Sentrim Samburus’ location deep inside the reserve guarantees close encounters with samburu’s shier species, including elephant, leopard and Samburu’s famous “Special five” – the rare Reticulated Giraffe, long necked Gerenuk Antelope, Somali Ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, and Majestic Beisa Oryx. Located 345 kms North of Nairobi, the Journey to the camp involves a 50 minutes flight to the Isiolo airstrip followed by a 35 minutes drive through the reserve.
In keeping with new “ green movement” of Kenyan tourism, Sentrim Samburu endeavors to uphold the highest standards of social and enviromental responsibility.
The camp enjoys close relations with the local Samburu community, from which some 70 percent of our employees hail.
About the Samburu
The Samburu are related to the Masai although they live just above the equator where the foothills of Mount Kenya merge into the northern desert and slightly south of Lake Turkana in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya.
They are semi-nomadic pastoralists whose lives revolve around their cows, sheep, goats, and camels. Milk is their main stay; sometimes it is mixed with blood. Meat is only eaten on special occasions. Generally they make soups from roots and barks and eat vegetables if living in an area where they can be grown.
The Samburu are an ethnic group in north central Kenya that are related to but distinct from the Maasai. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd mainly cattle but also keep sheep, goats and camels.
Samburu Fast Facts
Location:North Central Kenya (East Africa)
Population:Approximately 100,000 in 1992 Kenya Census
Natural Environment:Arid and semi-arid lands, open scrub and grasslands; Significant environmental variation based on altitude.Highlands of the Leroghi Plateau (Ldonyo) are relatively cool and well watered.Lowlands (Lpurkel) are quite dry and hot semi-desert.
Economy:Traditional economy based exclusively on the herding of cows, sheep, goats and sometimes camels.Within the last 20 or so years other economic activities, such as migratory wage labor, small scale agriculture (in well watered areas), and home brewing have become important.
Language:Samburu (Northern Maa)--A dialect of the same language spoken by the Maasai.