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains.

The reserve is rich in wildlife with an abundance of rare northern specialist species such as the Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the Beisa oryx (also referred to as (also referred to as Samburu Special Five). The reserve is also popular with minimum of 900 elephants. Large predators such as the lion, leopard and cheetah are an important attraction (Kamunyak the miracle lioness that adapted the baby oryx is a resident in the reserve).

Access
Road
The reserve can be accessed to by road from Nairobi through Isiolo on all weather bitumen while Isiolo Archers Post is graveled. The road section distance from Isiolo to Archer’s gate is 34.3 km.

Air
The reserve has an airstrip that is the Oryx Samburu Airstrip.

Wildlife
Rich in game with many rare species. Game includes Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dogs and over 450 species of birds.

Climatic Conditions
Arid and semi-arid with hot days and cool nights. Annual mean temperature between 18 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. Annual mean rainfall is 345 mm with peaks in November and April.

Activities
There are various activities that visitors can engage in while residing at the reserve. These activities include: game drives, bird watching, sundowners, bush breakfast, nature walks, river rafting (depending on the river water level) and the Samburu cultural experience.

Best time to visit
All year round.