Samburu

Samburu is a remote and rugged safari destination in northern Kenya, set within Samburu County and shaped by the Ewaso Ng'iro River. The region is best known for Samburu National Reserve, together with the adjoining Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves, where acacia woodland, riverine forest and semi-arid plains support an unusually rich concentration of wildlife.

The area takes its name from the Samburu people, semi-nomadic pastoralists related to the Maasai who are known for their distinctive red shukas, intricate beadwork and manyatta settlements. Maralal, the county capital, is the main administrative and trading centre and hosts the annual Maralal International Camel Derby, while the wider region's history stretches from early human sites near Lake Turkana to its time as part of Kenya's Northern Frontier District.

Safari visitors come primarily for the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and gerenuk, along with elephant, lion, leopard and abundant birdlife along the river. Cultural visits to Samburu communities, camel treks and excursions to landmarks such as Ololokwe, the Mathews Range and the Kirisia Hills add variety beyond game drives.

Tourism, community conservancies, livestock and trade anchor the local economy, and the region's safari lodges and tented camps draw both leisure travellers and conservation-focused visitors. Its combination of distinctive wildlife, living pastoralist culture and accessible yet wild landscapes makes Samburu a compelling stop on Kenya's northern safari circuit.