Samburu & Shaba Game Reserves

Samburu National Reserve is one of the lesser-known national parks, but is nevertheless teeming with life. Situated alongside the Ewaso Nyiro River, there is plenty to attract wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains.

Samburu takes its name from the nomadic tribe who live throughout this area. Shaba and Buffalo springs are also Samburu land.
The dry season starts in late May, and goes up to early October when a large concentration of wildlife is found in the reserve due to availability of lush vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River, the main source of water to the Reserve and the nearby communities.

A safari through Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba is a rich and rewarding experience.
The reserve is rich in wildlife with an abundance of rare northern specialist species such as the Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the beisa oryx (also referred to as Samburu Special Five)  Elephant come to the river to drink, and in the dry season, use their tusks to dig deep wells in the dry river beds. There are plenty of crocodiles here, and large specimens can be seen sunning themselves on sandbanks

Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba are all accessible by road via Isiolo and Archers Post. Driving time from Nairobi is approximately 6 hours. There are airstrips in both Samburu and Buffalo Springs, with daily scheduled flights from Nairobi. Private charters can also use these strips. Accessing the Reserves is difficult without private transport.

Accommodation