There have been more than 390 bird species recorded in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. The reserves protect a variety of habitats, including arid acacia savannah, scrub and gallery forest alongside the Ewaso Nyiro River. The dry, open country offers very rewarding birding opportunities and boasts a number of northeast African dry-country species shared with Ethiopia and Somalia, such as vulturine guineafowl, Somali bee-eater and golden-breasted starling.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- Acacia tit
- African palm swift
- Ashy cisticola
- Bare-eyed thrush
- Black-bellied sunbird
- Black-capped social weaver
- Brown-tailed rock chat
- Chestnut weaver
- Chestnut-headed sparrow lark
- Donaldson Smith’s sparrow-weaver
- Fischer’s starling
- Golden pipit
- Golden-breasted starling
- Greater kestrel
- Grey wren-warbler
- Hunter’s sunbird
- Lanner falcon
- Mariqua sunbird
- Northern brownbul
- Palm-nut vulture
- Pink-breasted lark
- Pygmy batis
- Red-bellied parrot
- Red-necked falcon
- Red-winged lark
- Reichenow’s seedeater
- Rosy-patched bush-shrike
- Secretary bird
- Singing bush lark
- Somali bee-eater
- Somali ostrich
- Spotted palm-thrush
- Von der Decken’s hornbill
- Vulturine guineafowl
- White-headed mousebird
- Yellow-vented eremomela
Best Time for Bird Watching
Samburu is a bird-watcher’s delight all year. Many unusual dry-country specials reside here and can be spotted year-round. But things really get exciting when migratory birds arrive in the reserve around November and stay until April. One important consideration is the weather, as heavy showers can affect your birding plans. November and April receive the most rainfall, so December to February or March are generally best for bird watching.