Samburu National Reserve, on the Ewaso Nyiro River
Elephant Bedroom Camp
Tents shaded by doum palms along the riverbank, in a stretch elephants cross most afternoons.
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← All DestinationsKenya · 0.6°N, 37.5°E
Samburu
The Wild North, Untamed
Harder light, redder earth, and species you won't find on the southern circuit at all. Fewer vehicles. More silence.
Best Suited ForPrivate Safaris
What You'll See
Who Lives Here
Grevy's Zebra
Found almost nowhere outside northern Kenya.
Reticulated Giraffe
A coat pattern sharp enough to look hand-drawn.
Gerenuk
The antelope that stands on two legs to browse.
Elephant
Large herds trace the Ewaso Nyiro River daily.
Leopard
Common along the riverine forest at dusk, if you're patient.
The Landscape
Ground That Shapes the Light
Semi-arid scrub and doum palms follow the Ewaso Nyiro River through red earth and volcanic rock. Harder country than the south, and wilder for it.
Best Season
June to September, and January to February
Dry conditions pull wildlife tight to the river, where sightings come easier and closer.
Weather
What to Pack For
- Dry
- Jun – Sep, Jan – Feb
- 20–33°C
- Hot, dusty, almost no rain.
- Wet
- Mar – May, Oct – Dec
- 20–31°C
- Short bursts of rain. The land turns green within days.
Find Your Bearings
Samburu on the Map
Select any point to see where else the ground leads.
Where to Stay
Recommended Stays
A short list of independently-run lodges and camps we’d point you toward near Samburu — not ours, but ones we trust enough to recommend.
Buffalo Springs National Reserve, on the Ewaso Nyiro River, within the Samburu ecosystem
Ashnil Samburu Camp
River-frontage tents with direct access to Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba reserves.
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Samburu, in Detail
Recommended For Samburu
Built for This Exact Ground
Walking & Cultural Safaris
Guided on foot, in the company of Samburu families, on their terms.
Private Conservancy Safaris
Community land, and far fewer vehicles than the south ever sees.
Ready When You Are
Start Planning Your Samburu Safari
Tell us a little about how you'd like to travel — we'll take it from there.