Samburu National Reserve

Nature Reserve · Kenya

No ratings yet

Photo © JULIAN MASON from London, UK

Photo © JULIAN MASON from London, UK — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Across the arid plains of northern Kenya, where scattered acacia woodland gives way to rocky outcrops and dry riverbeds, Samburu National Park unfolds as one of East Africa's most distinctive wilderness zones. The park's semi-arid landscape—shaped by a Köppen Aw climate that brings concentrated rainfall in the summer months and aridity through the long dry winter season—supports a specialized ecosystem unlike the greener reserves to the south. Vegetation here consists of drought-resistant shrubland, sparse grassland, and hardy trees adapted to water scarcity, creating an open terrain that rewards patient observation. The Ewaso Nyiro River remains the ecological lifeline through these drier months, its gallery forest and permanent pools concentrating wildlife during the extended dry season. This semi-arid realm hosts predators and their prey in remarkable abundance: large carnivores hunt across the plains, herbivores migrate or cluster around water sources, birds of prey quarter the skies, and a wealth of smaller mammals and reptiles exploit the park's microclimates and rocky refuges. The stark beauty and ecological extremes make Samburu a landscape of profound contrasts—harsh yet teeming with life adapted to scarcity.

For wildlife photographers and naturalists, Samburu demands a different approach than the classic safari reserves. The dry season—roughly June through March—transforms the park into an open gallery where animals must come to water, creating predictable viewing opportunities for observers who station themselves along the river. Light during these months is often spectacular, with sharp early-morning and late-afternoon rays cutting across the rocky terrain and illuminating grazing herds and predators on the hunt. Birdwatchers find exceptional rewards here: grassland specialists, riverside waders, raptors, and other avian groups thrive in this semi-arid setting, with diversity peaking when migratory species arrive. Access is straightforward by road, and the park's relative isolation means fewer crowds than southern Kenya's flagship reserves. Those willing to embrace Samburu's harsher climate and open terrain discover an authenticity and raw ecological drama that softer landscapes cannot match.

Sagittarius serpentarius

Polemaetus bellicosus

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Vulturine Guineafowl

Acryllium vulturinum

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis leucoscepus

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

White-bellied Bustard

Eupodotis senegalensis

Buff-crested Bustard

Lophotis gindiana

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

Pterocles exustus

Black-faced Sandgrouse

Pterocles decoratus

Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse

Pterocles lichtensteinii

Speckled Pigeon

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris minuta

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

African Spoonbill

Egretta garzetta

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Hieraaetus pennatus

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Northern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis leucotis

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

White-headed Mousebird

Colius leucocephalus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Violet Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus damarensis

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus minor

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Von der Decken's Hornbill

Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus flavirostris

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Pied Kingfisher

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

Somali Bee-eater

Merops revoilii

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Red-and-yellow Barbet

Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

D'Arnaud's Barbet

Trachyphonus darnaudii

Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Eastern Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos spodocephalus

Polihierax semitorquatus

Falco tinnunculus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco biarmicus

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Rosy-patched Bushshrike

Rhodophoneus cruentus

Three-streaked Tchagra

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Northern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus ruppelli

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Lanius dorsalis

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Fan-tailed Raven

Corvus rhipidurus

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Mouse-colored Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus musculus

Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix signatus

Fischer's Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucopareia

Pink-breasted Lark

Calendulauda poecilosterna

Fawn-colored Lark

Calendulauda africanoides

Somali Short-toed Lark

Alaudala somalica

Northern Brownbul

Phyllastrephus strepitans

Pycnonotus barbatus

Hirundo rustica

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Northern Crombec

Sylvietta brachyura

Sylvietta isabellina

Cisticola cinereolus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Red-fronted Prinia

Prinia rufifrons

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Grey Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes simplex

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Banded Parisoma

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Rufous Chatterer

Argya rubiginosa

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Golden-breasted Starling

Lamprotornis regius

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Fischer's Starling

Lamprotornis fischeri

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Magpie Starling

Speculipastor bicolor

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Bare-eyed Thrush

Turdus tephronotus

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

African Grey Flycatcher

Bradornis microrhynchus

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Oenanthe pleschanka

Brown-tailed Rock Chat

Oenanthe scotocerca

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes orientalis

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Hunter's Sunbird

Chalcomitra hunteri

Cinnyris mariquensis

Black-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris nectarinioides

Abyssinian Sunbird

Cinnyris habessinicus

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

Chestnut Sparrow

Passer eminibey

Passer rufocinctus

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

Donaldson Smith's Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser donaldsoni

