In this blog post, we will share a list of the best places to visit in Samburu County. Samburu County is the northerly gem globally reputed and associated with Born Free film, Camel racing, breathtaking tourism sites, and colourful cultures among other attractions.
In no particular order, here is a list of the best places to visit in Samburu County.
Best Places To Visit In Samburu County
1. Samburu National Reserve
The Samburu National Reserve stems its name from the local Samburu community and it’s one of the most surreal reserves in Kenya. It hosts some of the unique animal species and thousands of birds. So if you love seeing nature at its best, watching as the birds dance and chirp in the air, then this is the place to be.
It’s famous for its abundance in rare northern specialist species like the Bushell Zebra, the Somali Ostrich, the Gerenuk, the Reticulated Giraffe, and the Beisa Oryx, also known as the Samburu Special. It’s also popular with more than 900 elephants, and the fiercest predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Most people visit Samburu Reserve for the popular Kamunyak the Miracle Lioness that adopted the baby Beisa Oryx, which is one of the most special residents of the reserve. There’s also the birdlife which is abundant with over 450 species recorded. For instance, there are some unique birds in Africa like the Lesser Kestrel and the Taita Falcon which are species of global conservation concern, and they both use the reserve. There’s also the African Darter, Great Egret, Martial Eagle, White-headed Vulture, and the Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
2. Shaba National Reserve
The Shaba Reserve in Samburu is one peaceful reserve made famous by Joy Adamson, author of the acclaimed book and film, ‘Born Free.’ Along with Buffalo Springs, Shaba lies on either side of the northern Ewaso Ngiro River. It’s one of the greenest reserves in Samburu County, thus making game viewing less comfortable; however, it’s one of the best places to see some of the rarer species in Kenya including, the Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, Generuk and the reticulated giraffe, amongst others.
It also has a waterfall and some hot springs so you can always take a diverted root and see the wonders of nature. One of the most recognizable things about Shaba is that it served as the scenery for the book and film ‘Born Free,’ for the ‘Out of Africa’ movie and the reality show Survivor: Africa. It’s also the home to Joy Adamson’s burial place – conservationist and writer, and human mother to Elsa the Lioness – who was sadly killed here in 1980.
3. Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is situated in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, and it’s the first community-owned elephant orphanage in Africa. The sanctuary rescues orphaned and abandoned elephant calves from the area and helps them to return to the wild. Just like the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, you can observe the baby elephants being fed, and you can be paired with a keeper who will tell you about the sanctuary’s work and answer your questions.
There are two types of visits available: group or exclusive. For a regular group visit, you pay USD 35 per person if you’re a foreign visitor or Ksh 350 per person if you’re a Kenyan resident. If you want the entire place to yourself, it costs USD 500 per group, plus a conservation fee of USD 35 per person.
The visiting hours are from 8:30 am to 10:00 am and 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. It’s essential to arrive on time to ensure you get the full experience. It’s recommended that you book a week ahead, and keep in mind that the sanctuary may be unreachable, even with a 4×4, during the rainy season in April/May.
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary has created opportunities, improved community livelihoods, and facilitated wildlife return, proving that nature can provide a sustainable economy for the populations that occupy the magnificent ecosystem.
4. Loroghi Hills
The Loroghi Hills are a great destination for both novice and experienced hikers. They consist of a series of escarpments with peaks that stand at around 2500 meters high. From the top of the Loroghi Hills, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the vast Samburu plains and the surrounding areas. If you’re lucky, you might even spot various kinds of wildlife such as monkeys and antelopes. The hills are covered in lush green bushland and vegetation, making them an ideal spot for birdwatching.
What makes the Loroghi hills so appealing is the peacefulness, calm, and fresh, clean air. It’s an ideal place for solitude and soul-searching. Camping is also allowed, so all you need is a sleeping bag and some bedding if you want to spend the night.
5. Kirisia Forest
The Kirisia forest is situated in the northern part of Samburu County, near the Leroghi plateau. It has a dense cover of vegetation that spans acres of land and is home to a variety of plant and tree species, as well as a diverse range of birds and monkeys.
You can explore the expansive forest with the help of local experienced guides who will provide details about the plants found there. The forest is perfect for walks and treks and offers a calm and serene atmosphere. If you wish to spend some alone time, Kirisia Forest is ideal, as the aura itself is therapeutic.
