Samburu
National Reserve Kenya
Samburu
Game Reserve Leopard in Kenya |
Male Gerenuk
in Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya
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Samburu
Warriors in Samburu
Kenya
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Samburu
National Reserve Kenya
Samburu National Reserve is one of
the lesser-known national parks, but is nevertheless
teeming with life. Situated alongside the Ewaso Nyiro
River, there is plenty to attract wildlife from the
surrounding savannah plains. The
reserve lies within ecological zone V – which
is classified as arid and semiarid with a moisture
index of 42 to 57, which indicates that evapo-transpiration
is greater than available moisture. The days are extremely
hot while the nights are cool.
The
annual mean temperatures range between 18º C
and 30ºC, while the mean annual rainfall is 345
mm with peaks in November and April. The dry season
starts in late May, and goes up to early October when
a large concentration of wildlife is found in the
reserve due to availability of lush vegetation along
the Ewaso Nyiro River, the main source of water to
the Reserve and the nearby communities.
The
reserve is rich in wildlife with an abundance of rare
northern specialist species such as the Grevy’s
zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk
and the beisa oryx (also referred to as Samburu Special
Five). The reserve is also popular with a minimum
of 900 elephants. Large predators such as the lion,
leopard and cheetah are an important attraction (Kamunyak
the miracle lioness that adopted the baby oryx is
a resident in the reserve).
Animals,
Birds of Samburu
Wild
dog sightings are also a common attraction to this
unique protected area. Bird life is abundant with
over 450 species recorded. Rich in game with many
rare species. Game includes Grevy’s zebra, Somali
ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx,
elephants, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dogs and over
450 species of birds. Birds of the arid northern bush
country are augmented by a number of riverine forest
species. The Lesser Kestrel and the Taita Falcon are
species of global conservation concern and they both
utilize the reserve. Five species categorized as vulnerable
have also been recorded in the reserve.
These
are the African darter, great egret, white-headed
vulture, martial eagle and the yellow billed ox-pecker.
The critically endangered pancake tortoise (malacochersus
tornieri) is also found in the reserve.
Seasons
Temperatures reach 104°F (40°C)
in the day with a low of 68°F (20°C) at night
Rainy Season
It
may rain anytime during the hot months of April to
June, then again in November and December. November
is usually the wettest month.
Dry Season
January
through to March are very hot and dry, and again from
July to October. July is normally the driest month.
Tsavo
Facts
Facilities
: Several lodges
Animals
: Gerenuk, crocodiles, storks, leopards
Location
: In Eastern Province, North of Nairobi
Access
from Nairobi : Road : 344 kms ( 5 hours )
Vegetation
: Doum palms, acacia woodland and arid land
Area : 165 sq km Altitude:
800 to 1230 m [2620 - 4035 ft]
Birds : Storks, weaver birds, martial
eagle, blue legged Somali Ostrich
Attractions: Various wildlife species
and the colorful Samburu people
Highlights
of Samburu National Reserve
There
are various activities that visitors can engage in
while residing at the reserve. These activities include:
game drives, bird watching, sundowners, bush breakfast,
nature walks, river rafting (depending on the river
water level) and the Samburu cultural experience
