THE SAMBURU SPECIAL 5
Adventure seekers will love the Samburu special 5. Starting with a gerenuk, the reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and the Grevy’s zebra, these animals are sure to amaze as well as give you backpacking bragging rights!
- Grevy’s Zebra
There’s always confusion about zebras’ color and stripes. To set the record straight, zebras are black with white stripes! Hunted for their beauty, the Grevy’s zebras are recorded to be only 2,000 left and are the largest of three zebra species. Their large round ears, neat and close-set stripes, white bellies, and fawn-colored muzzles distinguish them from their cousin zebra. While on a game drive in Samburu National Reserve, you will spot the dazzling as they walk through the arid plains while feeding.
- Somali Ostrich
Did you know that during the mating season, the male ostrich’s head slightly changes its color to light blue? How cool is that? The Somali ostrich is an elusive and possibly the biggest bird on earth. You can identify them by their gray-blue necks and thighs. These large, flightless birds were declared distinct species in 2014.
- Beisa Oryx
Also known as the East African Oryx, the Besia oryx is a type of antelope that lives in dry regions. Its coat is gray, with a white belly and legs separated by a stripe of black, and thin, straight horns are found on both males and females.
You are likely to spot them during the morning game drive when the sun is not scorching hot. When they lack shade, they dig a shallow hole for cooling. The Beisa Oryx has light fur that helps reflect the desert heat and sunlight, and it can also cool blood that flows to its brain when it breathes. You’re likely to find them hanging out with zebras.
- Reticulated Giraffe
These giraffes have striking red hides divided by a jigsaw pattern of white lines (reticulations), which makes them easily identifiable. Their marvelous skin blends well with the red Samburu earth. They’re shorter compared to the Masai giraffe. Currently, there are only 8,500 remaining in the world.
- Gerenuk
Ever seen an antelope walking like a human? The Gerenuk can stand upright on its hind legs. Combined with their height, this enables them to feed on the highest and most juicy leaves. Gerenuk can go through its entire life without drinking water because it survives on the water found in the plants it eats. At the moment, there are around 95,000 gerenuks across four countries.
