Samburu
Snaking through the arid north of Kenya, the waters of the great Ewaso Nyiro river draw wildlife in great numbers to its banks, creating an oasis of green amongst an otherwise parched land. The parks of Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs focus around Ewaso Nyiro and provide a sanctuary for the region’s game. Considering the remoteness, it is surprisingly busy in parts - especially around the river but there are a couple of stunning lodges here that keep you away from the crowds. Stay in these and Samburu is a good destination.
Samburu lies at the boundaries of the Laikipia Plateau, just to the North of Mount Kenya and is about as far north as most visitors to the country venture. This remote region of the country is a wonder of raw visual beauty. Named after the local Samburu tribe, the park is a Game Reserve and not a National Park meaning that the Samburu are still seen on every visit. A highlight here is the famous Samburu Singing Wells where members of the Samburu tribe take their cattle to water, singing as they extract it from the wells.
Samburu boasts healthy numbers of Africa’s big game especially lion, elephant and leopard and also hosts a wide diversity of rarer species such as, the Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. The river also provides the chance to glimpse crocodile and hippo and the open plains can be good for cheetah. Samburu: Accommodation choices
There are a surprising number of accommodations in Samburu, with many mainstream options lining the riverfront. We tend not to use these accommodations due to the incredibly high traffic in the area. Located just outside Samburu, however, in the neighbouring Kalama Conservancy, is the beautiful Saruni Camp, a connoisseur’s choice due to its intimate atmosphere and remote location. To the East of Saruni lies Sasaab, the area’s most luxurious accommodation. Both Saruni and Sasaab are outside the reserve, and although they have some game, the volume actually within Samburu is much higher. It is therefore common to drive into Samburu whilst staying at either of these lodges. The final lodge to mention is the beautiful Joy's Camp in the neighbouring Shaba Reserve - a fantastic camp in a very quiet reserve and the best way to completely avoid the crowds in this area.
Samburu: Time of year to travel
There are no specific migration patterns for the animals that can be found around Samburu, so viewing them is always easy. The animals are always around the river. It is worth mentioning that this arid area can get extremely hot, with temperatures rising above 40 degrees from the end of September onwards. East Africa has its heaviest rains in April and May so the country is best avoided at this time, whereas the light rains in November are not a reason to cancel travel plans.
Recommended lodges in this area:
Samburu
Shaba National Park is probably one of the least known in Kenya...and long may it remain that way! Joy's was completed in 2007 and is a stunning, semi tented camp set on the fringes of a small lagoon complex.
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