Namunyak Community Conservancy borders Samburu National Reserve
Namunyak Community Conservancy is a colossal, community-owned conservation area spanning over 344,000 hectares (850,000 acres) in northern Kenya’s Samburu County. Surrounding the magnificent Mathews Mountain Range, Namunyak offers a landscape of dramatic contrast—from dense indigenous forests and cycad-studded slopes to the vast, arid savannahs of the northern frontier.
The conservancy serves as a critical wildlife refuge and migration corridor, allowing elephants to move seasonally between the Mathews Range and the Mount Kenya and Ngare Ndare ecosystems. This protected corridor ensures that ancient migration paths remain open for future generations of pachyderms.
Home to species found nowhere else in the region, Namunyak supports populations of the rare De Brazza’s colobus monkey and the endemic Encephalartos tegulaneus cycad. It is also a haven for the “Samburu Special Five”—the Reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, and Gerenuk—alongside flourishing populations of African wild dogs, leopards, lions, greater kudu, and over 450 species of birds.
With exclusive eco-lodges within its borders, the conservancy offers a highly personalized, uncrowded safari experience. Visitors can enjoy guided walking safaris in the Kitich Forest, game drives, birdwatching, and unique cultural encounters with the Samburu people, including the ancient tradition of the “Singing Wells.”
Namunyak, meaning “A Place of Peace” in Samburu, is a living model of symbiotic conservation. Established to protect the land from poaching and degradation, it now provides a sustainable livelihood for the local community through eco-tourism. Local Samburu households benefit directly through revenue-funded education, healthcare, and water projects, while the community-run Reteti Elephant Sanctuary stands as a beacon of hope for orphaned wildlife.
How to Get There
By Road:
✓ Travel Time: About 8–9 hours drive
✓ Distance: Around 263 km (164 miles) from Nairobi city center
✓ Route: The journey takes you north from Nairobi via the Nanyuki–Isiolo–Archer’s Post highway, before heading into the foothills of the Mathews Mountain Range
✓ Scenery: The drive transitions from the central highlands into the dramatic northern frontier, offering spectacular views of the rugged landscape and changing vegetation
By Air:
✓ Flight Distance: Approximately 164 miles (264 km)
✓ Flight Time: Approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (Scheduled flight to Kalama or Samburu airstrips)
✓ Total Travel Time: About 2.5 to 3 hours (Includes flight time plus a 1.5-hour road transfer to the conservancy)
✓ Airstrips: Daily scheduled flights operate from Wilson Airport (Nairobi) to nearby airstrips such as Kalama or Buffalo Springs. Private charters can land directly at airstrips within the conservancy (e.g., Sarara)
History
Namunyak Community Conservancy was officially established in 1995 by approximately 1,200 registered Samburu families who sought to combat poaching and secure better livelihoods for their community. The initiative was born out of a need to protect the region’s wildlife, which had suffered severely from poaching during the instability of the 1980s.
The conservancy covers a massive 850,000 acres of wilderness in the Mathews Mountain Range. It is managed by a democratically elected Board of Trustees representing the conservancy’s different units, ensuring decisions reflect the needs of the entire community.
Supported by a collaboration between the Samburu community and the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Namunyak has become a model for community-based conservation. Its success is marked by significant milestones, including the opening of the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in 2016—Africa’s first community-owned elephant orphanage—which rescues and rehabilitates orphaned calves for release back into the wild.
Today, Namunyak (“A Place of Peace”) stands as one of Kenya’s best-protected wilderness areas, where wildlife protection directly advances the well-being and quality of life of the indigenous Samburu people.
Namunyak Community Conservancy Activities
Wildlife Viewing Experiences
✓ Morning & Afternoon Game Drives: Set out on guided safaris across Namunyak’s vast 850,000-acre wilderness, traversing diverse landscapes that range from dry savannahs to the lush foothills of the Mathews Mountain Range.
The conservancy’s critical role as a migration corridor ensures dynamic sightings, from massive herds of elephants moving between the mountains and the lowlands to the graceful reticulated giraffe browsing in the acacia scrub.
You may encounter Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Gerenuk, greater kudu, impala, and an impressive array of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the elusive African wild dog. The drives are accompanied by professional guides who share deep insights into the animals’ behavior, Samburu tracking techniques, and the unique biodiversity of this northern frontier.
✓ Sunset Safaris: Late afternoon drives reveal Namunyak at its most dramatic. As the sun dips behind the jagged peaks of the Mathews Range, the landscape glows in shades of amber and gold. Elephants and kudus are often silhouetted against the setting sun while dust trails shimmer behind grazing herds.
Guests may pause at scenic viewpoints overlooking the vast wilderness for sundowner drinks, surrounded by the sounds of evening birds and the distant calls of leopards echoing through the valleys.
✓ Night Game Drives: When darkness falls, Namunyak comes alive with nocturnal activity. Experience the conservancy after sunset under a blanket of stars, guided by powerful spotlights and keen-eyed rangers.
