SAMBURU GAME RESERVE
Samburu National Park derives its name from a tribe –Samburu of people in Kenya who lived in that area for many years. The Samburu National Park is a rough and semi-desert park located along Samburu district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Its coverage is approximated to be 104 square Kilometers (approx. 65sq. miles) in size. The park is a savannah grassland with a rough distance of about 350km (217 miles) from Nairobi. Samburu National Park is relatively small in size compared to other Kenyan parks, such as Tsavo or Masai Mara. The Park is located next to the homes of the Samburu tribe of Kenya. This is the pastoral and nomadic tribe situated in remote culture. Because of its remote distance and the fact that it was inaccessible for many years, the park has retained its naturally serene and quiet feeling. Apart from numerous wildlife found in this game reserve, the park is also a bird sanctuary.
The reserve is blessed with the Uaso Nyiro River which cuts through it. This river draws a big population of animals to the park. The park’s topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees, thorn trees, forests and grassland vegetation. It was this park among two in which conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness. Their story becomes famous by the popular book and award-winning movie called “Born Free ”. The game reserve is famous for its occasional unique species of animals namely: the long necked gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and Beisa oryx. On very rare occasions, the elusive Kenya leopard visits the park, especially during the evening’s time. Other wildlife present in the park includes cheetahs and lions, as well as the herbs which include elephants, buffalo and hippos. The park has a plentiful birdlife sanctuary which boasts over 350 different species of birds including vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs, Somali ostriches, guinea fowl and others.