Samburu Special Five
Wildlife found nowhere else
Look for reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, beisa oryx and Somali ostrich.
Kenya
Samburu County, Northern Kenya
Game Reserve
165 km²
Wildlife Safari Destination
A PROLOGUE
Samburu National Reserve lies in Kenya’s arid north, along the life-giving Ewaso Ng’iro River. Its rugged hills, doum palms, acacia woodland and open dry plains create a striking contrast to Kenya’s greener safari landscapes.
The reserve is famous for the Samburu Special Five: reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. These distinctive dry-country species are difficult to find in Kenya’s southern reserves.
Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo and more than 450 bird species also occur in the reserve. The river attracts wildlife year-round and offers excellent opportunities for close encounters and photography.
Samburu combines game drives with meaningful cultural visits to Samburu communities. Its remoteness, dramatic scenery and specialist wildlife make it ideal for travellers seeking a different side of Kenya.
BIRD SPECIES RECORDED
PROTECTED RIVERINE AND ARID WILDERNESS
RARE SAMBURU SPECIAL FIVE SPECIES
Top Highlights
A striking giraffe with an intricate chestnut-and-white coat pattern.
A rare zebra with narrow stripes and large rounded ears.
A slender antelope that stands upright to browse leaves.
A large ostrich with blue legs and neck.
Often seen beside the river and in woodland.
May be spotted in riverine woodland and rocky areas.
A colourful bird associated with dry woodland and river edges.
Accommodations
Kenya
Sasaab sits above the Ewaso Nyiro River in the community-owned Westgate Conservancy, north of Samburu, its Moorish-influenced architecture combining open arches with Swahili detailing.
Each of the nine rooms has a private plunge pool and open frontage. Activities extend beyond game drives to camel trekking, guided walks and visits to the Samburu communities that own the conservancy.
Kenya
Elephant Bedroom Camp sits on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River inside Samburu National Reserve, beneath doum palms and acacia, with elephants regularly moving through the camp itself.
Twelve tents each have a private plunge pool and open frontage onto the river. The reserve’s riverine strip is the lifeline of this arid region, drawing consistent wildlife traffic through the dry season.
Kenya
Saruni Samburu is built into a rocky outcrop within the Kalama Conservancy, north of Samburu National Reserve, with villas open on one side to a vast panorama of arid northern Kenya.
The conservancy is community-owned, and the lodge works closely with Samburu families in its operation. The region’s dry-country wildlife includes several species found nowhere else in Kenya.
Location
Most nationalities receive South African entry on arrival; Zimbabwe issues an e-visa or visa on arrival. We confirm requirements for your passport.
Low-risk malaria areas — anti-malarials advised. No mandatory vaccinations from most countries; consult your travel clinic before departure.
South African Rand; US Dollars are widely used around Victoria Falls. Cards are accepted in cities; carry small USD for tips.
Warm days and cool mornings on safari in the dry season. Pack layers — early game drives can be cold even when afternoons are hot.
Neutral, breathable clothing, a warm layer, sun protection and binoculars. Soft bags are required on light aircraft, with strict weight limits.
Wi-Fi at all hotels and lodges, though deliberately gentle in the bush. Power is 230V; bring a universal adaptor.
The practical Guide
Find rare wildlife, elephants and Ewaso River landscapes today.
Per Person
Discover dry-country species, river safaris and Samburu traditions together.
Per Person
Enjoy unhurried game drives, culture and dramatic northern Kenya sunsets.
Per Person
Diani Beach is one of Kenya’s best-known coastal destinations, located south of Mombasa in Kwale County. Its long stretch of soft white sand, palm trees and warm turquoise water makes it ideal for beach relaxation after a safari.
The offshore reef helps create calm swimming conditions and supports colourful marine life. Snorkelling, diving, kite surfing, paddleboarding, dhow trips and deep-sea fishing are among the popular activities.
Diani also offers easy access to nearby nature and culture, including Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park, Shimba Hills National Reserve and local coastal villages. Colobus monkeys are often seen in the trees around beach hotels and roadsides.
With boutique hotels, beach resorts, restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere, Diani is well suited to couples, families and travellers looking for an Indian Ocean escape.
Samburu National Reserve lies in Kenya’s arid north, along the life-giving Ewaso Ng’iro River. Its rugged hills, doum palms, acacia woodland and open dry plains create a striking contrast to Kenya’s greener safari landscapes.
The reserve is famous for the Samburu Special Five: reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. These distinctive dry-country species are difficult to find in Kenya’s southern reserves.
Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo and more than 450 bird species also occur in the reserve. The river attracts wildlife year-round and offers excellent opportunities for close encounters and photography.
Samburu combines game drives with meaningful cultural visits to Samburu communities. Its remoteness, dramatic scenery and specialist wildlife make it ideal for travellers seeking a different side of Kenya.
Mount Kenya is Kenya’s highest mountain and Africa’s second-highest peak, rising to 5,199 metres at Batian Peak. It is an extinct volcano with dramatic jagged summits, glaciers, alpine lakes and unique highland vegetation.
Mount Kenya National Park and the surrounding forest reserve protect a remarkable range of habitats. Trekkers pass through montane forest, bamboo, heath, moorland and alpine desert, encountering giant lobelias, groundsels and spectacular volcanic scenery.