Black-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita cabanisi

Speckle-fronted Weaver

Sporopipes frontalis

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Golden Palm Weaver

Vitelline Masked Weaver

Ploceus vitellinus

Ploceus cucullatus

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea

African Silverbill

Euodice cantans

Black-cheeked Waxbill

Brunhilda charmosyna

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus cyanocephalus

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Steel-blue Whydah

Vidua hypocherina

Straw-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Tmetothylacus tenellus

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Emberiza poliopleura

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Curruca nisoria

Struthio molybdophanes

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

African Black Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Stone Partridge

Ptilopachus petrosus

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Coturnix coturnix

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Sombre Nightjar

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Nubian Nightjar

Caprimulgus nubicus

Donaldson Smith's Nightjar

Caprimulgus donaldsoni

Montane Nightjar

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Hartlaub's Bustard

Lissotis hartlaubii

Ceuthmochares australis

Chrysococcyx klaas

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

Pterocles gutturalis

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Streptopelia semitorquata

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Actophilornis africanus

Gallinago gallinago

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Cursorius somalensis

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Ciconia abdimii

Ciconia ciconia

Microcarbo africanus

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Plegadis falcinellus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Ardeola ralloides

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pandion haliaetus

Scissor-tailed Kite

Chelictinia riocourii

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Macheiramphus alcinus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Aquila nipalensis

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Grasshopper Buzzard

Butastur rufipennis

Western Barn Owl

Greyish Eagle-Owl

Bubo cinerascens

Apaloderma narina

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Falco amurensis

Poicephalus meyeri

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Pringle's Puffback

Dryoscopus pringlii

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Grey Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris caesius

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Corvus capensis

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Singing Bush Lark

Mirafra javanica

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Ethiopian Swallow

Hirundo aethiopica

Hirundo angolensis

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Cecropis senegalensis

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Phylloscopus trochilus

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Upcher's Warbler

Hippolais languida

Olive-tree Warbler

Hippolais olivetorum

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Buff-bellied Warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Grey-capped Warbler

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Zosterops flavilateralis

Scaly Chatterer

Turdoides plebejus

Rüppell's Starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Hildebrandt's Starling

Lamprotornis hildebrandti

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Bristle-crowned Starling

Onychognathus salvadorii

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Empidornis semipartitus

Gambaga Flycatcher

Muscicapa gambagae

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

White-throated Robin

Irania gutturalis

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Saxicola rubetra

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Myrmecocichla aethiops

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Nectarinia kilimensis

Passer domesticus

Passer castanopterus

Grey-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita arnaudi

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Eastern Golden Weaver

Ploceus subaureus

Cardinal Quelea

Quelea cardinalis

Euplectes capensis

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-cowled Widowbird

Euplectes laticauda

Grey-headed Silverbill

Spermestes griseicapilla

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Estrilda astrild

Ortygospiza atricollis

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Pin-tailed Whydah

Motacilla cinerea

Anthus cinnamomeus

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus trivialis

Crithagra citrinelloides

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

White-bellied Canary

Crithagra dorsostriata

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Butorides striata

Black-shouldered Kite

Elanus axillaris

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Melierax canorus

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

African Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos goertae

Fischer's Lovebird

Agapornis fischeri

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Northern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis edolioides

Beautiful Sunbird

Cinnyris pulchellus

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser superciliosus

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Panthera pardus

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Crocuta crocuta

Heterohyrax brucei

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

African Savanna Hare

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

Heart-nosed False-vampire

Cardioderma cor

Yellow-winged False-vampire

Black-backed Jackal

Lupulella mesomelas

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Ethiopian Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale hirtula

Common Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale parvula

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Genetta genetta

Aepyceros melampus

Thomson's Gazelle

Eudorcas thomsonii

Grant's Gazelle

Guenther's Dik-dik

Madoqua guentheri

Oreotragus oreotragus

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Phacochoerus aethiopicus

Phacochoerus africanus

Dromedary Camel

Camelus dromedarius

Otocyon megalotis

Lepus saxatilis

Acinonyx jubatus

European Wildcat

Felis silvestris

Litocranius walleri

Northern Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

Reticulated Giraffe

Giraffa reticulata

View Complete List (454 more) →

0 Community observations

No community observations yet — be the first to log a sighting here.