Samburu National Reserve

In the hot, arid expanse of Samburu Reserve in northern Kenya, we came across a healty male lion standing resolutely under the scorching midday sun, framed by the parched, stony landscape stretching behind him.

As the day draws to a close, the light fades swiftly here near the equator. We are in Samburu, where a serene scene unfolds before us—a mother giraffe gracefully passes by with her two juveniles in tow. It’s a snapshot of perfect tranquility.

“The gerenuk antelope is a striking animal, characterized by its large eyes, ears, and long neck. Well-adapted for feeding on high shrubs and trees, it can stand on its hind legs, allowing it to reach fresh sprouts and leaves that are beyond the reach of other gazelles. The gerenuk we spotted is a juvenile, with small, two small horns that give it a devilish appearance.”

The Samburu Reserve offers a striking contrast between its arid landscape and the life-giving Ewaso Ng’iro River. The riverbanks teem with lush vegetation, creating a vibrant oasis against the backdrop of the dry, unforgiving terrain just a few hundred meters away. In this image, elephants find nourishment and respite along the fertile riverbanks.

While Rusty-spotted genets are elusive creatures, a patient observer might be rewarded with a glimpse of these small, nocturnal predators while sitting quietly in the African savanna at night. Their striking markings and lithe movements make them a truly captivating sight.

The lions of Kenya’s Samburu region are renowned for their unique behavior. Though typically inhabitants of the savanna, these lions have become masters of the semi-arid landscape, strategically ambushing prey drawn to the life-sustaining waters of the Ewaso Ng’iro River. The pride of lions brought down a young elephant. This remarkable hunt culminated in a feast that left the lions sluggish, with extended bellies visibly hindering their movement. Some lay completely still, with heavy breathing.

This extraordinary event further demonstrates that lions in Africa, driven by necessity or opportunity, will occasionally prey on elephant calves. While rarely observed, this behavior underscores the adaptability and formidable hunting prowess of these predators. It’s likely that the young elephant’s vulnerability, compared to a fully grown adult, made it a more enticing target for the hungry pride, highlighting the opportunistic nature of lions in this challenging environment.

This lion is visibly bloated after devouring a significant portion of the baby elephant the pride brought down. Its stomach is grotesquely extended, rendering it immobile and labored in its breathing as it struggles to digest the enormous meal. This temporary state of gluttony highlights the feast-or-famine reality of life in the wild.

BW image of the semi arid Samburu that receives very little annual rainfall. A hostile place to survive. 

While observing lions or other families of carnivores you will occasionally see serious gluttony that incapacitates individual animals. They will lie on the ground with heavy breathing looking literally quite ill. The reason is a big kill and the following eating party. The picture above is a Samburu lion,  look at the bloated stomach. It could literally not move. 

A extremely thin lion walking in the baking sun. Impression from Samburu

Two hooded vultures sitting high behind a clear blue sky in Samburu

Near the Ewaso Ngiro river, two riticulated zebras grazing in the afternoon sun. 

Samburu on a warm late afternoon with the sun slowly retracting behind the horizon. A lone elephant wandering over the dry landscape in semi arid Samburu. 

Scarred and battle hardened lion in Samburu National Park. A look at the face and it is obvious that this guy has been at the receiving end of quite a few sharp claws.

The Ewaso Ng’iro shows the calm and tranquil personalty during the dry season. The river can look quite different when the rainy season feeds the river with massive amount of water and it sweeps everything away. Some doum palms is also visible in the picture.

Gerenuk portrait in the very dry and barren Samburu National Park