The knowledgeable guide on my solo Kenya trip some years ago introduced me to the five remarkable wildlife species that are specific to Samburu. These animals form Samburu’s signature cast of characters.
1. Reticulated Giraffe
I love the giraffes’ beautifully designed coats, their stature, and, most of all, their graceful, unhurried gait — even when they are fleeing from a potential predator. Watching them glide through the savannah shrubs and acacia trees while following them with my camera was always enjoyable.
But nothing delighted me more than the Reticulated Giraffe’s striking terracotta pattern, so artistically arranged that it looks as if my grandson had carefully filled in the octagons with rich mahogany paint.
Click on the images to see them larger, uncropped, and read their titles.
2. Grevy’s Zebra
It seems the Grevy’s Zebras may have some social chemistry with the reticulated giraffes — I saw them together a few times, moving through the same spaces, comfortable in each other’s company.
Compared to the common plains zebra, the stripes on the Grevy’s Zebra are finer and more precise — pinstripes instead of chunky bars. Their ears seem a bit disproportionately oversized, almost as if borrowed from a donkey.
Grevy’s appear more solitary and less playful than their plains cousins, who seem more mischievous, rolling and kicking about. There is something almost introspective about the Grevy’s Zebra.
3. Somali Ostrich
If the giraffe is regal and the Grevy zebra is contemplative, the Somali ostrich shows up with flair. The males are black with bluish legs, while the females wear a fluffy brown coat – together they create a charming harmony of earth-toned colors.
Their family life is interesting: watching a pair of giant birds shepherding a procession of fuzzy chicks across the grasslands is like observing devoted parents on a field trip, with grass so tall it nearly buries the chicks — excellent camouflage in the wild as well.
I also witnessed a more private side of their behavior: the male’s rhythmic courtship dance and what naturally follows – Oops!
4. Gerenuk
Then came the gerenuk. My first encounter was of a group standing upright on their hind legs, nibbling leaves from high branches. I couldn’t quite make out what I was looking at at first. They were elegant, with smooth long necks and perfect balance.
Are they in the midst of evolving toward a giraffe-like existence? Perhaps we should return to Samburu after a million years — in our reincarnated lives — to check on their progress.
5. Beisa Oryx
Last but not least, the Beisa oryx is the desert’s warrior. With bold black-and-white facial markings and long, straight, unicorn-like horns, it looks like something out of a mythic storybook, doesn’t it? I heard that even lions, who rarely hesitate, think twice before challenging an oryx.
Appealing?
These five species tell the story of Samburu. They survive through adaptation, elegance, and small miracles of design.
As I photographed them, my affection for Samburu grew — for the landscape, yes, but especially for the remarkable animals who define it.
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