Nairobi · Kenya
Samburu National Reserve
Arid northern Kenya, where the Ewaso Ng'iro river supports five species you will see nowhere south.
Overview
Samburu National Reserve, with its neighbours Buffalo Springs and Shaba, protects a strip of hot, semi-desert country either side of the Ewaso Ng'iro river in northern Kenya. The river is everything: a green corridor of doum palms and acacia through red rock and thorn scrub, and the only permanent water for a long way. What makes Samburu distinctive is the wildlife found here and almost nowhere further south - the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich, collectively known as the Samburu Special Five. Elephant families use the river daily, leopard are unusually visible along the banks, and the reserve has a long history of habituated lion prides. It is also Samburu land, and cultural visits here are less staged than in many places. Kamunyak, the lioness that repeatedly adopted oryx calves in the early 2000s, was a Samburu animal.
Browse by category in Samburu National Reserve
Photos of Samburu National Reserve
Operators serving Samburu National Reserve
Samburu · Kenya
Sasaab
Meru · Kenya
Meru safari hotel
Meru · Kenya
Nairobi,Kenya Local Guide
Samburu · Kenya
Ashnil Samburu Camp
Meru · Kenya
Sirikoi Lodge
Where these are, around Samburu National Reserve
17 listings with a mapped location.
Map of 17 listings
- Listed
What Samburu National Reserve costs
All-in on the ground, per person per day, excluding international flights. Ranges rather than a single figure, because accommodation and group size move the total more than anything else.
| Style | Per person, per day |
|---|---|
| Camping or budget lodge, shared vehicle | $170 – $240 |
| Mid-range lodge | $240 – $440 |
| Luxury camp, private vehicle | $650 – $1,400 |
Of that, $70 – $120 a day is government fees set by Samburu County. Every operator pays the same, so a quote below this floor is not a better deal — it is a different trip.
Add this to a whole-trip estimate
Indicative figures checked for 2026. Park fees are revised annually and some are quoted before VAT — confirm current rates with your operator or the park authority before you book.
When to visit Samburu National Reserve
Month by month: wildlife, weather and how busy it gets.
October
Short rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors.
- Wildlife
- Wildlife: 4 / 5
- Weather
- Weather: 4 / 5
- Crowds
- Crowds: 2 / 5
- Rainfall
- 60 mm
- Temperature
- 20–36 °C
Show all twelve monthsHide the full table
| Best time to visit | Wildlife | Weather | Crowds | Rainfall | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 30 mm | 20–35 °C |
| FebruaryDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 25 mm | 21–36 °C |
| MarchShort rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 3 / 5 | Crowds: 1 / 5 | 70 mm | 21–36 °C |
| AprilWet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country. | Wildlife: 2 / 5 | Weather: 2 / 5 | Crowds: 1 / 5 | 140 mm | 21–34 °C |
| MayShort rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 3 / 5 | Crowds: 1 / 5 | 80 mm | 20–34 °C |
| JunePeak dry season — the best game viewing and the highest prices. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 5 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 20 mm | 19–33 °C |
| JulyPeak seasonPeak dry season — the best game viewing and the highest prices. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 5 / 5 | Crowds: 4 / 5 | 15 mm | 18–32 °C |
| AugustPeak seasonGrevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk at the river. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 5 / 5 | Crowds: 4 / 5 | 15 mm | 19–33 °C |
| SeptemberPeak dry season — the best game viewing and the highest prices. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 5 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 20 mm | 20–35 °C |
| OctoberShort rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 60 mm | 20–36 °C |
| NovemberWet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 2 / 5 | Crowds: 1 / 5 | 120 mm | 20–34 °C |
| DecemberDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 50 mm | 20–34 °C |