The most isolated and difficult to get of the well-known reserves, which are situated in Northern Kenya along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, are Buffalo Springs, Shaba, and Samburu National Reserve. With a total extension of 239 km, Shaba is the largest and least visited of the three. Buffalo Springs and Samburu National Reserve have similar surface areas—165 km and 128 km, respectively.
The Samburu people, a nomadic paranilotic group closely connected to the Maasai, have long lived in the area. The smooth hills that break up the dry plains are the Koitogorr uplift in Samburu National Reserve (1,245 m) and the flat head of the reddish Ol Olokwe Mountain, which is located far beyond.
The harsh heat, despite the elevation above 1,000 meters, and the barren terrain are characteristics of the less friendly Africa. Past Buffalo Springs and the Samburu National Reserve, the river continues to lick Shaba’s northern boundary. The volcanic cone that rises above the plain gives this place its name.
Species to view in Samburu National Reserve:
This reserve is well known for harboring a few uncommon species that are unique to Kenya. The long-necked gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, gazelles, crocodiles, elephants, reticulated giraffes, and Beisa Oryx are a few of them. The leopard walks by quite a bit.
Activities in Samburu National Reserve:
Most animals congregate in the few wet spots, particularly the forested banks of the Ewaso Nyiro, which supplies water to the Aberdare and the pristine Buffalo Springs, which are located on the reserve’s eastern border and were created by subterranean streams that sprang from Mount Kenya.