Five ways to discover Samburu, Kenya's wild north

Tucked away in Kenya’s rugged north, Samburu National Reserve offers a wilder, more distinct experience than some better-known safari spots in the country’s south. Its remote, arid landscapes — combining sprawling savannahs dotted with acacia trees and doum palms, with rolling hills and rocky outcrops — provide an ideal setting for close encounters with an array of extraordinary creatures, as well as opportunities for meaningful exchanges with the people who call this land home. And when night falls, an inky sky emerges, drawing stargazers from around the world. Though Kenya’s Maasai Mara is often synonymous with safari, Samburu feels more like a well-kept secret, its dramatic terrain and distinct ecosystems like nowhere else in Africa. Here are just five of the unforgettable experiences that make Samburu stand out.

1. Spot the Samburu ‘Special Five’

As well as the classic 'Big Five', the region’s remarkable wildlife includes several rare species — known as the Samburu ‘Special Five’. Grevy’s zebra is distinguished by its larger size, tighter stripes, big round ears and light brown muzzle, while Samburu's reticulated giraffe is slightly shorter than its Maasai cousin, with striking polygon-shaped spots. The beisa oryx is notable for its long, straight horns and bold black facial markings; and the gerenuk is often referred to as a ‘giraffe gazelle’ for its ability to stand on its hind legs to feed from trees and higher bushes. Completing the set is the Somali ostrich, easily recognised by its blue-grey skin and legs.

2. Get a new perspective on a bush walk

A guided stroll through the Kalama Conservancy allows visitors to immerse themselves in the wilderness, instead of observing it from inside a traditional safari vehicle. You’ll learn about the native flora that make up Samburu’s ecosystem — like the Sekotei, or ‘toothbrush tree’, with fibrous branches that locals chew on to clean their teeth — and hear how communities live in harmony with nature. The Samburu people are semi-nomadic, and minimise their impact on the land by changing location each season; they move both their villages and grazing cattle. This is a landscape where animals roam free but, to ensure safety, every walk is led by an experienced, certified guide and accompanied by an armed county ranger trained by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

3. Track rhinos on foot

Take your walking safari to the next level and roam across a secluded rhino sanctuary set within the Sera Conservancy. Spanning 26,000 acres of semi-arid shrubland, this is the only place in northern Kenya where visitors can track white rhinos on foot. Thanks to a community-led conservation model, every step brings you closer to the elusive species and supports the Samburu communities working to protect them. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of standing in the shadow of a white rhino — the world’s second-largest land mammal after the African elephant.

4. Stargaze across two hemispheres

Even if you’re new to astrotourism, Samburu is the ideal place for a celestial safari — the region has one of the darkest night skies on Earth, classified as Bortle 1 on the dark-sky scale, with virtually non-existent light pollution. Evenings can be spent on a platform overlooking the Kalama Conservancy, scanning the sky for stars and planets as a local expert explains their cultural significance. The Milky Way, locally known as Ntapar, represents cattle — creatures of immense importance in Samburu society. As it’s near the equator, Samburu is also one of the few places where constellations from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres can be seen at once. After stargazing, watch the moon move across the sky before you doze off on one of Basecamp Samburu’s elevated, open-air star beds. Those feeling more adventurous can also set out on a guided scorpion safari, strolling the grounds looking for the small nocturnal species that hide themselves among the rocks.

5. Discover Samburu culture

Immersive experiences in Samburu might include a local village visit; an opportunity to connect with the pastoral people Indigenous to this region of Kenya. Through interpreter-assisted conversation and a local-guided stroll, guests learn about their way of life: the significance of their brightly coloured shukas (cloth wraps) and beaded jewellery; their traditional diet of milk, blood and meat; and the techniques used to build their manyattas (fenced settlements), made of palm fronds, wooden sticks and cow dung. Those who visit in one of the dry seasons (usually June-October and December-March) can also witness the ‘Singing Wells’. During this centuries-old ritual, Samburu herders gather around watering holes to hand-dig wells and draw water to the surface of dry riverbeds, singing rhythmic songs as they work in unison.