6. Maralal National Sanctuary
Maralal is home to a hidden gem that’s perfect for wildlife-viewing safaris, trekking safaris, and camel safaris. The reserve is host to a variety of animals including impalas, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, buffaloes, elands, and warthogs. Visitors can stay at the lodge or campsite located within the reserve.
7. Kenyatta House
Set off a little way from the centre of Maralal town, surrounded by verdant hills, stands Kenyatta House. The national monument under the management of the National Museums of Kenya played its fair bit during Kenya’s independence struggle. It was here that Kenya’s first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, was detained as negotiations for the terms of independence were ongoing. After he had been held for 7 years at Lokitaung in northern Turkana, the pleasant setting of Maralal with a view of Mount Kenya to the south must have been meant as a first concession by the British colonial administration.
Kenyatta House displays interesting exhibits, e.g. historic photographs, the original telephone and furniture of the Kenyatta family. The visitor’s book bears an entry of the former president, the son of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, who is said to have been conceived in Kenyatta House during the detention.
Kenyatta House is surrounded by a pleasant garden. On clear days you can catch a glimpse of Mount Kenya to the South, hence the title of Jomo Kenyatta’s book ‘Facing Mount Kenya’, which he wrote during his detention in Maralal.
8. Malaso/World End Viewpoint
A one-and-a-half hour drive from Maralal, through beautiful forest stretches and extensive wheat farms, one of Samburu Land’s top attractions is to be reached. Just some 15 kilometres off the Maralal Baragoi road, the Kirisia Hills are plunging into the Suguta Valley, creating the Malaso or World’s End Viewpoint.
From this viewpoint, visitors enjoy a spectacular panoramic view over the steep dropoff into and across the Northern Rift Valley, up to the Cherangani Hills on the far western side of the depression. Sunsets are just stunning and the place is a paradise for landscape photographers, bird watchers and hikers.
The local Samburu community who owns the land and turned it into a conservancy, offers guided walks along the breathtaking cliffs and down to the valley floor. The two-hour session is especially worthwhile on Saturdays when there is a traditional market being held where Pokot and Samburu trade agricultural produce and animals.
9. Archers Post
Archers Post is a settlement in Kenya’s Samburu County, which is home to the Samburu people. Nearby villages include Lerata. The land belongs to the Kenyan government. There is a large military training area to the northeast of Archer’s Post which is used by the Kenya Defence Forces and the British Army.
10. Westgate Conservancy
Westgate Community Conservancy (WCC) is The Safari Collection’s community partnership in Samburu where Sasaab is located. Set up in 2008, Sasaab is run in partnership with the Samburu community of about 10,000 people. Sasaab protects a core area dedicated to wildlife conservation and the lodge predominantly employs its staff directly from the local community.
The Safari Collection runs a variety of free community medical projects each year, which has helped in building classrooms and clinics, and provides lunches to over 1,110 students in ten different schools. Since Sasaab opened it has put over one million dollars back into the Westgate Community Conservancy to help them with their own projects including security, roads, schools, clinics, and general management.
11. Kalama Community Conservancy
The Kalama Community Conservancy is one of the 35 conservancies that belong to the Northern Rangelands Trust. It serves as a natural habitat for various wildlife species, such as elephants, Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, lesser kudu, and wild dogs. The main purpose of establishing the conservancy is to protect the wildlife and enhance the community development services.
12. Mount Ololokwe
Mount Ololokwe, just north of the Kalama Conservancy, is Kenya’s answer to Table Mountain in Cape Town. It is known as the ‘Sacred Mountain’ to the Samburu people and is often described as one of the best hikes in Africa. You can do your hike independently or be accompanied by local Samburu guides. From the top, you will have wonderful views of Samburuland and you can even camp up there.
The hike up to the top takes between 2.5 – 4 hours depending on your pace, and then around 2 hours down. Conservation fees for non-residents are $50 per adult and $25 per child.
13. Ndoto Mountains
The Ndoto Mountains on the northern end of Samburu County are an oasis for those adventurous enough to brave the long off-road hot dusty drive through the semi-arid northern frontier plains of Kenya. Insecurity had plagued this region for so long that this gem remained inaccessible to most until recently.
This mountain range spans 40km from its southeastern to northwestern end, with its numerous hills creating a stunning panorama of jagged peaks and valleys, in sharp contrast to the expansive surrounding plains. The 1800m high Aldera, one of these hills, offers a moderately easy day hike from the Ngurunit base at 800m above sea level.
