Samburu National Reserve

🇰🇪 Kenya

🦒 Somali Giraffe Roaming Samburu Savannah

🌍 #22 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #15 in Africa #16 in Savanna & Grassland

East Africa, Kenya 1152 spp. recorded

Samburu 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

40–50% · Likely

Somali Giraffe

Giraffa reticulata

40–50% · Likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely

Grant's Gazelle

Nanger granti

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

80–90% · Very likely

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

70–80% · Very likely

Yellow-necked Francolin

Pternistis leucoscepus

70–80% · Very likely

Kirk's Dik-dik

Madoqua kirkii

70–80% · Very likely

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

70–80% · Very likely

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

Dinemellia dinemelli

70–80% · Very likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

70–80% · Very likely

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

Xerus rutilus

70–80% · Likely

Olive Baboon

Papio anubis

60–70% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Desert Warthog

Phacochoerus aethiopicus

60–70% · Likely

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Grévy's Zebra

Equus grevyi

40–50% · Likely

Somali Giraffe

Giraffa reticulata

40–50% · Likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely

Grant's Gazelle

Nanger granti

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Kirk's Dik-dik

Madoqua kirkii

70–80% · Very likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

70–80% · Very likely

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

Xerus rutilus

70–80% · Likely

Olive Baboon

Papio anubis

60–70% · Likely

Desert Warthog

Phacochoerus aethiopicus

60–70% · Likely

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

60–70% · Likely

Lion

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

50–60% · Likely

Waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

50–60% · Likely

Leopard

Panthera pardus

50–60% · Likely

Gerenuk

Litocranius walleri

50–60% · Likely

Somali Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale hirtula

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

80–90% · Very likely

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

70–80% · Very likely

Yellow-necked Francolin

Pternistis leucoscepus

70–80% · Very likely

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

70–80% · Very likely

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

Dinemellia dinemelli

70–80% · Very likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Vulturine Guineafowl

Acryllium vulturinum

60–70% · Likely

Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser donaldsoni

60–70% · Likely

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

50–60% · Likely

White-Bellied Go-Away-Bird

Corythaixoides leucogaster

50–60% · Likely

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

50–60% · Likely

Namaqua Dove

Oena capensis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely

African Five-lined Skink

Trachylepis quinquetaeniata

50–60% · Likely

Kenyan Rock Agama

Agama lionotus

50–60% · Likely

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible

Rock Monitor

Varanus albigularis

20–30% · Possible

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

20–30% · Possible

Sudan Plated Lizard

Broadleysaurus major

10–20% · Possible

Puff Adder

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data

Tropical House Gecko

Hemidactylus mabouia

Insufficient data

Ashe's Spitting Cobra

Naja ashei

Insufficient data

Sudan Mabuya

Trachylepis brevicollis

Insufficient data

Rufous Beaked Snake

Rhamphiophis rostratus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Somali Running Frog

Kassina somalica

Insufficient data

Senegal Kassina

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Grevy's Zebra Breeding Season

FebMarSepNov

Male Grevy's zebras engage in intense competition for mates, displaying aggressive stallion behavior and vocalizations to attract females.

Grévy's Zebra

Equus grevyi

40–50% · Likely

🐦

Somali Ostrich Courtship Dance

Jan

Male Somali ostriches perform dramatic dances, spreading wings and fluffing feathers to impress females during courtship rituals.

Somali Ostrich

Struthio molybdophanes

50–60% · Likely

🦌

Lioness Hunting in Dry Riverbeds

FebMarJunJulSepNov

Lionesses use the cover of dry riverbeds to stalk prey, often targeting impala or warthog, showcasing Samburu’s predator-prey dynamics.

Lion

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

20–30

20–30

40–50

30–40

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

60–70

50–60

40–50

20–30

40–50

40–50

50–60

60–70

30–40

40–50

30–40

African Bush Elephant

60–70

80–90

60–70

60–70

40–50

10–20

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

Grant's Gazelle

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

40–50

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

60–70

70–80

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

90–100

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

Superb Starling

80–90

60–70

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

Yellow-necked Francolin

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

90–100

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

80–90

80–90

70–80

30–40

60–70

80–90

70–80

50–60

70–80

50–60

70–80

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

60–70

50–60

80–90

60–70

70–80

50–60

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

40–50

50–60

60–70

Fork-tailed Drongo

70–80

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

20–30

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

50–60

40–50

70–80

Animal Events

🦌 Grevy's Zebra Breeding Season

🐦 Somali Ostrich Courtship Dance

🦌 Lioness Hunting in Dry Riverbeds

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🦒 Somali Giraffe Roaming Samburu Savannah

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

780

🐒 Mammals

230

🦎 Reptiles

119

🐸 Amphibians

23

1152 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

45 Threatened 7 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

74%

📊

Coverage (277 species at ≥5% of 1152 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

24%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (6 bird, 6 mammal)

47% Global avg

67%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

199

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

34

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

59

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