Samburu & Shaba National Reserves

On the northern edge of Kenya’s arid savannahs are three national reserves which cluster around the life giving, mighty Ewaso Nyiro River. Samburu is the best known, then there’s the quieter Buffalo Springs reserve, and last, but not least, the beautiful Shaba reserve.

The reserves and surrounding conservancies are wilder than Kenya’s other parks, with rugged mountainous backdrops, undulating plains and a mix of riverine forest and grassland set along the Ewaso Nyiro River. The area is home to some of Kenya’s more unusual wildlife species including gerenuk and Grevy zebra. A particularly special aspect here is the colourful Samburu people and their culture.

Did you know?

• You can go tracking rhino on foot at Saruni Rhino Camp.
• You can visit the singing wells.
• The towering cliffs of Mt Ololokwe are a great back drop to the park.
• You can spot the ‘’Samburu Special Five” of Grevy’s zebra, long-necked gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, and Beisa onyx. 
• Shaba is the most beautiful, wild park with steep ravines, rocky kopies and natural springs.
• You can swim in the springs at Buffalo Springs adjacent to Samburu.
• There was a lioness called Kamuniak who defied the laws of nature and adopted 5 oryx calves, protecting them but unable to nurse them! Rangers intervened to rescue 3, her first was eaten by another lion and the last died, so she ate it.
• Elephant Watch Camp is closely connected with Save the Elephants, owned by the Doulgas Hamilton family, here you will often be hosted by Saba Douglas Hamilton of Big Cat Diary fame.