Samburu & Buffalo Springs National Reserves
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FACT FILE
* Altitude: 2,500 - 4,000 ft
* Area Samburu: 104 km2
* Area Buffalo Springs: 131 km2
* Distance from Nairobi: 343 km
* Airstrips: 2
* Opened: 1985
HIGHLIGHTS
* Scenic beauty, rivers & forest
* Leopard, hippo, elephant, lion
* Rare animals: Grevy's zebra and Beisa Oryx
* Permanent springs
* Much less touristy than Mara or Amboseli
* Rich cultural inheritance
LOGDES & CAMPS: Bedouin Camp, Samburu Lodge, Samburu Serena Lodge
The complex formed by the Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba reserves is one of the most interesting places in Kenya and can be ranked as unique for several reasons. They are the most remote and inaccessible in the country's rough north, situated right at the edge of what was formerly called NFD or Northern Frontier District.
Samburu and Buffalo Springs are adjacent reserves, separated solely by a river; there is a bridge across some 3 km upstream of Samburu Lodge. Initially, Buffalo Springs covered both banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river (Uaso Ngiro, "Dark Waters") along 16 km, but later on, the north bank was separated as an independent reserve, since this area belongs to the Samburu District ("butterfly" in the Maa language) and the south side is under the jurisdiction of Isiolo District, to which Shaba also belongs. The latter district belongs to the Eastern Province, whereas Samburu District is located in the Rift Valley Province.
LANDSCAPE
The reserves offer unique vistas of rounded and rugged hills and undulating plains mixed with thorn scrub and sandy, arid terrain. The riverine forest has magnificent Acacia, giant fig trees and Doum palms. There’s good bush-cover, too, supporting browsing elephants. Shaba National Reserve is notable for its hot springs.
GAME & BIRDS
It is also the place to see some species which are rare in Kenya or difficult to spot in other parks, since they only dwell above the Equator. There are Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and Beisa Oryx, all northern species of game. Other animals include Somali ostrich with its blue legs, hippo, gerenuk, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena and you may spot crocodiles sunning themselves on the river banks.
The mix of wood and grassland with riverine forest and swamp is home to a wide variety of birdlife – Buffalo Springs records over 365 species. White headed mouse birds, African fish eagles and kingfishers are often seen around the lodges while the rocky outcrops are the nesting sites for various raptors, i.e. the endangered lesser kestrel and Taita falcon.
The Samburu complex is also home to Samburu herdsmen, who can be seen driving their herds through the dust, dressed in striking red blankets and carrying spears.
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