Samburu National Park

Samburu National Park is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro river in Kenya; on the other side of the river is a popular Kenya safari spot. The Buffalo Springs National Reserve in Northern Kenya. It is 165 km² in size and 350 kilometers from Nairobi. Geographically, it is located in Samburu District of the Rift Valley Province.
In the middle of the reserve, the Ewaso Ng’iro flows through doum palm groves and thick riverine forests giving life and sustaining the eco system in an otherwise dry and arid area.

It is here where conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the best selling book and award winning movie Born Free.

Once Rhinos freely roamed this area but today none can be found as a result of poaching.

The temperature during the day is hot, but tends to cool during the night. This area of the region to this date is referred to as the Northern Frontier District because of the war in the 1960’s and early 70’s with the Somali people. Culturally, Northern Kenya has always had a strong influence of Somali, Oromo and Borana communities and tribes, who have lived as nomads in the area long before the partitioning of Africa into countries with boarders.

The Park can be entered via the Ngare Mare and Buffalo Springs gates. Once inside, there are two mountains visible: Koitogor and Ololokwe. Samburu National Reserve is very peaceful and attracts animals because of Uaso Nyiro River (meaning “brown water” and pronounced U-aa-so-Nyee-ro) that runs through it and the mixture of acacia, riverine forest, thorn trees and grassland vegetation. The Uaso Nyiro flows from the Kenyan highlands and empties into the famous Lorian Swamp.

There is a wide variety of animal and bird life seen at Samburu National Reserve. Several species are considered unique to the region, including all three big cats, Lion, Cheetah and Leopard, can be found here, as well as Elephants, Buffalos and Hippos.

Other mammals frequently seen in the park include Gerenuk, Grant’s Gazelle, Kirk’s Dik-dik, Impala, Waterbuck, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx and Reticulated Giraffe.

There are over 350 species of bird. These include Somali Ostrich, Kingfisher, Sunbird, Bee-eater, Marabou Stork, Tawny Eagle, Bateleur, Guinea fowl and Vultures.

The Uaso Nyiro River contains large numbers of Nile crocodile.