Lesser-Known Kenya

The Masai Mara Game Reserve and The Amboseli National Park take most of the headlines as far as safaris in Kenya are concerned, but the country’s other parks demand another look for their impressive diversity of wildlife combined with less foot traffic.  Today we look at Samburu National Reserve.

Samburu lies 325 km north of Nairobi, approximately a 5 hour drive.  The Ewaso Ng’iro River provides the main source of water in this arid environment, supporting the thick forests and groves in the reserve. 

The comparatively less well-known Samburu National Reserve explodes with wildlife, including many species that are rare in the other parts of the country.  Over 900 elephants share the park with large predators like the lion, leopard, and cheetah.  Wild dog are common, along with buffalo and hippo.  The Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and beisa oryx make up the “Samburu Special 5”.  Over 450 species of bird also call the reserve home.

Samburu boasts over 20 camps and lodges and has its own airstrip, accommodating fly-in safaris.  Fewer tourists over the years has helped preserve Samburu’s serene and untouched landscape.

Interesting Story – The story of Kamunyak is a remarkable one.  Kamunyak (meaning ‘Blessed One’) is a lioness living in the Samburu National Reserve.  She is renown for adopting at least 6 oryx calves, fighting off predators including other lions in order to protect her adopted family.  Because the calves will not behave like lion cubs and wait while she hunts for food, she had repeatedly suffered from starvation.

Kamunyak was the subject of the film “Heart of a Lioness”, which first premiered on the BBC and later on Animal Planet in the US.  She was last spotted in 2004 and despite a number of searches, has not been seen since.

Check out these amazing videos of Kamunyak –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZbpbvkuBF4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Qigv_h42c

For more information about our safaris, please go to www.travel-wild.com.  Find Kenya safaris, Tanzania safaris, Mombasa and Zanzibar properties, and more.

How many men does it take...

to lift a bull elephant's leg?  Answer - 6 large men trying as hard as they can.

Here are some pictures from the recent Elephant Relocation that occurred at the end of September.  Note - Other than the press present on Day 1 of the relocation, Travel Wild clients were the only visitors allowed to be part of the action.

The bull elephant, being loaded onto the platform

The bull elephant, being adjusted on the platform so he can enter the truck safely

The bull elephant being loaded into the back of the truck

His legs were too long so KWS officials had to lift his legs around the truck's doors

Having arrived, the elephant family rushes out of the truck to inspect their new home in the Masai Mara

The elephants are now living in the Masai Mara and are said to be acclimating well to the new environment


For more information about our safaris, please go to www.travel-wild.com.  Find Kenya safaris, Tanzania safaris, Mombasa and Zanzibar properties, and more.