Samburu National Reserve
🇰🇪 Kenya
🦒 Somali Giraffe Roaming Samburu SavannahSamburu National Reserve is a protected tropical savanna situated in northern Kenya, defined by arid scrublands, open grasslands, and the vital winding waters of the Ewaso Ng'iro river. Unlike greener southern parks, this harsh terrain features dusty riverbanks and acacia thickets that shape a rugged, sun-baked landscape.
0.619° N 37.554° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Grévy's Zebra
Equus grevyi
★ 
Reticulated Giraffe
Giraffa reticulata
★ 
African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ 
Grant's Gazelle
Nanger granti
📊 Most Spotted
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus erythrorhynchus
Superb Starling
Lamprotornis superbus
Yellow-necked Francolin
Pternistis leucoscepus
Kirk's Dik-dik
Madoqua kirkii
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser mahali
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
Dinemellia dinemelli
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Unstriped Ground Squirrel
Xerus rutilus
Olive Baboon
Papio anubis
Desert Warthog
Phacochoerus aethiopicus
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Grévy's Zebra
Equus grevyi
★ Reticulated Giraffe
Giraffa reticulata
★ African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ Grant's Gazelle
Nanger granti
📊 Most Spotted
Kirk's Dik-dik
Madoqua kirkii
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Unstriped Ground Squirrel
Xerus rutilus
Olive Baboon
Papio anubis
Desert Warthog
Phacochoerus aethiopicus
Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Lion
Panthera leo
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Gerenuk
Litocranius walleri
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Somali Dwarf Mongoose
Helogale hirtula
📊 Most Spotted
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus erythrorhynchus
Superb Starling
Lamprotornis superbus
Yellow-necked Francolin
Pternistis leucoscepus
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser mahali
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
Dinemellia dinemelli
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Vulturine Guineafowl
Acryllium vulturinum
Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser donaldsoni
Parrot-billed Sparrow
Passer gongonensis
White-Bellied Go-Away-Bird
Corythaixoides leucogaster
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Namaqua Dove
Oena capensis
📊 Most Spotted
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
African Five-lined Skink
Trachylepis quinquetaeniata
Kenyan Rock Agama
Agama lionotus
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
Rock Monitor
Varanus albigularis
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Sudan Plated Lizard
Broadleysaurus major
Puff Adder
Bitis arietans
Tropical House Gecko
Hemidactylus mabouia
Ashe's Spitting Cobra
Naja ashei
Sudan Mabuya
Trachylepis brevicollis
Rufous Beaked Snake
Rhamphiophis rostratus
Recent sightings in Samburu National Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Grevy's Zebra Breeding Season
Male Grevy's zebras engage in intense competition for mates, displaying aggressive stallion behavior and vocalizations to attract females.
2Somali Ostrich Courtship Dance
Male Somali ostriches perform dramatic dances, spreading wings and fluffing feathers to impress females during courtship rituals.
3Lioness Hunting in Dry Riverbeds
Lionesses use the cover of dry riverbeds to stalk prey, often targeting impala or warthog, showcasing Samburu’s predator-prey dynamics.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Grevy's Zebra Breeding Season
- 2Somali Ostrich Courtship Dance
- 3Lioness Hunting in Dry Riverbeds
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We also saw each of the special 5 species (Beisa oryx; reticulated giraffe; Somali ostrich; Grevy's zebra and Gerenuk).
On the two game drives I went on we saw lions (multiple times), cheetah, eland, Masai giraffe, Coke's Hartebeest, Burchell's Zebra and much more.
The first thing we saw were some ostriches and a lone zebra.
We didn't have time to see much more than a few more elephants when our drive was cut short--and the heat mercifully broken--by a real gully washer of a rainstorm.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Samburu National Reserve?
The most likely sightings are Northern Red-billed Hornbill (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Superb Starling (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Yellow-necked Francolin (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Kirk's Dik-dik (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Grant's Gazelle (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 1152 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Samburu National Reserve for wildlife?
April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Grévy's Zebra in Samburu National Reserve?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Grévy's Zebra sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 34 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Reticulated Giraffe in Samburu National Reserve?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Reticulated Giraffe sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 35 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see African Bush Elephant in Samburu National Reserve?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 56 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Grant's Gazelle in Samburu National Reserve?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Grant's Gazelle sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 127 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