The mountain is sacred to the Kikuyu people and remains an important cultural landscape. Its forests support elephants, buffalo, colobus monkeys and many bird species, while the upper slopes attract hikers, climbers and photographers from around the world.
Popular trekking routes include Sirimon, Chogoria and Naro Moru. Point Lenana, at 4,985 metres, is the most accessible trekking summit, while Batian and Nelion require technical climbing skills and equipment.
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, near the town of Naivasha. Unlike many nearby Rift Valley lakes, it is freshwater, supporting rich birdlife, hippos and lush lakeshore vegetation.
The lake is a popular destination for boat excursions, birdwatching and relaxing lakeside stays. Fish eagles, pelicans, kingfishers, cormorants and herons are commonly seen, while hippos spend their days in the shallows and emerge to graze after dark.
Lake Naivasha is surrounded by attractions including Hell’s Gate National Park, Crescent Island Game Sanctuary and geothermal landscapes around Olkaria. These offer walking safaris, cycling, wildlife viewing and dramatic volcanic scenery.
Its calm atmosphere, easy access from Nairobi and variety of activities make Lake Naivasha an ideal short break or addition to a wider Kenya safari itinerary.
Lake Nakuru National Park lies on the floor of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, surrounding the shallow alkaline waters of Lake Nakuru. Its mix of lake, grassland, acacia woodland and forested escarpment creates a surprisingly rich wildlife habitat in a compact area.
The park is internationally known for flamingos, whose numbers rise and fall with lake conditions. Pelicans, storks, herons and many other waterbirds join the spectacle, making Nakuru one of Kenya’s classic birdwatching destinations.
Lake Nakuru is also an important sanctuary for both black and white rhinoceros. Lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos and baboons are frequently seen across the park’s woodland and grassland.
Visitors can enjoy game drives, birdwatching and viewpoints such as Baboon Cliff, which overlooks the lake and Rift Valley landscape. Its location near Nakuru town makes it an easy addition to a Kenya safari itinerary.
Amboseli National Park lies in southern Kenya near the border with Tanzania. It is one of East Africa’s most celebrated safari destinations, known for free-ranging elephant herds and unforgettable views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The park’s open grassland, acacia woodland, seasonal lakes and swamps support a rich variety of wildlife. Permanent springs fed by Kilimanjaro’s underground water provide a vital lifeline for elephants, buffalo, hippos and waterbirds.
Amboseli is renowned for close elephant encounters and long-running elephant research. Its relatively open terrain makes it especially rewarding for wildlife photography, with Kilimanjaro providing a remarkable backdrop on clear mornings and late afternoons.
Visitors can explore through game drives, cultural experiences with Maasai communities and scenic viewpoints such as Observation Hill. Amboseli combines easily with Nairobi, Tsavo and Tanzania’s northern safari destinations.
Nairobi is Kenya’s capital, largest city and a leading gateway to East Africa. Known as the “Green City in the Sun,” it combines a fast-moving urban culture with access to wildlife, history, food, art and major safari destinations.
The city is uniquely home to Nairobi National Park, where lions, rhinos, giraffes and other wildlife roam against a backdrop of the city skyline. This rare combination makes Nairobi one of the few capitals in the world with a national park at its doorstep.
Nairobi also offers celebrated conservation and cultural attractions, including the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi National Museum and the bustling Maasai Market.
Visitors can enjoy modern restaurants, creative districts, museums and green spaces before flying or driving onward to Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Kenya’s coast. Nairobi is ideal for a one- or two-day city and wildlife stop.
Masai Mara National Reserve lies in southwestern Kenya, bordering Tanzania’s Serengeti ecosystem. Its open grasslands, rolling hills, riverine forests and acacia-dotted plains support one of the richest concentrations of wildlife in Africa.
The reserve is renowned for the Great Migration, when vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move between the Serengeti and the Mara in search of fresh grazing. Seasonal Mara River crossings are among the most dramatic wildlife events on Earth.
Masai Mara is also celebrated for outstanding big-cat viewing. Lions, leopards and cheetahs hunt across the plains, while elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippos and many antelope species are seen throughout the reserve.
Visitors can enjoy game drives, hot-air balloon safaris, cultural experiences with Maasai communities and stays in tented camps or lodges. The reserve is especially rewarding for wildlife photography, family safaris and first-time visitors to East Africa.
TOURS & SAFARIS
How it works
01
Share where you long to go and what would make it unforgettable .
02
A tailor-made itinerary matched to the right camps and seasons.
03
We shape every detail until the journey feels entirely your own.
04
A dedicated team is with you from landing to homecoming.
GUEST REVIEWS
answers
June to October and December to March are generally dry, making wildlife easier to find near the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
Samburu is famous for the Special Five, elephant herds, arid landscapes, the Ewaso Ng’iro River and Samburu culture.
Two to three days is ideal for finding the Special Five and exploring the reserve’s different river and dry-country habitats.
Elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo occur, but rhinoceros are not found in the reserve.
They are reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk.
Samburu is in northern Kenya, near Isiolo, approximately 350 km north of Nairobi.