I thought the Masai Mara was beautiful enough, until...

I arrived at Samburu National Reserve. With a climate completely different from the Masai Mara's savanna, the arid shrublands give Samburu its unique character. The distant Mount Kenya looms faintly, while the dry trees and massive rocks make Samburu appear even more vast and wild. Beyond the Big Five, Samburu has its own "Special Five": 5️⃣ Grevy's zebra (the endangered narrow-striped zebra, more dazzling than common zebras) 4️⃣ The East African oryx, with its slender horns that exude dominance 6️⃣ Reticulated giraffe, the most stunning in the giraffe family with its beautiful mesh pattern 8️⃣ Somali ostrich 3️⃣ Gerenuk, a little one that stands on its hind legs to eat—long legs and a long neck are its signature traits Additionally, this is also the habitat of desert lions and kudus, a true reflection of Africa's wilderness. We also spotted a sub-adult cheetah 🐆 searching for its mother, elephants 🐘 up close, an ostrich incubating its eggs, and zebras 🦓 and elephant herds under a rainbow. Samburu's charm is no less than the Masai Mara's! 🏨 Highly recommend Surana Buffalo Springs, where we stayed for 2 nights! The rooms have private pools, and there’s a communal pool near the restaurant—perfect for cooling off during the midday heat since the rooms are eco-friendly with no AC. Samburu has big temperature swings, so mornings on safari require a jacket. The hotel itself is incredibly photogenic! From the lobby’s viewing deck, you can watch elephant herds crossing the river, and at night, the sky is filled with stars. The food here was the best I had during my Kenya safari. ⚠️ One last tip: Wake up early—don’t miss a single sunrise! Samburu, Kenya