Samburu

<p>Samburu National Reserve lies in Kenya's arid northern frontier, a dramatically different landscape from the classic southern savannah: doum palms line the Ewaso Nyiro River, acacia scrub gives way to rocky outcrops, and the air carries a drier, wilder character. This is the territory of the 'Samburu Special Five' -- the Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich -- species adapted to semi-arid conditions and found almost nowhere else in Kenya. Elephant herds, lion, and leopard gather along the river's permanent water, while the resident Samburu people, close cultural relatives of the Maasai, have herded livestock across this landscape for generations. Far less visited than the Mara or Amboseli, Samburu rewards travellers with an authentic, uncrowded safari experience.</p>