Samburu National Park shield and spears logoSamburu National ParkAccommodation & Safari Guide
Samburu National Park landscape of acacia and dry bush

Budget · Campsite

Umoja Public Campsite

Public campsite within Samburu National Park

Overview

Public campsites inside Samburu National Park offer the cheapest way to sleep within the park boundary. Facilities are deliberately minimal: cleared ground, long-drop toilets, cold water and a place to build a fire.

You must be fully self-sufficient with tents, bedding, food, water and a vehicle. An armed ranger can usually be arranged through the park headquarters for an additional fee.

Nights are extraordinary — elephants and hyena move nearby and the northern Kenyan sky is completely unlit.

Gallery

Samburu National Park landscape of acacia and dry bush
Elephants with a calf in Samburu National Park
Grevy's zebra in Samburu National Park
Reticulated giraffe in Samburu
Doum palms at sunset in northern Kenya
Samburu warriors in northern Kenya

Location

Public campsite within Samburu National Park. Samburu National Park is reached by a 5–6 hour drive from Nairobi or a 1 hour 15 minute scheduled flight to the Samburu or Kalama airstrips, followed by a short transfer. See our guide to getting there.

Umoja Public Campsite is highlighted on the map, alongside nearby camps, gates, airstrips and landmarks in Samburu National Park.

Room types

Camping pitch
Bring your own tent and equipment; pitches are unmarked and shaded where possible.

Facilities

  • Long-drop toilets
  • Cold water where available
  • Firewood on request
  • Ranger escort available at extra cost
  • No power or Wi-Fi

Dining

Self-catering only. Bring all food and water; the nearest supplies are at Archers Post.

Safari activities available

  • Self-drive game drives
  • Guided walks with a park ranger
  • Stargazing
  • Birdwatching

Best suited for

Experienced, fully equipped campers and self-drive travellers on a tight budget.

Indicative price range

From approximately USD 20 – 40 per person per night, camping fees only. Rates vary by season and exclude park entry fees — see park fees. We will confirm exact current rates with your enquiry.

Other places to stay in Samburu

Luxury

Elephant Bedroom Camp

Twelve river-facing tents with private plunge pools, shaded by doum palms where elephants wander freely through camp.

Luxury

Saruni Samburu

A dramatic hilltop lodge of six open-fronted villas with 360-degree views across Kalama Conservancy to Mount Kenya.

Luxury

Sasaab

Moroccan-inspired open-sided rooms with private pools, overlooking the river on the western edge of the Samburu ecosystem.