The Special Five · Ewaso Nyiro · The Northern Frontier
Red earth, doum palms and the Ewaso Nyiro River, where reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich live in country that feels a world away from the green highlands.
Private journeys including Samburu from USD 7,500 per person, an hour and a quarter from Nairobi by air.
Luxury Samburu Safaris, in Brief
A luxury Samburu safari takes you to Kenya's northern frontier, where the Ewaso Nyiro River draws elephant and big cats through dry, red country and where the special five live: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Guests stay at Sasaab above the river, Saruni Samburu on its ridge, Sarara in the Mathews Range or Larsens on the river bank, and often continue by helicopter to Lake Turkana. Our journeys including Samburu start from USD 7,500 per person.
By Abner Ongeri, founder, Karen, Nairobi
Where to Stay in Samburu and the north
Each area has its own season and character. These are the camps and lodges we use, and when we would send you to each.
The river, the reserves and the ridges
The Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves sit along the Ewaso Nyiro, with elephant, leopard and the special five. The private conservancies around them, including Westgate and Namunyak, allow walking, night drives and camel treks.
Luxury camps and lodges 4 stays, scroll →
SamburuSaruni Samburu
SamburuSoroi Larsens Camp
WestgateSasaab
NamunyakSarara CampLake Turkana, the Mathews Range and the Ndotos
Beyond Samburu lie the Mathews Range, the Ndoto mountains, the Chalbi Desert and the jade waters of Lake Turkana, reached by helicopter for the day or on a longer expedition.
Private Luxury Safaris
Reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich, all at home in this dry country.
Westgate and Namunyak allow walking, night drives and camel treks that the reserves do not.
Lake Turkana, the Suguta Valley and the Mathews Range are a morning away by private helicopter.
See luxury Kenya safaris, every Kenya journey and every camp we use in Kenya.
Luxury Samburu Safari Packages
We design most journeys to Samburu from a blank page, around your dates and the rest of your route. Start with a ready made journey and we will add it, or tell us what you have in mind.
Best Time to Visit Samburu and the North
Choose a month to see the weather, the wildlife, the prices and where we would place you. Choose a month to see the weather, the wildlife, the prices and where we would send you.
The safaris were intimate, never rushed, and our guide made each sighting significant.
Guest review · Rated 4.9 from more than 170 reviews
Good to Know
Reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. All five are adapted to dry country and are seen in Samburu and almost nowhere else in Kenya.
June to October and December to March, when it is dry and game concentrates along the Ewaso Nyiro. April, May and November bring rain, lower rates and excellent birding.
Sasaab above the river in Westgate Conservancy, Saruni Samburu on its ridge, Sarara Camp in the Mathews Range and Soroi Larsens Camp on the river bank.
By light aircraft from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, about an hour and a quarter, or six to seven hours by road. Helicopters connect Samburu with Laikipia and Lake Turkana.
Yes, in the private conservancies such as Westgate and Namunyak, which also offer camel treks and singing wells. The national reserves themselves are roads and daylight only.
Our journeys including Samburu start from USD 7,500 per person. Samburu is often the second or third stop on a Kenya journey with Laikipia and the Maasai Mara.
Yes, by private helicopter, usually from Laikipia or Samburu, flying over the Suguta Valley and returning the same day. See our helicopter safaris.
Three nights, which gives you the river, the conservancies and time to walk or meet the Samburu community.
Begin
Share your dates and who is travelling. A designer in Nairobi will place you where the game will be, hold the best camp for your dates and send an exact price within 24 hours.
Also see luxury Kenya safaris, Laikipia and Lewa, helicopter safaris.