Samburu National Reserve

Great reserve. Saw lots of wildlife on the many tracks. Definitely need a 4wd to get around. We stayed in the public camp ground by the river which was lovely. There are toilets and a cold water shower. Caution reward of the baboons they will get into your car if you leave anything open. Very mischievous.

One of the most beautiful landscapes in Kenya, and still not overly exploited so the game drives result in picture perfect wildlife sightings- worth visiting if you are trying to avoid the mass tourist sites.

Samburu National Reserve, tucked into the arid north of Kenya along the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River, is a compact but diverse wildlife haven. The map of Samburu immediately sets the stage for what makes this reserve special: a blend of rugged terrain, winding waterways, and rich biodiversity within a relatively small area. It is a landscape of contrast—river versus desert, flat plains against rocky hills—and the map brings all of this to life with clarity and function. Dominating the southern edge of the map is the Ewaso Ng’iro River, the lifeline of Samburu. Flowing from the Aberdare ranges, it snakes across the reserve’s southern border, separating Samburu from its sister reserves—Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves—which are often shown on more comprehensive maps for their interconnected ecosystems. The river is marked with bold curves and flanked by riverine forests, an essential habitat where elephants, leopards, and crocodiles are frequently spotted. Key entry gates like Archer’s Gate, West Gate, and Uaso Nyiro Gate are clearly marked. These are essential for navigation, especially since much of the internal road network is unpaved and requires 4x4 access. Most roads branch out from these gates, hugging the river and forming loops toward key viewpoints and waterholes. Notable trails like the River Loop Road, Isiolo Track, and tracks toward Koitogor Hill or Lugard’s Falls are usually labeled. Despite its modest size (about 165 square kilometers), the map reveals several geographic features: Koitogor and Ololokwe Hills in the background, shown as prominent landmarks Palm groves and acacia woodlands near the river Dry, open savannah and rocky ridges farther from the river The map typically highlights permanent waterholes and seasonal streams, crucial for wildlife sightings in the dry season. These locations, along with river bends, are hotspots for spotting the "Samburu Special Five": Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx—species adapted to this semi-arid climate and often illustrated or noted in legend boxes on wildlife maps. Lodges and campsites are conveniently positioned along the river and near scenic lookouts. Commonly marked ones include: Samburu Intrepids Elephant Bedroom Camp Samburu Simba Lodge Saruni Samburu (near Kalama Conservancy, just outside the reserve) Each is mapped for ease of access, often with side tracks leading directly from main roads. Additionally, the map often includes wildlife migration paths (especially elephants, who cross the river regularly), birding hotspots (over 350 species recorded), and viewpoints that offer elevated perspectives of the scrubland and plains below. One of the unique aspects of Samburu’s map is the blend of ecological and cultural context. The surrounding Samburu community lands and group ranches may be shaded differently or mentioned in side panels, emphasizing the co-existence of wildlife conservation and pastoralist heritage. In summary, the map of Samburu National Reserve is not overly crowded or complex—it mirrors the reserve’s own elegant simplicity. It allows for orientation across the riverine-rich southern belt and into the arid, stark northern savannahs. It balances navigation with discovery, spotlighting the reserve’s key wildlife areas, scenic spots, and access points while maintaining an uncluttered view of this jewel of northern Kenya. For anyone planning a safari here, the map serves as both a guide and an invitation—to explore, observe, and connect with a uniquely adapted and vibrant corner of Africa.

Amazing safari trip. I went with my personal car and took around 2 hours but barely covered the whole area. So many animals were seen such as elephants, giraffes, HUGE zebras and much more

Fantastic park with not a lot of tourists…you may find a leopard here! Local guides are not friendly with information.

This is a park definitely worth seeing. Rugged, diverse landscape with lots of vegetation, small mountains, and the river along its southern edge. A beautifully scenic park to drive around with a multitude of paths you can follow as you search for wildlife. It has a very wild and isolated feel to it so when you come across wildlife in varying surroundings, it makes it memorable trip you’ll never forget

Corrupt staff at the gate: 1/5 stars. Park: 5/5 stars. We entered the park at 6:50am with our own car and with Ben, the owner of the Samburu Sundowner campsite who's also a community guide. The rangers told us it was too early in the morning and we couldn't pay yet, we should pay when leaving in the evening (although the park opens at 6:00am). When coming back in the evening, they told us that their credit card terminal didn't work because they were powered by solar cells and ran out of power. They told us to pay them in cash but we didn't have enough. Then they told us to drive to the city to an ATM and Ben joined. Luckily for us, the ATM was broken and they said they would fix it the morning of the next day. The rangers from the gate still came to our camp site in the night to collect the money and we told them we could only give it to them the next day. They said we can do it but we should take Ben with us to the ATM, directly give him the cash, and don't come back to the gate. After all their stories, it became obvious that they just wanted to get the cash, not register us at the park, and just keep the money for themselves. We went back to the gate the next morning, met a different person working there, and by a miracle, the card terminal was working again. Now they came up with a different story why the terminal wasn't working yesterday. Ben had again tried to prevent us from going to the gate directly and wanted us to go with him to the city because "he had to buy groceries". I hope the park administration manages to get their employees better under control so that the park gets enough revenue to keep up its great work for protecting and conserving the amazing wild life in this park.

Samburu is usually drier because of the climate of the area but there are still plenty of animals, and a few you won’t see anywhere else. Lots of cats here so odds are good for encounters. Definitely in my top 3 for Kenya.