Samburu

Samburu

Dry plains, rocky hills and palm-lined riverbeds mark your arrival in Samburu, a remote and rugged region in northern Kenya. The area is home to the Samburu people, semi-nomadic pastoralists who have lived in this landscape for generations. The Ewaso Nyiro River cuts through the reserve, creating a green corridor that attracts wildlife throughout the year.

Although most travellers simply refer to “Samburu”, the area actually consists of three neighbouring reserves: Samburu National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve and Shaba National Reserve. Samburu and Buffalo Springs offer the best wildlife viewing, while Shaba is known for its dramatic scenery, volcanic landscapes and sense of wilderness.

Samburu is home to several species rarely seen elsewhere in Kenya, often referred to as the “Samburu Five”: the Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. The reserve is also known for its healthy leopard population, with sightings often occurring along the riverbanks in the early morning or late afternoon.

• Go on a game drive in Samburu National Reserve or Buffalo Springs National Reserve.

• Hike Mount Ololokwe (1,754 m) for panoramic views across the surrounding landscape.

• Explore the region with a Samburu guide and learn more about local traditions and daily life. You can contact Lekadaa on +254 716 955 321.

• Visit Umoja Women’s Village near Archer’s Post. Founded in 1990 by fifteen courageous women who survived rape, Umoja now offers a safe haven for a large group of women and their children, escaping child marriage, female genital mutilation, domestic violence, and rape—all of which are still cultural norms among the Samburu. The small entrance fee helps them maintain their community.

Approx. 3,5 hours | 97 km

From Buffalo Springs, leave the reserve via Chokaa Gate or Ngare Mara Gate and make your way back towards the A2. From there, follow the A2 south to Isiolo. Here, you fuel up again and stock up on supplies before continuing your journey if needed.

From the main road in Isiolo, you will need to branch off to the left onto the Muriri-Miciimikuru Road. At the end of this road, you need to branch off to the left again onto Meru-Maua Road to Meru National Park.

Approx. 2,5 hours | 101 km

From Buffalo Springs, leave the reserve via Chokaa Gate or Ngare Mara Gate and make your way back towards the A2. From there, follow the A2 south. You will pass through Isiolo along the way, a good place to fuel up and stock up on supplies before continuing your journey if needed.

Good to know: if you are visiting Ngare Ndare Forest on the way, add at least 90 minutes to your total driving time and depart early to make the most of your visit (highly recommended!). This does not include the time spent inside Ngare Ndare Forest itself. To reach the forest, turn off the A2 at Timau. From there, it is a 15-kilometre drive along a rough road, taking approximately 45 minutes each way.