Timing your trip
best time to visit samburu reserve
Samburu’s semi-arid calendar splits cleanly into dry and wet. The dry months concentrate game along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, while the rains bring green landscapes and migratory birds.
seasonal guide to samburu reserve
The dry months of June to October and January to February give the strongest game viewing, as surface water retreats to the Ewaso Ng'iro and thin vegetation makes spotting easy across the open hills. The long rains of March to May and short rains of November to December green the plains, bring newborn animals and the year's best birding, though the roads turn muddy at the height of the rains.
month by month details
January opens the short dry season and ranks among the best months for wildlife. Water is scarce, so animals gather in large numbers along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, and sparse vegetation makes them easier to spot.
Skies are clear and sunny, ideal for long days in the field. Note that the Christmas and New Year period can bring more visitors before the season settles.
February continues the short dry season with reliably good viewing. Thin vegetation and limited water keep wildlife concentrated near the river, where sightings come easily.
Expect sunny weather with clear skies throughout. It is a strong month to visit before the long rains arrive in March.
March marks the start of the long rains and a shift towards the wet season. The landscape begins to green up, which is stunning for photography, and migratory birds from Europe and Asia start to appear.
Tourist numbers tend to be lower outside the Easter holidays, which can mean a more exclusive experience. Game is more dispersed than in the dry months as water becomes available.
April sits at the peak of the long rains and is the most demanding month to travel. Roads can become muddy and difficult to navigate, which limits how far you can range.
The reward is a lush green paradise, excellent for photography and birdwatching, with the birth of young animals often coinciding with the rains. Crowds are thin away from Easter.
May remains in the peak of the long rains, so expect challenging conditions on the ground. Muddy roads can make navigation difficult, particularly across the wetter tracks.
The scenery is at its greenest and most photogenic, and birdwatching is rewarding with migratory species present. Wildlife is more scattered, but young animals are often about.
June opens the long dry season, the prime stretch for wildlife viewing. As water grows scarce, animals gather in large numbers along the Ewaso Ng'iro River and sparse vegetation makes them easy to spot.
The weather turns sunny with clear skies, and roads dry out for easier movement around the reserve.
July delivers classic long dry season conditions and excellent game viewing. Wildlife stays concentrated near the river where water remains, and the thin bush keeps sightings open.
Sunny skies and dry ground make for comfortable, productive days in the field.
August continues the long dry season with consistently strong wildlife viewing. Scarce water draws animals to the Ewaso Ng'iro River, and sparse vegetation keeps them in view.
Clear, sunny weather holds throughout, making this a dependable month for a Samburu safari.
September remains firmly in the long dry season and offers superb sightings. Animals gather along the river as water dwindles, and the open landscape makes them easy to find.
Sunny skies and good road conditions continue to favour extensive game drives.
October closes the long dry season with wildlife still concentrated near water. Sparse vegetation and limited water sources keep game easy to spot along the Ewaso Ng'iro River.
Expect sunny, clear weather before the short rains arrive, making it a fine month to visit.
November brings the short rains and a greener, quieter reserve. The landscape transforms into lush scenery that is stunning for photography, and migratory birds are present for excellent birdwatching.
Tourist numbers tend to be lower, which can mean a more exclusive experience. Wildlife disperses as water becomes more widely available.
December continues the short rains with a green landscape and good birding. Migratory species are about and the scenery photographs beautifully, while young animals often appear during the wet season.
Visitor numbers are generally lower, with the exception of the Christmas holidays. Game is more scattered than in the dry months.
Plan your perfect kenya safari
Tell us a little about what you have in mind and one of our specialists will be in touch.
frequently asked questions
June to October, and again in January and February.
Those are the dry spells, when the Ewaso Nyiro is the only reliable water and the elephant herds, the Grevy's zebra and the oryx come to it. The bush is thin, the light is hard and the sightings are easy.
July to September is the most reliable stretch of all.
The short dry season in January and February is quieter and just as good, which makes it our value pick.
April and May, yes, if you have a choice.
They bring the heaviest rain of the year, the murram roads turn to mud and the game spreads away from the river. The country is green and the birding excellent, but the driving is hard work.
March is the hinge month, often dry at the start.
If your dates are fixed then, we will tell you what you are trading and put you in a camp that handles the wet ground.
November and December, and again in the green weeks of April and May.
The short rains bring migrants in and the resident dry-country birds into breeding colour, with over 350 species recorded in the area. The river attracts most of them, so a morning on foot with a Samburu guide beats a drive.
The dry months still give you the specials, just fewer of the visitors.
Tell us if birds are the point and we will pick the camp and the guide for it.
Hot, and hotter than people plan for.
Days sit regularly in the low thirties, with the peak in January, February and again in September and October. The nights are milder than the Kenyan highlands, so you will not need much for the evenings.
The middle of the day is genuinely uncomfortable, which is why most camps have a plunge pool and a long lunch.
Pack light, breathable, neutral clothes, strong sun protection and a hat you will actually wear.
November and December, and the last weeks of May.
The short rains fall in afternoon storms rather than all day, the country greens up, the camps are half empty and the rates drop. The game is less concentrated but it is all still here.
The reserve is never as busy as the Mara, so even the high season feels calm by comparison.
For a second visit, or for anyone who wants the river to themselves, those are the weeks we would book.
July to October, when both are dry and the flights connect cleanly.
That window gives you Samburu's dry-country species and the Mara at the height of its season, with one short flight between them and no night in Nairobi.
January and February are the other good pairing, quieter in both and cheaper.
In April and May we would send you to neither, and would suggest Laikipia or the coast instead.
rated five stars by our clients
our approach
remote, exclusive
& personal
Every journey starts with a conversation. We take the time to understand your vision before we start planning.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape something that is considered, personal, and expertly delivered.
Every journey starts with a conversation. We favour a direct, personal approach: understanding your vision before anything else.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape a journey that is both thoughtfully considered and expertly delivered.
Get in touch to start planning yours.