A greater kudu bull with tall spiralled horns standing in dry bush

3-Day Samburu Special Five

3 days · 2 nights

Overview

Samburu runs on a different rhythm from the parks further south, dry acacia and doum palm country where almost everything depends on the Ewaso Ng'iro river at some point in the day. Three days gives us two full days inside the reserve, enough time to work the riverine strip properly rather than treating it as a single afternoon stop.

The reserve is known for what guides here sometimes call the Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich, none of them found on the Mara or Amboseli circuits further south. My own routes through the northern frontier, out through Sarara Camp and Saruni Kalama in the Mathews Range, run through this same dry country, and it's ground I keep coming back to for exactly that contrast.

Day by day

01

Nairobi to Samburu

We drive north via Nanyuki and Isiolo, five to six hours crossing the equator on the way, arriving at the reserve in the early afternoon. After lunch at camp we head straight into a first game drive along the river, watching for the dry-country species that set Samburu apart from parks further south.
02

Full day along the Ewaso Ng'iro

A complete day working the river and the surrounding scrub: an early drive while the light is soft, a rest through the heat of the day, and a second drive in the late afternoon when animals move back toward the water. We keep an eye out through the day for the reserve's dry-country specialities, though which ones turn up, and how many, varies day to day.
03

Morning drive and departure

A final early game drive along the river before breakfast, then the drive back south to Nairobi, arriving by early evening.

What's included

Ground transport from and to Nairobi in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof
Two nights full-board accommodation at a camp in or bordering Samburu National Reserve
Four game drives, led by an English-speaking driver-guide
Samburu National Reserve entry fees
All meals throughout: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Bottled water in the vehicle throughout
Soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee throughout
Beer, wine and spirits throughout

International and domestic flights
Kenya e-Visa or entry permit fees
Tips and gratuities for your guide and camp staff
Items of a personal nature such as laundry and souvenirs
Travel insurance

Best time to visit

June through October and January through March are driest and best for game along the river; the short rains from November green the country and can make some tracks harder going.

Common questions

What is the Special Five?

A local shorthand for five species found in this dry northern country and not on the southern safari circuit: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. We look for all five across the two full days, but as with any wild sighting, we can't promise every one will show.

What vehicle do we travel in?

A 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for standing game viewing. It may be shared with other guests travelling the same dates unless you request a private vehicle at booking.

How much driving is involved to reach Samburu?

It's a genuine day of driving each way, five to six hours via Nanyuki and Isiolo, so this itinerary suits guests who want to commit properly to the north rather than treat it as a quick add-on. Combining it with an Ol Pejeta stop, as in our 4-Day Samburu & Ol Pejeta itinerary, is a common way to make the drive north work harder.

Is Samburu quieter than the Mara?

Generally yes. Vehicle numbers at a sighting are typically lower here than in the Mara, and the terrain and species are different enough that it rarely feels repetitive if you have already done a southern-circuit safari.