Covering an area of 165 sqkm, Samburu National Reserve borders Ewaso Nyiro River to the South, separating it from Buffalo Springs Reserve.
Seasons
Samburu Reserve is located in an arid and semi-arid area experiencing extremely hot days and cool nights. Annual mean temperatures range between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius with rainfall averaging 354mm, having the wet season in November and April. Dry periods hit the region between May and October, when wildlife is found richly due to the lush green available vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River. The Ewaso Nyiro flows through doum palm groves and thick riverine forests, thus how it is able to provide water for the game in this region.
Landscape
The reserve’s topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees, forest, thorn trees, and grassland vegetation.
Wildlife
The rare north specialist species such as the grevy zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the beisa oryx (Samburu special) are found in abundance. The reserve is additionally a host of a minimum of 900 elephants, big cats such as the lion, leopard and cheetah. Kamunyak, the miracle lioness that adapted the baby oryx is a popular attraction and a resident of the reserve. Wild dogs’ sightings are also a popular attraction in this protected area.
Bird Life
The reserve is home to over 450 bird species. It has also recorded five species, classified as vulnerable, in the reserve:
1. African Darter
2. Great Egret
3. White-Headed Vulture
4. Martial Eagle
5. Yellow-billed-ox-pecker
