Ecosystem

The Ewaso Nyiro River, meaning `brown water` runs through the serene environment, attracting animals fleeing the riverine woodland consisting of doum, acacia thorn trees and grass vegetation. The gerenuk (giraffe gazelle) Beisa Oryx and the blue-necked Somali ostrich make their home in the reserve, north of the equator. These species of ostrich are unique to the Samburu game reserve and seem to coexist with the 365 species of other birds, including the scavenging vultures. The river below hosts a school of hippos and enough crocodiles to tear a whole village limb to limb, lazing along the banks.

Climate

At an altitude of 800 to 1230m the Samburu game reserve experiences steaming hot temperatures during the day and surprisingly freezing cold temperatures at night. Rain is as scarce as snow is in the reserve and if the gods permit, it falls around April-May.