Samburu / Buffalo Springs Game Reserve

What's so special about Samburu/Buffalo Springs?

  • Home to the rare, northern species of game - reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, long-necked gerenuk and Beisa oryx.
  • Home of the 'lioness and oryx' legend
  • Close proximity to the Shaba Game Reserve, where the US reality show series, 'Survivor Africa' was filmed in 2002
  • One of the many parks where leopard can be spotted frequently
  • Stark, bare landscapes, relieved by stately doulm palms, coming together in an uncompromisingly rugged beauty
  • The wide banks of the Uaso Nyiro River, bringing relief and wildlife to the heat-scorched & barren Samburu lands.
  • The graceful Samburu warriors, with their traditional lifestyle and haunting music.
  • Easier game viewing as the size of the Reserve is relatively smaller, and it is easier to spot game in the scrub vegetation.
  • The abundance of light & space opening up to endless vistas with glimpses of Mt. Kenya on a clear day.

 

FAST FACTS

Altitude:

850 - 1230 m above sea level

Area:

165 sq km

Location:

Samburu District, Rift Valley Province

Distance from Nairobi:

320 kms

Climate:

The Reserve lies in a hot & semi-arid area. Traditionally, the long rains fall between March & April, and the short rains between October to November.

Vegetation:

Acacia woodland, bush & scrubland and narrow riverine woodlands.

Wildlife:

Lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah, reticulated giraffe, oryx, gerenuk, vervet monkey, zebra, buffalo and crocodile.

Birdlife:

Over 380 species have been recorded

Roads:

Roads and tracks are usually navigable by 2WD vehicles with high clearance during the dry season, but 4WD is recommended during the rainy season.

Accessibility:

Accessible by road with 4WD vehicle from Nairobi (5 hours drive) and most game parks & reserves. Accessible by air from Nairobi (1 hour 15-mins flight) on schedule flights operated by two airlines, once daily,  and from Meru (25- mins) on schedule flights operated by one airline once daily.

 

What can I do there?

  • Game drives
  • Game and bird walks
  • Sundowners
  • Bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners
  • Night game drives
  • Visit a Samburu homestead
  • Spa treatments
  • Hiking and rock climbing
  • Swimming in some lodge/camp pools

 

Where can I stay?

  • Luxury and/or eco friendly tented camps and lodges

 

Best time to visit

May - September is when temperatures will drop slightly, making it more comfortable for game viewing.