Best of Samburu Reserve

Set along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, the Samburu Reserve in north-central Kenya tends to draw fewer crowds than better known parks to the south. The river, which courses through arid, parched lands, supports a thriving population of wildlife. You can often spot all three species of big cat (lions, cheetahs and African leopards), sometimes found basking along the river banks. Samburu is also a great place for spotting elephants, giraffes, Grevy zebras and the gerenuk (a long-necked antelope). 

On safari trips, guides can help you experience close encounters with wildlife. You might spot a herd of elephants splashing about in the shallows or spot a leopard climbing a tree. Guides can also help track unique avian species endemic to the area like the Somali ostrich, William’s lark and the vulturine guineafowl. Human encounters can be equally rewarding as you stumble upon semi-nomadic Samburu people with their livestock and get a first-hand glimpse of their age-old way of life.