Birdlife of Samburu National Park

Why Samburu is special for birders

Samburu sits at the meeting point of two avifaunas: East African savannah species and the arid-country birds of the Horn of Africa. That overlap, plus three distinct habitats within a small area, produces exceptional lists. A well-guided full day can comfortably exceed 100 species.

Northern specials to look for

• Vulturine guineafowl — the world's largest guineafowl, in cobalt and white
• Golden-breasted starling — arguably East Africa's most beautiful starling
• Somali bee-eater and little bee-eater
• Von der Decken's and red-billed hornbills
• Donaldson-Smith's sparrow-weaver and white-headed buffalo weaver
• Rosy-patched bush-shrike and pink-breasted lark
• Buff-crested bustard and Kori bustard

Raptors

Martial eagle, bateleur, tawny eagle, African fish eagle along the river, and the tiny pygmy falcon nesting in white-headed buffalo weaver colonies. Egyptian vulture, increasingly rare in Kenya, is still seen here, as is the palm-nut vulture in the doum palms.

Habitats

• Riverine forest — hornbills, palm-nut vulture, African fish eagle, turacos and kingfishers.
• Acacia scrub — starlings, bush-shrikes, weavers and warblers.
• Open plains — bustards, coursers, larks and Somali ostrich.

Best months for birding

November to April is the peak, when Palaearctic and intra-African migrants join the residents and many species are in breeding plumage. The green weeks following the rains in April, May and November are especially productive. Resident specials are present all year, so no month is a poor one.

Practical tips

Bring 8x42 binoculars, a field guide to the birds of East Africa and a lens of at least 400mm if you plan to photograph. Ask your camp for a dedicated birding guide when you book — several properties have specialists, and a slow morning walk along the river beats a fast game drive for birding.