Samburu National Reserve
Location Kenya, Rift Valley Province
Coordinates 0°37′5″N 37°31′48″E / 0.61806, 37.53
Area 165 km²
Established 1985
The Samburu National Reserve is located 120 kilometers north of Mt. Kenya, on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river, on the other side of the river is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. It is 165 km² in size and 350 kilometers from the capital city Nairobi. Geographically, it is located in Samburu District of the Rift Valley Province. The Ewaso Nyiiro river flowing In the middle of the reserve,with doum palm groves and thick riverine forests that provides water without which the game in the reserve could not survive in the arid country.
Samburu National Reserve was one of the two areas in which conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the best selling book and award winning movie Born Free.
The temperature at Samburu National Reserve 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 for many centuries.
Samburu National Reserve can be entered via the Ngare Mare and Buffalo Springs gates. Once inside the reserve, there are two mountains visible: Koitogor and Ololokwe. Samburu National Reserve is very peaceful and attracts animals because of Ewaso 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 Ewaso Nyiro flows from the Kenyan highlands and empties into the famous Lorian Swamp. The natural serenity that is evident here is due to its distance from industries and the inaccessibility of the reserve for many years.
There is a wide variety of animal and bird life seen at Samburu National Reserve. Several species are considered unique to Samburu National Reserve, including its unique dry-country animal life: All three big cats, Lion, Cheetah and Leopard, can be found here, as well as Elephants, Buffalos and Hippos. It is also home to animals typical of the drier northern regions such as the fine striped Grevy's Zebra, reticulated giraffe, the graceful long-necked gerenuk and the Somali ostrich. Other mammals frequently seen in the park include Grant's Gazelle, Kirk's Dik-dik, Impala, Waterbuck, Beisa Oryx and . Rhinos are no longer present in the park due to heavy poaching.
There are over 350 species of birdlife in Samburu National Reserve. These include Somali Ostrich, Kingfisher, Sunbird, Bee-eater, Marabou Stork, Tawny Eagle, Bateleur, Guinea fowl and Vultures. The Ewaso Nyiro River contains large numbers of Nile crocodile.
All three lodges and two tented camps are built along the Ewaso Nyiro River which provides a life line to the animals in Samburu National Reserve.
