Samburu National Reserve

🇰🇪 Kenya

🦒 Somali Giraffe Roaming Samburu Savannah
🌍 #23 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #18 in Africa #18 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Kenya 1152 spp. recorded

Samburu National Reserve is a protected tropical savanna situated in northern Kenya, defined by arid scrublands, open grasslands, and the vital winding waters of the Ewaso Ng'iro river. Unlike greener southern parks, this harsh terrain features dusty riverbanks and acacia thickets that shape a rugged, sun-baked landscape.

0.619° N   37.554° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Grévy's Zebra ★
EN

Grévy's Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus grevyi

40–50% · Likely
Reticulated Giraffe ★

Reticulated Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa reticulata

40–50% · Likely
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Grant's Gazelle ★
LC

Grant's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger granti

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Northern Red-billed Hornbill
LC

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus erythrorhynchus

80–90% · Very likely
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-necked Francolin
LC

Yellow-necked Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis leucoscepus

70–80% · Very likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

70–80% · Very likely
Kirk's Dik-dik
LC

Kirk's Dik-dik

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Madoqua kirkii

70–80% · Very likely
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dinemellia dinemelli

70–80% · Very likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

60–70% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely
Unstriped Ground Squirrel
LC

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Xerus rutilus

60–70% · Likely
Vulturine Guineafowl
LC

Vulturine Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acryllium vulturinum

60–70% · Likely
Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

60–70% · Likely
Desert Warthog
LC

Desert Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus aethiopicus

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Grévy's Zebra ★
EN

Grévy's Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus grevyi

40–50% · Likely
Reticulated Giraffe ★

Reticulated Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa reticulata

40–50% · Likely
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Grant's Gazelle ★
LC

Grant's Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nanger granti

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Kirk's Dik-dik
LC

Kirk's Dik-dik

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Madoqua kirkii

70–80% · Very likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

60–70% · Likely
Unstriped Ground Squirrel
LC

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Xerus rutilus

60–70% · Likely
Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

60–70% · Likely
Desert Warthog
LC

Desert Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus aethiopicus

60–70% · Likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

60–70% · Likely
Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

50–60% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

50–60% · Likely
Gerenuk

Gerenuk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Litocranius walleri

50–60% · Likely
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

50–60% · Likely
Somali Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Somali Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale hirtula

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Northern Red-billed Hornbill
LC

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus erythrorhynchus

80–90% · Very likely
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-necked Francolin
LC

Yellow-necked Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis leucoscepus

70–80% · Very likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

70–80% · Very likely
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dinemellia dinemelli

70–80% · Very likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely
Vulturine Guineafowl
LC

Vulturine Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acryllium vulturinum

60–70% · Likely
Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver
LC

Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser donaldsoni

60–70% · Likely
Parrot-billed Sparrow
LC

Parrot-billed Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer gongonensis

50–60% · Likely
White-Bellied Go-Away-Bird

White-Bellied Go-Away-Bird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythaixoides leucogaster

50–60% · Likely
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

50–60% · Likely
Namaqua Dove
LC

Namaqua Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oena capensis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely
African Five-lined Skink
LC

African Five-lined Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis quinquetaeniata

50–60% · Likely
Kenyan Rock Agama
LC

Kenyan Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama lionotus

50–60% · Likely
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible
Rock Monitor
LC

Rock Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus albigularis

10–20% · With luck
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

10–20% · With luck
Sudan Plated Lizard
LC

Sudan Plated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Broadleysaurus major

10–20% · With luck
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

Insufficient data
Ashe's Spitting Cobra
LC

Ashe's Spitting Cobra

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Naja ashei

Insufficient data
Sudan Mabuya
LC

Sudan Mabuya

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis brevicollis

Insufficient data
Rufous Beaked Snake
LC

Rufous Beaked Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Rhamphiophis rostratus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Somali Running Frog
LC

Somali Running Frog

Amphibian

Kassina somalica

Insufficient data
Senegal Kassina
LC

Senegal Kassina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Grevy's Zebra Breeding Season

FebMarSepNov

Male Grevy's zebras engage in intense competition for mates, displaying aggressive stallion behavior and vocalizations to attract females.

Grévy's Zebra
EN

Grévy's Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus grevyi

40–50% · Likely
🐦

Somali Ostrich Courtship Dance

Jan

Male Somali ostriches perform dramatic dances, spreading wings and fluffing feathers to impress females during courtship rituals.

Somali Ostrich
VU

Somali Ostrich

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Struthio molybdophanes

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Lioness Hunting in Dry Riverbeds

FebMarJunJulSepNov

Lionesses use the cover of dry riverbeds to stalk prey, often targeting impala or warthog, showcasing Samburu’s predator-prey dynamics.

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Grévy's Zebra
30–40
50–60
50–60
20–30
10–20
40–50
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
30–40
Reticulated Giraffe
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
10–20
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
30–40
40–50
20–30
African Bush Elephant
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
10–20
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
40–50
Grant's Gazelle
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
40–50
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
90–100
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
Superb Starling
80–90
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Yellow-necked Francolin
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Kirk's Dik-dik
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
Impala
50–60
80–90
70–80
70–80
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
70–80
Fork-tailed Drongo
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Unstriped Ground Squirrel
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
Vulturine Guineafowl
60–70
50–60
50–60
80–90
70–80
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
Olive Baboon
50–60
80–90
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
Desert Warthog
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
Animal Events
🦌 Grevy's Zebra Breeding Season
🐦 Somali Ostrich Courtship Dance
🦌 Lioness Hunting in Dry Riverbeds

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🦒 Somali Giraffe Roaming Samburu Savannah

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
780
🐒 Mammals
230
🦎 Reptiles
119
🐸 Amphibians
23
1152 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
45 Threatened 7 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
72%
📊
Coverage (277 species at ≥5% of 1152 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 mammal)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
199
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
34
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
59

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Samburu National Reserve?

The most likely sightings are Northern Red-billed Hornbill (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Superb Starling (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Yellow-necked Francolin (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Kirk's Dik-dik (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 1152 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Samburu National Reserve for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Grévy's Zebra in Samburu National Reserve?

Yes — about 47% of wildlife watchers report a Grévy's Zebra sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 33 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Reticulated Giraffe in Samburu National Reserve?

Yes — about 48% of wildlife watchers report a Reticulated Giraffe sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 35 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Samburu National Reserve?

Yes — about 56% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 49 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Grant's Gazelle in Samburu National Reserve?

Yes — about 72% of wildlife watchers report a Grant's Gazelle sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 92 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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