4x4 Kenya Car Hire in Samburu National Park
Samburu National Park / Reserve is situated along the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro river in Kenya bordering the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. The park covers an area of 165 km² in size, with Nairobi City at about 350 kilometers in the Samburu County.
The Ewaso Ng’iro River flows through the park with doum palm groves and thick riverine forests, and provides water for the game in this arid region. There are two areas in the park in which conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness. Many wildlife animals inhabit the park and these include; gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, oryx, reticulated giraffe, big cats, olive baboon, warthogs, Grant’s gazelle, Kirk’s dik-dik, impala, and waterbuck, lion, cheetah black rhinos and African leopard.
Bird species also inhabit the park i.e more than 350 bird species i.e grey-headed kingfisher, sunbirds, bee-eaters, Marabou stork, tawny eagle, Verreaux’s eagle, bateleur, vulturine guineafowl, yellow-necked spurfowl, lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird, superb starling, northern red-billed hornbill, yellow-billed hornbill, and various vultures including the palm-nut vulture.
Things to do in Samburu National Park
Helicopter Safaris
Helicopter Safaris are very amazing and exceptional to do in Samburu National Park as you get views of Samburu National Park and its volcanic geography starting with the Ololokwe monolith, the Suguta Valley, Silale Crater, and Lake Logipi regions that are rarely accessed by 4×4 vehicles.
You shall have an aerial view of the many herds of elephants before landing on the sacred Samburu mountain, Ol Donyo Sabachi (Ol Lolokwe) that elevates 1,000m.
Enjoy an early evening walk to a Sundowner where you have panoramic views of the reserve and wildlife.
Helicopter rides cost US $5,000 to US $7,000.
Camel Safari
Camel Safaris are exciting to do in the park and these are done when riding camels watching wildlife animals wander around their natural habitat and the animals you see include; Grevy’s zebra, ostrich, giraffe and bird species.
Camel safaris are very exciting as you go for a two-hour round trip with sundowners.
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is located in the close by Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, which is Kenya’s first community-run wildlife organization. The sanctuary and its animal keepers are committed to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-wilding orphaned elephant calves and other wildlife animal species.
Visiting hours at this sanctuary are between 8.30 am and 10 am and then 11.30 am and 1 pm.
At a special viewing platform, you watch elephants come in from their walk to receive their bottles.
When visiting the sanctuary, you are accompanied by a keeper who informs you about their work and they will give you a behind the scenes tour.
Non-Residents pay US $20 per person interested in this activity. (You are required to wear green)
Guided Nature Walks
Guided nature walks in Samburu National Park are exciting to do in the park as you embark on a guided long nature walk for an hour despite the fact that the nearby conservancies take longer treks of 2 to 5 hours.
While on the guided nature walks you can see various more than 450 bird species.
Things to Carry for your Samburu Wildlife Safari
- Plenty of water
- A good hat
- Lightweight trousers
- Long sleeve tops
- Protective sunglasses and good walking shoes.