You’ve probably heard of the Big Five, and perhaps also the Ugly Five and the Little Five. But have you heard of Samburu’s special five? Samburu National Park is best known for its herds of elephants, lions and leopards. This beautiful national park is also known for the Special Five – a collection of unique animals that thrive in this arid, bushy landscape in northeast Kenya. 
Here are the five animals that make up Samburu’s 5 special animals:
Reticulated giraffe
The reticulated giraffe, also known as the Somali giraffe, looks different from its cousins elsewhere in Africa. It has orange-brown spots, clearly marked with white lines that cover its entire body, including its legs. The beauty lives in Somalia, Ethiopia and northeastern Kenya, and Samburu National Park is the only park where you can see them. These beautiful giants are a spectacular sight in Samburu National Park, and are often seen feeding from the tops of acacia trees or strutting across the plains. The male can grow up to six meters while the female is somewhat smaller, 5.7 meters. The elegant and elongated neck measures 2.5 meters. The biggest threats to the Reticulated giraffe are habitat destruction and human intervention in the wild. There are estimated to be around 16,000 individuals left, a 50 percent decline since the 1990s. As a result of the huge decline, the species was put on the IUCN list in 2018, with the status of Endangered. Thanks to a good conservation policy, numbers seem to be increasing in the northern part of Kenya. 
Grévysebra
The pyjama-clad Grévysebra, also known as the imperial zebra, lives only in Ethiopia and Kenya. The Grévysebra is the largest of the zebra species and, like its relatives, has the characteristic black and white stripes, but the abdomen of the Grévysebra is white. This zebra species is also larger, with a long, narrow head and powerful broad ears. It has adapted to a life in semi-deserts and grassy shrublands. They are herd animals and can often be seen with other grazers such as wildebeest, antelope and ostrich. There are around 2,500 Grevy’s Macaws in the wild. Both Kenya and Ethiopia have introduced strict laws to protect the species. Unfortunately, only around 0.5 percent of their natural habitat is protected, including Samburu National Park. The biggest threats are habitat loss and hunting as their fur and meat are sought after. On the IUCN’s list, the Grevy’s Macaw has the status of Endangered. 
Somali routs
Not only is it the world’s largest bird, but the ostrich is also a fun character to see on safari. The Somali ostrich is characterized by the fact that only the skin on its neck and legs is grey-blue, not faintly pink like its more common relative, the plains ostrich. During the mating season, the male’s neck and legs become even more blue. This large non-flying creature is endemic to the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya. It is a festive feature in Samburu National Park. The male’s feathers are mostly black, with white at the tips of the wings and tail. Two of the “fingers” on each wing have distinct claws. Females and young males are gray-brown and white. The long, powerful legs are adapted for running and a Somali grouse has a top speed of 74 km/h. The Somali grouse also differs from the plains grouse in that it prefers scrubland and thicker vegetation than its relative, which prefers open savannah. It was once found throughout Africa, Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. This beautiful animal has been the victim of intensive hunting and is now mainly found only in the northern part of Kenya and Samburu National Park. On the IUCN list, the Somali rat has the status of Vulnerable. 
Oryx beisa
The East African oryx, also known as the beisa, is a graceful antelope with a grayish coat with black markings along the side, loin and feet. Its long tail ends in a tuft of hair. The oryx is easy to recognize thanks to its horns, which are about one metre long, directed backwards and slightly curved backwards, and provided with dense grooves. Oryx beisa can survive for long periods without water, sometimes as long as several weeks. This is due to the high humidity of the plants they eat. These elegant animals have a unique mechanism that helps them survive in the harsh desert, where temperatures are often very high and there is little access to water. Unlike other mammals, the oryx can regulate its internal body temperature and thus prevent sweating and dehydration. It also uses a special network of capillaries in the nose to cool the blood supplied to the brain. This prevents the brain from overheating. The oryx also has an excellent sense of smell. They can smell precipitation up to 80 kilometers away. Once the precipitation has been detected, the whole herd moves. There are between 8,000 and 9,000 individuals today, and their numbers are drastically decreasing due to hunting for their meat and the destruction of their habitats. On the IUCN’s list, the oryx has the status of Critically Endangered. 
Gerenuk
This long-necked and long-legged antelope is also known as the giraffe gazelle. Its coat is reddish-brown, which is colored white on the underside and around the eyes. Only the male has horns, which are powerful at the base and strongly curved forward at the tip. The horns are between 32-44 cm long. The Gerenuk stands up on its hind legs and is thus able to graze leaves high up in trees and bushes. In this way, it can exploit an ecological niche where it does not compete with other antelope species. Nor does the giraffe, which grazes even higher up in the trees. This elegant, long-legged beauty can be seen either alone or in small groups of up to five individuals. On the IUCN list, the gerenuk has the status of Near Threatened. 
For more inspiration about Samburu National Park: A Guide to Samburu National ParkCheck out: Samburu Sopa Lodge
