Samburu
National Reserve
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Ground Information
Samburu National Reserve lies 325 kilometers north of Nairobi
in the hot and arid fringes of the arid northern region
of Kenya. The Reserve is within the lands of the colorful
Samburu people, close relatives of the Maasai, and harbors
a number of wildlife species rarely found elsewhere in any
numbers.
These include Grevy zebra,
the reticulated giraffe and the Beisa oryx all species found
only north of the equator. The long-necked gerenuk is a
graceful antelope, which spends much of its time in a bi-pedal
stance seeking succulence among the withered scrub, which
dots this harsh terrain. Other animals commonly seen are
elephants, lions, cheetahs, gerenuks, buffalos, grants gazelles,
dikdiks and waterbucks. There are over 350 varieties of
birds. These include the famous Somali Ostriches (distinguished
by their unique purple/blue legs during mating season),
kingfishers, humming birds, eagles, guinea fowls and vultures.
Scenically and faunally dramatic,
for most of the year Samburu National Reserve is under the
unsympathetic equatorial sun. But relief comes from the
wide swathe of the Ewaso Ngiro River which rises some hundreds
of kilometers to the west on the foothills of the Aberdares
and which vanishes beyond Samburu in the recesses of the
Lorian swamp. The river is at its best in the Reserve, broad
and sluggish with a large population of crocodile seen on
sandbanks at almost every bend.
In the lower reaches, where
permanent pools have formed as a tributary joins the river,
are hippos. The river is fringed with giant acacias, figs
and doum palms all of which provide shade and sustenance
to the wildlife, which comes to water. Elephant roam the
gaunt hills, which punctuate the scrubland and where occasional
clusters of the vividly colored desert rose challenge the
arid surroundings. These elephant seek solace and contentment
in the shallow waters of the river and from time to time
a visitor finds herds bathing and drinking in a spectacle
of unconscious pleasure. |
