Tracking of the black rhinos in Samburu National Reserve is one of the thrilling adventures that takes you to encounter one of the big five wildlife around the reserve. This activity is focused on the conservation of these rhino species.
It is done under the guidance of an experienced guide, where participants follow the footprints of the black rhinos on foot to track them. In this tracking of these rhinos, you will have an opportunity to learn more about them.
Currently, about 2000 black rhinos remain in the world. In the Samburu National Reserve, the black rhinos were reintroduced in 2015 after their extinction due to poaching.
This reserve is one of the most remote destinations in the northern part of Kenya. Tracking rhinos in the Samburu is carried out in the rhino sanctuary that is within the reserve, which is also known as the Sera community conservancy.
This conservancy is about 54000 ha of land, and these rhinos are highly monitored by the authorities in charge of the reserve. Various techniques involve the monitoring of these rhinos, and they include GPs, Radio callors, and infrared sensors.
Currently, in the Sera community conservancy, there are over 18 black rhino species.
The tracking experience.
Tracking experience of these black rhinos involves several steps, and they include;
- Orientation about the activity where you are highlighted the dos and don’ts about the activity.
- Start over with a transfer by vehicle with your driver guide and ranger guide to the area where they are expected to be.
- Continue on foot under the guidance of the ranger guide as you track the movements of these rhinos. Ranger guides are vast with knowledge about tracking these rhinos.
- As you come across them, you are supposed to maintain a distance so that you do not intimidate or scare them as a safety protocol.
- As a safety precaution to track these rhinos, you are supposed to be 16 years and above.
Information about the Samburu National Reserve.
Samburu National Reserve is a game reserve that is situated in northern Kenya near the banks of the Eswaso Ng’iro River in the Samburu district. It lies in the Rift Valley Province, and the Eswaso Ng’iro River separates it from the Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
Samburu National Reserve is about 165 square kilometers of land. In ancient times, the reserve became so popular when it appeared in a book called “Born Free” that was written by Joy and George Adamson.
Samburu National Reserve is at an altitude of 800 to 1230 meters above sea level, under the management of the Samburu community.
What is required to visit the Black rhinos in Samburu National Reserve?
As you plan to encounter the black rhinos in the Samburu National Reserve, there are several things that you need, and they include;
- Kenya tourist visa
- Valid passport
- park entrance fees
- medical cards like yellow fever cards
- Local expert guides.
What other wildlife do you encounter during a safari to the Samburu National Reserve?
Samburu National Reserve is not only home to the black rhinos, but it is also home to several other species of wildlife. These wildlife are adapted to semi-arid savannah and desert ecosystems.
In reserve , some of the wildlife encountered include lions , leopards , cheetahs , spotted and striped hyenas , elephants , grey zebras , Somali ostrich, Beisa Oryx , giraffe gazelles , and many others. Also, it is a birders’ haven where the reserve is home to about 450 bird species.
Some of the bird species include golden-breasted starling, matial eagle, sulphur-breasted bush shrike, yellow-billed hornbill, and many others.
What are other activities that you can engage in at the Samburu National Reserve?
In the Samburu National Reserve, there are several other activities that you can engage in, and they include;
game viewing
Game viewing is another exciting activity that you can engage in during the safaris to the Samburu National Reserve. This game drive is done in the gazetted trails and tracks of the reserve for easy viewing of the wildlife.
Game drive is done in a 4×4 safari van with a pop-up for wildlife viewing. Some of the wildlife encountered during the safari include lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, bushbucks, and many others. It is done in several sessions of the day that include morning, full day, afternoon, and evening sessions.
Bird watching.
Bird watching in the Samburu National Reserve is not so common compared to the other activities around the reserve. The reserve is home to over 450 bird species that are usually encountered during a safari.
Some of these bird species include the red-winged lark, secretary birds, golden-breasted starling, taita falcon, lanner falcon, and many others. The bird watching sessions are done early morning and evening.
Where to stay during the safari to track black rhinos in the Samburu National Reserve?
This is one of the interesting questions that you need to inquire about: where to stay during a safari to the Samburu National Reserve. This reserve is home to several accommodation facilities, and some of these include Sasaab camp, Elephant Boardroom camp, Saruni camp, Samburi Sopa lodge, Samburu Interpids, Samburu riverside tented camp, and many others.
How to get to the Samburu National Reserve?
Samburu National Reserve is accessed by both road and air transport. This reserve is situated in the Samburu district.
While using road transport, you can take about 6 to 7 hours of the day to reach the reserve using a 4×4 safari van. Whereas using air transport, you will engage in domestic scheduled chartered flights from Wilson airstrip in Nairobi.
These scheduled chartered flights will take off from several airstrips around the reserve, and they include Kalama airstrip, Buffalo Springs airstrip, and Samburu Oryx airstrip. Flight companies that deal in these flights include Air Kenya and Safari Links.