Samburu National Reserve
The Samburu national reserve is at the banks of Lake Ewaso Ngi’ro River. On the opposite side of Samburu national reserve is the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The Samburu national reserve in size is 165km2. From Nairobi the reserve is 350 kilometers away. The altitude of the reserve is from 800 to 1230m above the sea level. The Samburu national reserve is in Rift Valley Province in Samburu District.
The Samburu national reserve is the host of Ewaso Ngi'ro River which flows in the middle through h thick forests along the riverine and through doum palm groves. These forests provide sufficient water which has become essential for the survival of the game animals in this reserve especially based on the fact that the Samburu national reserve is located in an arid region.
The Samburu national reserve is well known for being among the two areas in which conservationist Joy Adamson and George Adamson raised the lioness by the name Elsa her story became the award winning movie Born Free and the best selling book. The Samburu national reserve is also the home for another famous lioness Kamunyak for its ability to adopt Oryx calves.
For one to enter the Samburu national reserve one must pass the gates of Buffalo springs and Ngare Mare gate. One will be amazed by the sight of the two visible mountains Koitogor and Ololokwe in the reserve.
The Samburu national reserve attracts many animals because of its peaceful state and due to the presence of Ewaso Nyiro River. The meaning of the name of this river is the brown water. It runs through the Samburu national reserve and a mixture of grassland, thorn trees, riverine forests and acacia vegetation. The river flows from the highlands of Kenya and empties in the Lorian swamp. The natural serenity of the Samburu national reserve is due its far away distance from the industrious towns and the way the reserve has remained inaccessible for many years now.
There is a wide variety of bird and animal life at the Samburu national reserve to be seen. The various animal and birds species are very unique and can hardly be found in Africa. The big three cats such as leopard; cheetah and lions are here at Samburu national reserve. Other wild games are buffalo, hippos and elephants. Other mammals seen in the Samburu national reserve are warthogs, gerenuk, impala, beisa Oryx, Gravy’s zebras, Kirk dik and the reticulated giraffe. Nowadays there are no rhinos due to too much poaching.
The Samburu national reserve hosts over 350 bird species such as the sunbirds, grey headed kingfisher, Somali ostrich, borabou stork, bee-eaters, yellow throated spur fowl, vulturine guinea fowl, tawny eagle, red- billed horn, vultures, yellow-billed hornbill, secretary bird, superb sterling and verreaux’s eagle among others. The Nile crocodiles are also present in Samburu national reserve in Ewaso Ngoro river.
The Samburu national reserve is the place to be during your tour in Kenya. The reserve is a place you will love as you experience in the wild life. The stunning scenery of the Samburu national reserve of both mountains and rivers is something you cannot missed. You will always be guided by a KWS guard to show you all round the Samburu national reserve.