Samburu National Reserve

Samburu is an excellent NP, I felt more on the wild than on Masai Mara

Wild, top class

A truly wonderful experience, which fulfilled all our expectations. It was a holiday of a lifetime!

We thought that the wildlife was superb spotting all the big five including a glimpse of a leopard, the scenery was great and the weather was very good. The accommodation was excellent staying in a lodge in Samburu National Park. We had own our guide who could not do enough for us taking us on extra safaris and we even visited a Samburu village and tasted their way of life. The food was well cooked and we even tried crocodile and ostrich eggs. Cannot wait to go back again

Enormous variety of animals in one relatively small park

Our first trip to Africa and we chose Archers Direct as our tour company. We have found them to be a good choice for other tours in the past. Samburu was the first park we visited on our tourand unknown to us, an amazing variety of animal and birdlife was waiting to be seen.

When we arrived at the Samburu Game Lodge we were delighted with the well appointed accomodation under a canvas roof'. The lodges are located within a few yards of the river bank with a decking verandah to view the animals by the riverside. These include monkeys, baboons, black buck and a large family of elephants (on the other side!) not to mention several species of birds including kingfisher. Our lodge was about 100 yards from the main buildings, restaraunt etc., but after the evening meal we were always accompanied to our lodge by one of the security staff with torch, just in case a baboon might be roaming around. Security staff constantly patrolled the perimeter, which made us feel very safe

The food was buffet style with a variety of cooked meals including good vegetarian choices and was of very good quality. All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful (as we found throughout our tour of Kenya).

When we were there most of the park was very dry and brown (unlike much of Kenya which was surprisingly verdant) but there was plenty of trees and bushes for animal cover. We were very excited at the start of the first ever game drive and were soon rewarded by the sight of several lionesses relaxing in the shade of an acacia tree. On this and subsequent drives we were regularly stopping to take photos of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelles, various species of antelope, Elephant, Lions patrolling (super photo opportunity), birds (including bee-eater, eagles, goshawk, and various ground birds). It was wonderful to be so close to the animals, which for the most part ignored the presence of the vehicle (a six seat minibus). We saw more and more variety on each game drive and were lucky enough to spot a Leopard on the way back from our very last drive - Wow!

I recommend a long lens for your camera to get those close up and intimate shots and I found a camera bean bag for supporting the lens to be essential to avoid camera shake. All in all Samburu was a fantastic introduction to the Kenyan safari and I highly recommend a visit to this lovely place. We are looking forward to another safari trip in a few years time.

Hidden Secret

Samburu and ist sister Buffalo Springs are bit off the big tourist stream.
Maybe they a bit far in the north or the klimate is considered as too hot. I do not know.
There are a number of good reasons to stay there for some days just discovering and ejoying nature.
Both parks are divided by the Ewaso Ngiro river which is the only contant source of water in this dry area. Just spot a long the river a wait till the animals are coming for drink or bath. The elephants aren't shy and from a certain distance their interesting social behaviour can be observated. Further, the beauty retuculated giraffe, beisa oryx antelopes, the blue leged somali ostrich, the big grevy zebra and the gerenuk (long necke iraffe antelope) can be seen, but not to be found in the southern more popular parks. Samburu is a good place for spotting leopards (7 times in 4 days including a mother with a cub). Also Lions are in area. Further wildlife is al around just stop, be quiet, take time and enjoy.
Ony a few lodges and camps can be found in Samburu. It appears as a bit a remote place.
I am looking for wildlife and not so much interested in stars or whatever ratings of the lodges. There might be more exclusive and luxurious places.
The park is operated by the local Samburu community and was in 2009 in a good shape. Unlike other parks, no cattle was found grazing within the park. The staff was always friendly and helpful.

In the footsteps of Joy Adamson

A wonderfull peacefull place, with a lot of wildlife. Giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, elephants, zebra and the beautiful Grevy's zebra. Also Lion, leopard and cheetah are also quite easy to spot. The gerenuks wich stand on their hind legs to feed are great to see.

The landscape is rich and varied with hills and plains, wood, grassland and a river that runs through.

Varied, remote country from rugged hills via dusty slopes down to the river. Flora & fauna to match.

Samburu has varied country from the rocky hills, through the dry and dusty slopes down to the Ewaso Ng'iro river. The fauna and flora were equally varied but there was evidence of stress from the changing climate. Samburu had suffered from drought and then, around the river, serious floods.
Our trip was just off-season so the park had few vehicles and the lodge had few guests. We saw big game (lion, cheetah, elephant etc) and numerous smaller animals. Although some trees had died, there were signs of recovery and those in flower were beautiful. The clear air meant it was easy to see birds.
The park is remote, from an outsider's point of view. We reached it by plane from Nairobi Wilson to Samburu airport and were picked up by a Samburu Lodge vehicle. So the first game drive was on the way to the Lodge! The guide was excellent. Later, we witnessed the aftermath of a kill, returning several times to see the animals and birds that turned up at different times.
The accommodation was excellent; food and service couldn't be faulted.

An Exciting place for every kind of visitors with hihg density of animals and excelent services

My general impression is a place to see animals on their real habitat on very close situations. I personally stayed at the Samburu Serena Lodge. They are really friendly and accommodations are great. Also the food at the buffet.
The reserve is a very small place but the river is the meeting point for all kind of animals. The secret is to get a good guide with experience in a vehicle on good conditions.
I did all my trip to Africa helped locally with Abercombie & Kent and for sure they are the best on the continent. I think the most important think is do arrangements with a local company plenty of experience capable on connections and services continuity from one park to another.

Also a very quiet NP with a lot of animals and birds

Opportunity to see unique wildlife, such as the Grevy's zebra. Overused, but still a magical place.