Samburu, Buffalo, Shaba and the north

Why visit Samburu, Buffalo, Shaba & the north

Samburu National Reserve and Kenya’s northern reserves add a new dimension to Kenya’s already rich store of game drive opportunities. As well as lion, elephant, zebra etc., the area is home to desert-adapted animals and species not found in the more frequently visited parks further south.  The Samburu people are incredible guides and this region offers a fascinating insight into their culture.
Reasons to visit Samburu, Buffalo, Shaba & the north include: 

• See desert-adapted animals such as Grevy's zebra, Gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich amongst acacia and riverine forest, thorn trees and grassland vegetation. 
• And more wildlife ”“ in Samburu you will find lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, buffalo, gazelle, impala, hippo and Nile crocodile. 
• Take game drives through the rolling volcanic plains of Buffalo Springs National Reserve, home to desert-adapted animals and to large populations of crocodile and hippo.
• Go birding ”“ Samburu and Buffalo Springs have nearly 400 species, including eastern yellow-billed hornbill, Somali ostrich, lesser falcon and lesser kestrel. 
• Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the smaller, Shaba National Reserve, dominated by Shaba Hill. 
• Look for leopard and endangered wild dogs in Shaba. 
• Meet the Samburu people and learn about their culture.

When to go to Samburu, Buffalo, Shaba & the north

The best time of year to visit Samburu would be during the dry seasons.  These are June to October and December to March.  The rains often make traversing the area more difficult and the game disperses when water is plentiful.

How to do it

You can either fly or drive to Samburu from Nairobi.  It takes about 5 and a half hours to drive, or the flight is a little over an hour (depending on whether it’s direct or not). Samburu works well combined with Kenya’s well known Masai Mara or Amboseli reserves to give a unique Kenya safari experience.

Accommodation in Samburu, Buffalo, Shaba & the north

Samburu has plenty of accommodation options, from tented camps to lodges, from deluxe to basic.  Elephant Watch Camp is one of our favourites, offering superb hospitality and game viewing.  There are also a number of lodges and camps that work together with worthy community projects and environmental causes, Saruni Samburu.