Watch as genets dart through the grass, porcupines waddle by, and white-tailed mongooses forage. You may also glimpse elusive species such as aardvarks, civets, honey badgers, and even leopards on the hunt. The night’s silence, broken only by the calls of owls and nightjars, offers an unforgettable glimpse into Africa’s hidden nightlife.
Nature-Based Guided Walks
✓ Walking Safaris: Join experienced Samburu rangers and naturalist guides for an intimate journey on foot through Namunyak’s wild terrain. A highlight is trekking into the lush Mathews Range (Kitich Forest).
With this biodiversity hotspot, you can spot the rare De Brazza’s colobus monkey and the ancient, endemic Encephalartos tegulaneus cycad. These walks immerse visitors in the fine details of the bush, from colorful butterflies and medicinal plants to tracking the footprints of lions and wild dogs. Each step connects you to the land in a way vehicles never can.
✓ Birdwatching: Namunyak is a haven for bird enthusiasts, boasting over 450 species ranging from colorful sunbirds and hornbills to powerful raptors like the Verreaux’s eagle.
The diverse habitats—from dry scrubland to dense mountain forest—attract a unique mix of species, including vulturine guinea fowls, owls, and nightjars. Whether at dawn or dusk, birdwatching in Namunyak offers constant discoveries and melodic rewards.
Immersive Conservation & Community Experiences
✓ Reteti Elephant Sanctuary: Discover the heart of Namunyak’s conservation efforts at Reteti, Africa’s first community-owned elephant sanctuary. Guests can visit the sanctuary to watch orphaned and abandoned elephant calves being fed and rehabilitated by dedicated Samburu keepers.
Learn about the rescue missions, the rehabilitation process, and the ultimate goal of rewilding these majestic giants. This experience highlights how the community has taken ownership of wildlife protection, turning human-wildlife conflict into a story of compassion and coexistence.
✓ The “Singing Wells”: Witness a cultural tradition unique to this region, the Singing Wells. In the dry season, Samburu warriors dig deep wells in dry riverbeds to reach water for their livestock.
As they form a human chain to pass buckets up, they sing distinctive, rhythmic songs to soothe and call their cattle. This is an authentic, centuries-old practice, not a show for tourists. It offers a profound and respectful insight into the deep bond between the Samburu people and their animals.
✓ Community Visits: Step into a traditional Samburu manyatta (homestead) to experience the culture, colors, and rhythms of daily life. Meet local families, learn about beadwork artistry, and understand how age-old customs coexist with modern conservation. These visits are respectful exchanges that deepen understanding of the human stories woven into Namunyak’s landscape.
Unique Bush Experiences
✓ Horseback Safaris: For a truly unique perspective, explore the wilderness on horseback. Riding allows you to approach wildlife quietly and unobtrusively, often getting closer to zebras, giraffes, and elephants than is possible in a vehicle. It is a peaceful and exhilarating way to traverse the conservancy’s varied terrain.
✓ Sundowners & Bush Meals: Enjoy a picnic breakfast at sunrise beneath the shade of a tree, or a sundowner drink on a rocky outcrop overlooking endless wilderness. The view often includes elephants wandering below or towering mountains bathed in golden evening light. Meals in the bush are accompanied by warm hospitality and the natural orchestra of Namunyak’s wild soundtrack.
✓ Star Gazing: Far from any city lights, Namunyak’s night skies are dazzling. On clear nights, guides share the myths and stories of Samburu star lore while constellations stretch vividly from horizon to horizon. It’s one of the purest stargazing experiences in East Africa.
Namunyak Community Conservancy Wildlife
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Namunyak Community Conservancy is a biodiversity hotspot within the greater Northern Kenya ecosystem, encompassing the majestic Mathews Mountain Range and vast stretches of surrounding savannah.
Covering approximately 344,000 hectares (850,000 acres), it is one of Kenya’s largest community conservancies. It serves as a critical wildlife corridor connecting the Mathews Range to the Mount Kenya and Ngare Ndare Forest ecosystems.
The conservancy’s diverse landscapes, from the dense, prehistoric cycad forests of the mountains to dry riverbeds and red-soil plains, provide habitats for species found nowhere else in the region. These habitats are shared with the Samburu people, whose traditional pastoralist lifestyle has coexisted with wildlife for centuries, creating a unique model of symbiotic conservation.
Namunyak plays a pivotal role in protecting northern Kenya’s elephant population, which hosts the second-largest population in the country. It is also a stronghold for endangered primates and predators, providing refuge for species displaced from other areas.
