BUFFALO SPRINGS AND SHABA NATIONAL RESERVE

The Isiolo District lies at the northern foot of Mt Kenya rising above the expansive range lands of northern Kenya. The arid and semi-arid zones districts sits as a divide between the populous agricultural highlands of the Mt. Kenya region and acts as gateway into the vast lowlands of North Kenya inhabited by various nomadic pastoralist communities where wildlife and livestock freely co-exist.

Together with the adjacent Samburu, and divided by the river Ewaso Nyiro, the reserves form a very popular tourist destination because of the diverse wildlife populations they support. Unlike other wildlife areas in Kenya’s northern tourist circuit, the reserves, which are popularly known as the Samburu Ecosystem, sustain free ranging wildlife species both within the three reserves as well as far into community lands.

Location
Northern end of Mt. Kenya

Distance from Nairobi  
300km to the gate of Buffalo Springs Reserves

Access
1.Roads: From Nairobi through Nanyuki on a tarmac road to Isiolo, then a 22km murram road.

2.Air: Buffalo Springs Airstrip is used by schedule flights from Nairobi each day linking the reserve to other tourism destinations.

Climatic Conditions
Temperatures range from 30 degrees Celsius during hottest months to 20 degrees Celsius between July and September. Annual rainfalls range between 100mm to 300mm on average usually divided into two seasons, short rains in October/November and long rains between February and May.

Wildlife
Besides normal species found elsewhere in Kenya, the area is a natural home to the five rare species known as the five northern species which are endemic to this area. They are Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and the gerenuk. Shaba is also the home for the highly endangered Williamson’s lark. All these rare species can only be found inside this game reserve.

Activities
Game viewing safari, nature walks, entertainment by pastoralist cultural dancers, and visits to cultural villages to get the experience of nomadic lifestyle in the community.

Best time to visit
All year round