Samburu

KENYA | SAMBURU

Resting on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River and neighbouring the Buffalo Springs National Park, Samburu National Reserve is remote, hot and arid. The reserve spans over 165 square kilometres of spectacularly scenic landscape featuring rugged hills, undulating plains and riverine forests. The park is home to abundant wildlife including a variety of rare species such as the reticulated giraffe, the long necked gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s Zebra and Beisa Oryx.

Samburu was one of the homes of ‘Elsa the Lioness’, star of the best selling book and award-winning movie ‘Born Free’. Visitors can enjoy viewing over 900 elephants, a variety of predators, and over 450 bird species.

REGION HIGHLIGHTS

Pioneering walking safari first of its kind in East Africa, providing a unique and exhilarating adventure whilst also allowing guests to actively contribute to the protection of this iconic species. Tracking black rhino on foot, accompanied by an expert Saruni guide and a highly-trained Sera Community Conservancy ranger in safety, to spot any of the 16 rhino throughout the 54,000 hectares-large sanctuary.

Located in the neighbouring Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, is one of the first community-run organisations in Kenya. The team of ‘keepers’ at the Sanctuary are committed to rescuing, rehabilitating and rewilding orphaned and abandoned elephant calves, along with other wildlife.

Standing proud at Saruni’s doorstep, Ololokwe is a pillar of cultural significance to the Samburu and an exciting trekking venture to many others. Stretch your legs on one of our day excursions up Ololokwe’s slopes in the company of our professional Samburu guides.

Meet the Samburu and learn about their culture.

ACCOMODATION

These are a selection of lodges that we feel combine well for this journey. However we do also have a range of options to consider in each region, and can tailor them to you preference.

Sasaab Lodge

Sasaab is close to the Buffalo Springs and Samburu National Reserves, in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District. It’s a place of rich natural diversity with an astounding number of animals from huge majestic elephant to lion, leopard and cheetah and the ‘Samburu Special Five’: the Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Gerenuk antelope and Somali ostrich. Sasaab prides itself on its hospitality and our friendly and attentive staff strive to make every guests’ experience unforgettable. The architecture of Sasaab follows strong Moroccan design principles, in which African heat is of primary consideration.

Saruni Rhino

Saruni is proud to expand its luxury collection of lodges and tented camps with the opening of ‘Saruni Rhino’. is located in the 350,000 hectare-large Sera Conservancy, in the wild, undiscovered Northern frontier of Kenya. This unique lodge is a little over 1.5 hours’ drive from our Saruni Samburu lodge in nearby Kalama Conservancy. Saruni Rhino offers the first rhino tracking experience in East Africa: an amazing walking safari that provides a uniquely thrilling adventure, but also allows our guests to actively contribute to the protection of this iconic species. Herds of elephants populate this vast landscape, offering also amazing birdwatching and cultural experiences with the “singing wells”.