Wildlife at Namunyak Conservancy
Large Mammals
✓ Buffalo – Herds are frequently encountered in the foothills and dense bushland, their numbers steadily increasing due to improved security
✓ De Brazza’s Colobus Monkey – A rare and beautiful primate found in the lush canopy of the Mathews Range forest, distinct from the common colobus found elsewhere
✓ Greater Kudu – The rocky slopes and thickets of the Mathews Range support rising populations of these magnificent, spiral-horned antelopes, often seen browsing in the early morning
✓ Samburu Special Five – The conservancy is a stronghold for the “Special Five”: Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Somali Ostrich, and Gerenuk (giraffe gazelle), all of which are uniquely adapted to this semi-arid environment
✓ African Elephants – Namunyak is a vital sanctuary for over 4,000 elephants, which migrate seasonally between the mountains and the lowlands. The community-run Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is located here, rehabilitating orphaned calves for release back into these wild herds
Big Cats & Predators
✓ Lions – Resident prides roam the savannahs and dry riverbeds, preying on the abundant plains game
✓ Cheetahs – Occasionally spotted on the open plains, utilizing their speed to hunt gazelles and impalas
✓ Spotted & Striped Hyenas – Both species are present, playing a crucial role as scavengers in the ecosystem
✓ African Wild Dogs – The conservancy holds significant northern populations of this endangered predator, often seen moving in packs across the open plains
✓ Leopards – The rocky outcrops and dense forest cover make Namunyak prime leopard territory. They are frequently sighted, particularly near the Mathews Range
Other Mammals
✓ Impala & Grant’s Gazelle – Common grazers that sustain the predator populations year-round
✓ Olive Baboons & Vervet Monkeys – Frequently seen near water sources and along the forest edge
✓ Dik-diks – Tiny, monogamous antelopes that are ubiquitous in the scrubland, darting through the undergrowth
✓ Nocturnal Species – Night drives reveal a hidden world of aardvarks, genets, civets, white-tailed mongooses, and porcupines
Birdlife
✓ Raptors – The rocky cliffs provide nesting sites for powerful birds of prey, including Verreaux’s eagles, martial eagles, and various vultures
✓ Forest Specialists – The Mathews Range forest is a haven for unique species such as Hartlaub’s Turaco and various forest-dwelling flycatchers
✓ Dryland Endemics – Species like the vulturine guinea fowl, Somali bee-eater, and rosy-patched bushshrike bring flashes of color to the arid scrub
✓ Total Recorded Species – Over 450 bird species have been recorded, making Namunyak a premier destination for birdwatchers seeking both savannah and forest species in one location
Namunyak Community Conservancy Accommodation
Framed by the dramatic Mathews Mountain Range, these lodges are designed to connect guests directly to the wilderness and the local Samburu community.
Loimugi House
Loimugi House is a private, exclusive-use villa located within the Sarara Camp grounds, explicitly designed for families and small groups seeking privacy. It is known for its private plunge pool, a favorite drinking spot for resident elephants, offering guests incredibly intimate, up-close encounters with these majestic giants from their deck.
The house features two spacious tented en-suite bedrooms connected by a central living and dining area. It offers the best of both worlds: the seclusion of a private home with access to all the amenities and activities of the main Sarara Camp.
Accommodation Features:
✓ Capacity: 2 en-suite bedrooms (Sleeps 4–5 guests)
✓ Amenities: Private plunge pool, private viewing deck, library, and private dining area
✓ Experience: Guests can enjoy private meals on their deck or join the main camp for a more social atmosphere. The highlight is the “armchair safari” experience, where visitors can watch wildlife visit the house’s private waterhole and pool
Reteti House
Reteti House is a spectacular, exclusive-use lodge situated just a 10-minute walk from the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. It is the ultimate destination for those wishing to immerse themselves in the conservation story of Northern Kenya.
Designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape, the house offers uninterrupted views of the Mathews Range and overlooks a waterhole frequently visited by wildlife. This property is ideal for multi-generational families or groups of friends, offering total exclusivity and a private team to cater to every need.
Accommodation Features:
✓ Capacity: 7 bedrooms total (Sleeps up to 16 guests). Includes four standalone en-suite suites, one family suite, and a family room
✓ Amenities: Stunning infinity pool, private lounge and dining areas, and solar-heated outdoor showers with expansive views
✓ Experience: Staying here offers exclusive access to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, including private visits and behind-the-scenes opportunities to witness the keepers feeding and caring for the orphaned elephants
Sarara Camp
Sarara Camp is the conservancy’s flagship eco-lodge, perched on a rocky escarpment overlooking a permanent waterhole and the vast theatre of the African bush. Known as a “meeting place” in the Samburu language, Sarara captures the magic of the Mathews Range, blending canvas luxury with raw wilderness.
The camp is renowned for its high engagement with the local culture, including the ancient “Singing Wells” tradition. It operates entirely on solar power and serves as a vital engine for the community, with revenue funding education and healthcare initiatives.
Accommodation Features:
✓ Capacity: 6 luxury tents (Sleeps 12 guests)
✓ Amenities: Each tent features high ceilings, a private terrace, and a unique open-air bathroom with views of the hills. The main area features a natural rock infinity pool and a communal mess deck, ideal for wildlife viewing
✓ Experience: Activities include guided bush walks, hiking Mount Ololokwe, rock sliding in natural mountain pools (seasonal), and fly-camping expeditions. It offers a communal, vibrant safari atmosphere compared to the private houses
Booking & Reservations Namunyak Community Conservancy Contact
Mobile: + 254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com