Camel Trekking Safari In Samburu National Reserve

Camel Trekking Safari In Samburu National Reserve : Samburu national reserve is one of the best wildlife destinations in Kenya located in the Northern region of Kenya in Samburu District in the area North of the River Ewaso Ngiro, the reserve lies at an altitude ranging from 800 to 1,230 meters above the sea level and covers an area of 165 square kilometers.

Samburu national reserve is part of the much larger eco system which includes the bordering Buffalo Springs covering an area of approximately 131 square kilometers and the Shaba National Reserves covering an area of 239 square kilometers.

Samburu national reserve and the Samburu region is characterized by a desert and semi-desert region with a dry and warm climate, the southern border of Samburu reserve is demarcated by the Ewaso Nyiro River which is the only permanent source of water in the region and during the dry season, the survival of the animals in the reserve depends on the river.

History of Samburu National Reserve

Samburu national reserve was designated as a wildlife protected area in 1948 within the larger Marsabit National Reserve, later Rodney Elliot, senior ranger of the national reserve suggested to the Samburu District that, in his opinion the area North of the river Ewaso Ngiro should have become a reserve on its own.

Samburu national reserve was official established in 1962 and in 1963, the then Minister of Local Governments decided that the National Reserve was to be administered by the African District Council of Samburu.

Samburu national reserve is now a community – based wilderness that is preserved and operated by the resident Samburu communities under a centralized local council. Samburu national reserve is a really unique Kenya protected area as it is one of the two areas along with the Meru National Park where conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson grew the famous lioness Elsa and then released her in the wild.

Camel Trekking Safari

Camel Trekking Safari is one of the most refreshing and fun-filled Kenya safari experiences to do in Samburu national reserve, this safari experience offers tourists an opportunity to exploring the wilderness of reserve on the back of a camel and allows you to get up-close with plains game such as zebras, Masai giraffes, elephants, African buffaloes, African Hare, antelopes, bush baby, common elands among others.

While on this thrilling Samburu safari experience, you will walk or ride through some of the most remote and scenically beautiful land in Northern Kenya with Samburu – tribesmen and camels carrying the camp or ride them through the dry riverbeds.

While on camel trekking safari in Samburu national reserve is often in the form of mobile camps which you move along with the planned ride, these camps are not above basic camping and include comfortable bedding inside tents which may vary from deluxe type camps more rudimentary 2 or 3 man tents but have various facilities including freshly cooked meals and help with pitching camp.

Tourists on a camel trekking safari in Samburu national reserve are required to have basic riding ability.

Best time to visit Samburu national reserve

Samburu national reserve is a year – round safari destination, however the best time to visit the reserve for a camel trekking safari is in the dry months from June to October and December to March. This is because in the dry season, animals tend to congregate along the Ewaso River to drink water and eat which makes it easier to spot them.

How to get to Samburu national reserve

Samburu national reserve is located about 310 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, there are two main ways to get to Samburu National Reserve from Nairobi that is either by air or by road. From Nairobi, it is a drive of approximately 5 to 6 hours using Thika Superhighway Road.

Flying to Samburu national reserve a more convenient way to get to the reserve on a flight of about a 1.5 hours from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to different airstrips serving the reserve and the region such as Kalama Airstrip, Buffalo Springs Airstrip and Samburu Oryx Airstrip,

Where to stay in Samburu national reserve

In Samburu national reserve accommodation can be got from several tented camps and lodges categorized as luxury, midrange and budget. These accommodations include

  • Saruni Samburu
  • Saasab Camp
  • Larsens Tented Camp
  • Samburu Intrepids Camp
  • Elephant Bedroom Camp
  • Elephant Watch Camp
  • Ashnil Samburu Camp
  • Samburu Simba Lodge
  • Sentrim Samburu camp among others.
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