Samburu sits in drier, more rugged country than Kenya's southern parks, along the Ewaso Nyiro River. The climate and terrain support a distinct set of wildlife often called the 'special five' - Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich and beisa oryx - species adapted to semi-arid conditions and rarely seen further south.
Game drives along the Ewaso Nyiro River
Cultural visits to Samburu communities
Birdwatching in riverine forest
Sundowners overlooking the river
The dry seasons (roughly June-October and January-February) concentrate wildlife along the river and make for easier game viewing, though the reserve is visited year-round.
By road it's around 5-6 hours' drive from Nairobi via Nanyuki. Scheduled flights connect Nairobi's Wilson Airport to Samburu's airstrips in about 1 hour, a popular option given the longer road distance.
Tented camps along the riverbank are the classic Samburu experience, ranging from mid-range to luxury.
A malaria risk area, like most lower-altitude Kenyan parks
Better combined with other northern circuit stops (Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta) than as a single add-on to a southern-parks trip, given the distance
Riverside camps mean elephant and other wildlife are sometimes visible from camp itself
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