Though relatively small at 64 mi² (165 km²), this Northern Kenyan reserve is, nevertheless, well-reputed. Samburu’s landscape is characterized by scrub
desert, thornbush, riverine forest and swamps.
Elephant and lion are plentiful. The latter was spotlighted by the escapades of a lioness named Kamunyak, who was filmed caring for several young oryx
calves. Leopard is occasionally seen. Samburu also features several mammal species that are not seen in Kenya’s south, including Beisa oryx, reticulated
giraffe, gerenuk, and the endangered Grevy’s zebra. Examples of the reserve’s strikingly colorful and abundant birdlife include the golden-breasted
starling, white-headed mousebird, sulphur-breasted bushshrike, the blue-necked Somali ostrich, martial eagle, Egyptian vulture, and vulturine guineafowl.
