The Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy spans over 850,000 acres and is one of Kenya’s last great wildernesses. It’s breathtakingly beautiful in its rawness and delivers some of the most spectacular and exclusive wildlife viewing in Kenya.
But while the wildlife here is captivating in its untamed beauty, it’s the Samburu people who make this landscape extraordinary. Their rich traditions are interwoven with the fabric of the land, making Namunyak not just a place of natural wonders, but a living testament to an ancient way of life.
Among these age-old customs is something you won’t find anywhere else in the world: the tradition of the singing wells.
I’d heard about the Samburu and their unique way of finding water during droughts but seeing it first hand was really special. In a land where water is so scarce, especially during the dry season, survival depends on knowing exactly where to look for it. And the Samburu have mastered this art over generations.
Every day in the dry season, the dusty and parched riverbeds become a hub of activity as Samburu warriors set to work. They dig deep wells to tap into hidden underground water sources. During my visit the water was located just two human heights down, but sometimes, these wells go as deep as eight men. In an incredible display of teamwork, the warriors form a human chain, passing buckets of water hand-to-hand until it finally reaches the surface where it’s poured into troughs formed from hollowed out tree trunks for their livestock to drink from.
And they sing the entire time. Their melodic chants rising, seemingly from the depths of the earth, creating beautiful, almost haunting melodies. The singing isn’t for show though – it helps keep the rhythm of the digging, and more importantly, each warrior’s cattle recognises their owner’s voice – it’s like a call to water.
Once one herd has quenched its thirst, the melody changes, signalling the next group of cattle to come forward. It’s a dance between man, animal, and nature, ancient in its origin and flawless in its execution – a reminder of how deeply the Samburu are intertwined with the land.
This isn’t a tourist show – it’s a tradition that has been happening for thousands of years. It can’t be photographed or filmed (the Samburu see taking pictures of them, their children or livestock as stealing their soul) but it’s the most incredible thing to witness firsthand. And it’s more than just observing a tradition. It’s stepping into a world where life, rhythm, and survival are one. The resilience, the beauty, the sheer harmony of it a reminder of the connection between the Samburu and their environment isn’t just about survival—it’s a way of life, a song passed down through time, demonstrating the incredible resilience and beauty that comes from living in harmony with nature.
Stay at Sarara Camp, Sarara Treehouses or Reteti House to experience this incredible tradition. The singing wells are generally active from 9am until noon during the dry season.