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Elephants Samburu Park in central Kenya
Kenya Samburu Traditional Samburu women in Kenya
Giraffe at Samburu National Reserve Kenya

Far removed from mainstream Kenyan safari, the three interconnected reserves of Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba have a wild reputation.

The landscape here is harsh with endless sunburnt plains of acacia thornbush out of which rise the occasional fertile and densely forested mountain peaks, ranges, table lands and volcanic plugs.

The Samburu are a nomadic people who have lived within the Samburu Game Reserve for centuries. Make sure to visit Samburu villages if you come to the Reserve – unlike other parts of Kenya, the interaction is non-commercial and non-invasive.

For safaris in Samburu, elephants, in particular, are the main event. There are large herds who tend to migrate huge distances in search of water.

But there are also a few lion prides, leopards, lots of baboons, superb birding and some unusual desert adapted species such as gerenuk, the beautiful reticulated giraffe, the finely striped Grevy’s zebra and the blue-legged Somali ostrich.

Until they were poached out, Northern Kenya was home to huge numbers of black rhino but the good news is that today even those are back – but only in one highly protected location.

Safari in Kenya

Kenya's best safari reserves and camps

My single most important tip for Kenya safari first-timers is to avoid the mistake of non-stop game drives. Standard tour operator itineraries shuttle you from park to park with a gruelling schedule of game drives. Yes, this is the best way of seeing large mammals up close, but the bumpy tracks, early starts and long hours quickly exhaust even the most ardent wildlife-watcher...read more

8 days

Kenya’s wildlife conservancies

Explore the national parks saving Kenya’s wildlife
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Samburu Game Reserve Tours

Nairobi, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Samburu Game Reserve (and 1 more)

Classic Kenya Safari

Discover the allure of Kenya

10 daysFrom $2,699
Tanzania, Kenya

Kenya & Tanzania Safari

Visit the gems of East Africa: the Masai Mara & the Serengeti

15 daysFrom $3,999
Nairobi, Samburu Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park

Samburu Frontier, Lake Nakuru Paradise & Masai Mara Wildlife Park

6 daysFrom $2,286
Nairobi, Samburu Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park

Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Samburu

6 daysFrom $2,440
Samburu Game Reserve

Samburu Safari From Nairobi

4 daysFrom $2,210
Masai Mara National Reserve, Samburu Game Reserve

Samburu, Rhinos and Mara Safari

8 daysFrom $5,880

Samburu Game Reserve Travel Companies

Kenya

Odyssey Safaris

Creating unforgettable experiences in East Africa
Africa

Wild Frontiers

Safaris into East, West and Southern Africa
East Africa

Natural World Kenya Safaris

The leader in customized and budget-friendly East Africa safaris
Africa

Take Me To Africa

Experts in small group travel to Africa
East Africa

Beyond Travel

Uganda-based safari specialist

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