Samburu,
its landscape and its people
The Samburu Ecosystem
The reserve is essentially lava plain that features
steep sided gullies and rounded hills wherein
the 32-kilometre Uaso Nyiro River provides both
the central feature of the landscape and the
lifeblood of the ecosystem. The vegetation comprises
predominantly acacia woodland interspersed with
bush, grass and scrubland, which is broken here
and there by small rugged hills whilst the meandering
loops of the river are bordered by a narrow
gallery of riverine woodland in which acacia
and doum palm flourish. This is a dry country
ecosystem and is, therefore, prone to large
variations in the animal populations as they
move in search of water and pasture. And, whilst
poaching has completely wiped out the rhino
herds, lion are often seen while the burgeoning
elephant herds are responsible for the ruination
of several sections of riverside forests. The
range of rare species also includes reticulated
giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich
and gerenuk whilst the bird life is diverse
and prolific and includes marshal eagle, pygmy
falcons, hornbills and Egyptian geese.
The People
of Samburu
The Samburu
Closely related to the Maasai and speaking the
same language it seems that when the Maasai
migrated to the area from Sudan, some headed
east and became the Samburu. Often strikingly
tall and slender, swathed in brilliant red cloth
‘Shukas’, hung about with beads
and metal jewellery, the young men (Moran) favour
long, plaited, ochre-daubed hairstyles and have
a formidable reputation for glamour, prowess
and ferocity. Traditionally the Samburu live
off the milk and blood of their beloved cattle
and believe that all the world’s cattle
are theirs by God-given right. Their nomadic
and pastoral lifestyle, though historically
based on the pursuit of migratory wildlife,
is slowly changing thanks to a combination of
education, favourable new laws, projects, jobs
and income.
| WHAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SAMBURU
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| Currency |
The
Kenyan Shilling (KSh) |
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Credit cards accepted |
American
Express, MasterCard, Visa and Barclaycard
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Time |
GMT+3.
Kenya maintains an almost constant 12 hours
of daylight, sun-up and sun-down being at
around 06.30 and 18.45 daily and varying
only by 30 minutes per year |
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Climate |
The
coast is always hot with an average daytime
temperature of 27-31 degrees centigrade
whilst the average daytime temperature in
Nairobi is 21-26 degrees centigrade. Temperatures
elsewhere depend on altitude. July to August
marks the Kenyan winter. Broadly speaking,
January-February is dry. March-May is wet.
June-September is dry. October-December
is wet, the rains passing in time for Christmas |
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Language |
Kenya’s
national language is Kiswahili whilst the
official language is English |
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Electricity/Water |
Voltage
is 240V in rooms, 3 pin square plugs are
used but adaptors are available plus shaver
sockets at 110V and 240V. Water purity cannot
be guaranteed so we provide mineral water
in all our rooms. Our ice is also made with
purified water |
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Visas |
Rrequired
by most nationals – consult your travel
agent for details |
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Insurance |
Travel
insurance/medical cover is recommended |
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Health |
Protection
against malaria is essential as the disease
is endemic in Africa. It is vital to take
anti-malarial tablets (consult your doctor
as to which brand is currently considered
the most effective). You should also wear
anti-insect sprays/creams in the evening
and wear long-sleeved garments and full-length
trousers or skirts after dusk. Mosquito
nets are provided |
How to
Get There
Samburu Serena Safari Lodge is 90km north of
Mount Kenya and 343 km from Nairobi. The lodge
has its own landing strip.
What to
Wear/Carry with you
When on safari we suggest that you travel light,
dress comfortably (in lightweight cottons in
muted colours) and carry a light jacket. Also
imperative are; sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen,
insect repellent, camera, film, binoculars and
a guide book covering your area of interest
(flora/fauna/birds etc).
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Distances from other
African Serena properties
View distances between Samburu Serena Safari Lodge and the other African Serena properties, as well as driving
and flight duration. |
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