Under Samburu's acacia trees and ancient stars

The reserve can be accessed by road or air, with improving infrastructure and flight connections making Samburu increasingly accessible. Driving from Nairobi takes several hours and offers a gradual transition from the highlands to the northern plains. For travelers seeking convenience and comfort, scheduled and charter flights operate from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to nearby airstrips, including Samburu, Kalama, Buffalo Springs, and Westgate. The flight takes about an hour and provides sweeping views of Mount Kenya and the surrounding plains.

Visitor numbers tend to peak during Kenyan holiday periods such as Easter and Christmas, when domestic travel increases. International visitors often arrive between June and September, coinciding with the European summer. Outside these periods, the reserve is quieter, appealing to travelers seeking solitude and unhurried exploration.

Last year, Samburu welcomed more than 17,000 visitors. The majority were international, though domestic tourism has grown steadily in recent years as Kenyans rediscover the country's north.

Samburu does not overwhelm. It reveals itself gradually, through long drives without sightings, sudden moments of stillness, and stories told quietly at night. Visitors often leave with fewer photographs than expected and more memory than they planned.

Kamunyak's story is usually retold again before departure, sometimes under the stars. By then, it feels less like a legend and more like a key. Samburu is a place where restraint matters, where survival depends on knowing when to take and when to leave untouched. That lesson applies as much to travelers as it does to lions.

In the end, Samburu does not ask to be conquered or consumed. It asks to be observed, respected, and remembered.