The highlight of this reserve is on the river banks and a few kilometres of dry bush on either side, the 104km² Samburu National Reserve is one of a pair of much loved reserves in northern Kenya, the other half being the 131km² Buffalo Springs National Reserve, on the south side of the river.
Wildlife variety and density is amongst the highest in the country, possibly second only to the Masai Mara. It is especially known for high elephant numbers and the rare dryland fauna of northern Kenya, the ‘Samburu Five’ comprising of Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Grevy’s zebra. All in all, there are 50 species of larger mammals identified in Samburu National Reserve, amongst them the great cats lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as impala, greater and lesser kudu and a prolific birdlife, of which hornbill, vulturine Guinea fowl, weaver birds and various birds of prey are the most conspicuous. Samburu National Reserve’s scenic landscape is an experience in its own, combining undulating landscapes of doum palm fringed river banks, bold rocky outcrops and vast grassland savannah with acacia trees.