Samburu National Reserve - Samburu
Samburu Intrepids is part of the Heritage Hotels chain, which enjoys an excellent reputation. Situated on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River in the arid heart of the Samburu National Reserve, this large and spacious club is built predominantly from timber and thatch and features wooden walkways and shaded relaxation spaces beside the river. Herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra come daily to drink at the river, together with the rarer ‘northern species' of reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx and long-necked gerenuk antelope.
Location
The Samburu National Reserve of northern Kenya, conjoined with the smaller but no less attractive Buffalo Springs and Shaba Reserve, lies 320 kilometres from Nairobi at an altitude of 857 meters above sea level.
The Background
Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves-‘The Plains of Darkness'
Vast, magnificent and still largely unexplored, these three neighbouring reserves offer an evocative cocktail of uniquely contrasting habitats, veering from stark cliffs and boulder-strewn scarps to lush swamps and muddy sandbanks; and from bone-dry bush to fronded riverine forests. Hot and arid, this area is known by the local nomadic tribe, the Gabbra, as ‘the Plains of Darkness', whose heat-scorched scrublands extend all the way to the jade-green waters of Lake Turkana. Uncompromisingly rugged, yet vividly beautiful Samburu, verdant Buffalo Springs, and the wildly volcanic Shaba (once the home of Joy Adamson of ‘Born Free' fame, and famous for its large prides of lion), all offer virtually guaranteed wildlife encounters, while elephant roam in large herds and are best seen crossing the river at dusk.
Wildlife highlights: elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal, buffalo, hippo, zebra, oryx, gerenuk, gazelle, gerenuk, hyrax and klipspringer. Birds: 395 recorded species.
Kenya hotels and accommodation
Amongst the wide range of Kenya hotels, some make the ideal Kenya safari destination. Choose a safari lodge, safari hotel, bush camp, luxury lodge, safari camp, tented camp or bush lodge. National park accommodation usually takes the form of a traditional safari lodge or tented camp, but numerous other options exist on the park boundaries. Luxury lodges and luxury camp options are also offered in the private wildlife conservancies.
Accommodation
There are 27 luxury tents strung out along the sandy river bank beneath the trees. Each tent has an ensuite bathroom (24-hour hot water, double sinks, flushed WCs), large four-poster beds and classic mahogany safari furniture. Each tent has a private verandah with all-day bar service. Overhead fans are provided.
Dining and bars
Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style outside on wooden decks. Dinner is served in the large open-sided and thatched dining area, which is lit by hanging gourds. There is a lounge bar where slide shows and educational talks are given.
Conferences and events
The club offers a small conference room with television/VCR facilities.
Child-friendly
The acclaimed Heritage Adventurers' Club offers a uniquely educational safari for children of all ages, under the expert guidance of Samburu guides.
What to see and do
A place of endless skies, dust-red plains and palm-fringed rivers, Samburu National Reserve lies on the fringes of the vast and arid desert once known as the Northern Frontier District, whose heat-scorched scrublands extend all the way to the jade-green waters of Lake Turkana and beyond. Physically dramatic, the 104 sq kilometre landscape of the Reserve features rocky battlements, craggy scarps, dry river beds and fallen boulders rising out of the thorn scrub against a backdrop of the far-distant hills and the great red table mountain known as Ololokwe. As for wildlife, Samburu provides one of the few sanctuaries in Kenya for the endangered Grevy's zebra, the rare beisa oryx and the blue-shanked Somali ostrich whilst large herds of elephant roam the gaunt hills during the day before returning to bathe on the banks of the river in the evening.
Activities include:
• Luxury swimming pool and sun-lounging deck
• Twice-daily game drives with resident guides
• Bush breakfasts, sundowners and starlit dinners
• Tours of Samburu villages and 'bush secrets'
• Traditional dances by local warriors and maidens
• Lectures and slide shows on culture and wildlife
• Heritage's famous Adventurers' Club for the kids
• Camel rides
• Nature and bird walks
• ‘Body flex' exercise programme.
• Gift shop
Samburu Intrepids - Samburu • Traditional Safari Tented Camp • Kenya Hotels, Safari Lodges & Camps
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