Nestled in the northern central region of Kenya, Samburu is indeed a spellbinding marvel, adorned with a vibrant culture, colorful people, picturesque landscapes, and an abundance of unique flora and fauna.
It is an arid area with predominantly warm weather. It hosts several tribes, with the Samburus being the majority. Samburu County is a vast territory, stretching from Ewaso Ng’iro River to the south of Lake Turkana.
The county encompasses several game reserves and wildlife conservation areas, making it one of the most attractive places for Safari goers in Kenya.
Known generally for its Big 5, Kenya also has a hidden treasure, unknown by many, though nourished by love in the rich bosom of Samburu’s habitat— The ‘Samburu Special 5’, which we’ll be delving into in this article, alongside other fascinating facts about Samburu.
The Samburu People
The Samburu tribe of Africa
The Samburu refer to themselves as the Lokop/Loikop which most people translate to ‘Owners of the Land’, although there isn’t yet a unanimous agreement about the meaning of this word, even among the Samburus themselves. Colorful and vibrant as butterflies! Yes, that’s how they got the name ‘Samburu’, from neighboring tribes in awe of their beautiful and colorful appearance which they thought resembled that of a butterfly, their traditional clothing is adorned by gorgeous beads (Samburu women are the undisputed masters of beadwork), and both men and women often clad in an array of colors.
Samburu is a semi-nomadic tribe and for many years they have lived as pastoralists, keeping large herds of cows, sheep, and goats, and moving with them frequently in search of greener pastures. They are one of the most resilient tribes when it comes to guarding and preserving their own culture. With the beliefs, traditions, and cultural practices of many African tribes eroded and buried in the sands of civilization and modernity, the Samburu have boldly held strong to their roots, ensuring their ancient treasures are preserved for future generations. However, there are significant traces of cultural shifts that have led to changes, especially in the economic and religious orientations of the Samburu.
A tribe dance at the Samburu cultural village
A visit to one of the Samburu cultural villages has been described by many tourists as a moving and sensational experience. It is a rare opportunity to get a glimpse into the unique indigenous culture of this cheerful tribe. The Samburu are always very amiable, open, and willing to share the deep-seated aspects of their culture with their guests, and on top of that, accord you a spectacular show of entertainment.
TIMING THE WILD: WHEN TO VISIT KENYA
Samburu Landscape
Typical Samburu Landscape
Credit: samburureserve.com
Samburu is a vast expanse encompassing the Ewaso Ng’iro River which emerges from the western parts of Mount Kenya, first flowing north, then shifting Eastward, and finally taking a Southeast course, flowing all the way to Somalia. Samburu is also home to Kirisia forest, Ndoto Mountains Forest Reserve, Lenkiuio Hills, Samburu Hills, Koitogor Hills and Ololokwe Hills.
Samburu National Reserve is a top tourist destination located in this region. There are several other wildlife conservancies in Samburu: Namunyak, Meibae, Ltungai, Ntokeiya, Sera, Kalama, and Westgate.
Samburu National Reserve
An elephant at Samburu national reserve
Samburu National Reserve covers a vast area of 165 square kilometers and is located along the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River. It is near Buffalo Springs National Reserve. It is one of the ideal places for spotting leopards. It is a rich landscape with over 450 species of birds recorded thus far. Other iconic big cats; Lions and Cheetahs, are also present in this wild haven. Interestingly, the famous Namunyak (The lioness who back in 2003 adopted a baby oryx), also dwelled here.
Now to the most intriguing face of Samburu— The Special 5! A blend of rarity, beauty, and uniqueness, comprising of the Gerenuk, the Reticulated Giraffe, the Grevy’s Zebra, the Somali Ostrich, and the Beisa Oryx)! Absolutely incredible as you are about to see.
The Gerenuk
The Gerenuk
credit: Africa Wildlife Foundation
The name ‘gerenuk’ is a Somali word meaning ‘giraffe-necked’, and it corresponds perfectly with the striking appearance of this creature, who just like the giraffe has an incredibly long neck that allows it to forage among the high twigs of trees and shrubs. The males have lyre-shaped horns while females have none. They are found mostly in the woodland forests and open plains of the East Africa region.
The Reticulated Giraffe
Reticulated giraffes at Samburu
The block-like, polygon-shaped spots on its coat are the unique features of the reticulated giraffe. Its population is spread as far as the Horn of Africa, precisely Somalia and Ethiopia. However, they are primarily found in Northern parts of Kenya. It is the largest of the giraffe subspecies, with a height of up to 6 meters.
Grevy’s Zebra
A Grevy’s Zebra at Samburu
Two visible features distinguish the Grevys from the Plains zebras. First, their stripes are much narrower, and their belly is plain white, not covered by stripes. Its ears are larger and rather rounded. It is the largest of the wild Equidae family.
Beisa Oryx
Beisa Oryx at Samburu national reserve
The Beisa Oryx is a rather large antelope with very long horns, black hair markings extending beyond its ears, broad necks, and a long compact body, fawn in color. It is one of the two types of Oryx found in East Africa, the other being the Fringe-eared Oryx.
Somali Ostrich
A Somali Ostrich in Samburu
The Somali Ostrich is distinguishable by its blue neck and thighs, which happen to be pinkish for the Common Ostrich. Other than that slight point of differentiation, it is akin to the Common Ostrich in terms of size and other superficial characteristics. It is majorly found in regions around the Horn of Africa and Kenya.
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