Samburu county sits in Kenya's arid north, between Mount Kenya and Lake Turkana, straddling the Great Rift Valley along the Ewaso Ng'iro River. It's home to the Samburu people — semi-nomadic pastoralists closely related to the Maasai — and to a cluster of reserves known for wildlife found almost nowhere else in the country.

Samburu culture and the "Special Five"

Cattle, goats, sheep and camels remain central to Samburu daily life and identity, much as they have for generations, and traditional dance performed in vivid red garments is one of the more striking cultural experiences on offer here. Samburu hospitality has a strong reputation among visitors, who are typically welcomed warmly.

The region's wildlife draw centres on the "Samburu Special Five" — five species adapted to this arid ecosystem and rarely seen in Kenya's more famous southern parks: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. Shaba National Reserve, east of Samburu and Buffalo Springs, adds one of the region's most prominent lion populations to that list.

Where the conservation work stands out

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, within the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, is Africa's first community-owned and -run elephant sanctuary — rescuing, hand-rearing and eventually rewilding orphaned elephant calves, staffed largely by the local community. It's a genuinely different model from most elephant sanctuaries on the continent.

Kalama Community Conservancy, bordering Samburu National Reserve, combines dramatic scenery — mountains, boulder-strewn terrain, acacia woodland — with community-owned conservation land protecting elephants, giraffes, oryx, lions, zebras, wild dogs, gerenuk, kudu, leopard and cheetah.

Given the region's remoteness, most visitors experience Samburu as part of a longer northern Kenya itinerary rather than a standalone stay — worth factoring into travel planning if this region is on your list.

FAQ

How do I get to Samburu?
Most visitors fly into a local airstrip from Nairobi, or drive north as part of a longer route.

What's the best time to visit?
June to October and January to February offer the best wildlife viewing, in line with Kenya's drier seasons.

Is Samburu suitable for families?
Several camps in the region cater specifically to families, and Reteti in particular is a strong draw for kids.

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