The Samburu National Reserve is a place characterized by a dry and arid climate, the nature safari in this area are particularly interesting due to the presence of the Samburu Special 5, meaning five species not easily, if at all, commonly seen in other parks in Kenya: the Grevy's zebra, the reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich, the gerenuk and the fringed-eared oryx.
The reserve also hosts a very large elephant population and it is easy to find these gentle giants as they move towards the Ewaso Ngiro river in search for water, the river is the only permanent source of water in the park so during the long dry season, on its banks, there is a high concentration of animals.
The Samburu National Reserve was also, for a period of time, the house of the lioness Elsa, the protagonist of the book Born Free written by Joy Adamson; and it also hosted a lioness, that for 6 times, adopted an oryx puppy, a very unusual phenomenon that has attracted the attention of researchers.
It is to be underlined how the eponymous population, the Samburu, takes care to protect the ecosystem and the animals that live here, since ever this ethnic group has developed a strong sense of respect for wild animals and they don’t kill them for food or to meet old tribal rituals.
Highlighted articles for this topic
Samburu National Reserve: river - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Samburu National Reserve: reticulated giraffes - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Samburu National Reserve: lilac breasted roller - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Samburu National Reserve: elephants -Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Samburu National Reserve: Ewaso Ngiro river - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Samburu National Reserve: grevy zebra - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi