SAMBURU, BUFFALO SPRINGS & SHABA NATIONAL RESERVES


These 3 game reserves are found to the north of the Lakipia Plataeu, where Kenya's landscape starts turning from grassland into desert. The greatest river in Northern Kenya and the least seasonal one is the Ewaso Nyiro, which forms the basis for most life around here, and it is around this river where these 3 game reserves are found. This area is also the home of the pastoral Samburu tribe, cousins of the nomadic Masai. They speak the same language, Mara, and dress in a similar fashion. The Samburu are mainly nomadic pastorlists who graze their livestock along the banks of the river. 

The reserves are small, ranging from 104 to 239 square kilometers, and much of the wildlife can be found near the shores of the Ewaso Nyiro river. Samburu and Buffaloe Springs are found on opposite sides of the river, whilst Shaba is found downstream. The massive benefit of this is that with a 2 day stay, you are able to cover much of the area of the reserves and have a good chance of spotting most of the animals to be found here. They don't tend to wonder off very far from the only reliable source of water in the area.

The vegetation is determined by the flow of the Ewaso Nyiro River. Away from the river, it is mostly rocky scrubland, with some bushes, but along the banks of the river, you can find palms, fig trees and the pretty desert rose. From April - November is the rainy season, when the river will be at its fullest and the vegetation at its lushest. The dry season starts in December and sometimes the river can dry up in February, causing the large population of elephants to start digging in the river bed in search of water.

Samburu and Buffalo Springs support unique mammal species such as the beautiful reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, the desert-adapted Beisa oryx and the long-necked gerenuk that feeds on its hind legs in search of tall shoots. Elephant and lion are present and habituated leopards are of the most easily observed in Africa. More rare, but still spotted occassionally are cheetahs and wild dogs. For the bird watchers, there is the interesting blue-skinned Somali ostrich, which is distinct from the ones more commonly seen in Southern Africa.

Shaba Game Reserve was the original home of George & Joy Adamson, of Born Free fame. It is here while preparing Penny, a domesticated leopard for her return to the wild, that Joy was found murdered in mysterious circumstances.
​Shaba reserve has a  similar range of species as Samburu-Buffalo Springs, but as it is a much quieter reserve, the animals are not as used to vehicles and a bit more difficult to spot. It is more suitable for those looking to enjoy wild game in a beautiful wilderness area.

where to stay

From our visit to Samburu, we have first-hand knowledge of the hotels and below you can find the ones we most commonly use. Those hotels include mainly our favourites sorted from low-key to deluxe, which are usually smaller hotels with very personalised service, but also some bigger places, if they are the best or only option available.
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ashnil samburu
samburu intrepids
elephant bedroom
larsens tented camp
elephant watch camp
sasaab
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