Samburu, Shaba & Buffalo Springs
Samburu is situated on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Kenya and on the edge of the river is the Buffalo springs and Shaba that occupies the Northern part of Kenya. The river attracts large numbers of wildlife that settle along the river banks. It’s characterized as an oasis area that draws big crowds of Elephants. The water is in plenty and cool for the wildlife. During the dry season, the elephants dig the river beds to get water and marks of waterholes become a big attraction to the rest of the animals.
The Samburu is one destination in Kenya well known for the widespread of the Northern species and these include Greavy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe along with Gerenuk. The riverbanks is surrounded by the forests that are a habitat to different bird species, amonge the local species include the Vinaceous Dove and the Palm Nut Vulture. It’s also a home to several leopards that are regularly seen at night. Once you get a closer look at these animals, the excitement will be exceptional and surely rare to find anywhere. Lions usually visit the riverbanks, cheetah are spotted on the open plains as well as the African hunting dogs are discovered as they walk through the reserve.
Joy Adamson the author of Born free spent much of her time in Shaba, she was homecoming the leopard to its nature wild and her final book was named as Queen of Shaba. Currently Shaba was a destination that was acknowledged as Survivor Africa. Which rutted its challengers to oppose the difficulties of this wild in the distant country. The river is also essential for the Samburu people; it provides water for both home use and agriculture. The Samburu culture is so amazing with its local people the Maasai that will make your tour so fascinating and memorable.
The Samburu are prominent herders of goats as well as Camels, they usually graze their animals in the reserve edges and seen taking their animals for water. Places close to the reserves, there are several private havens working in conjunction with the Samburu to safeguard their wildlife along with their land. Tourists are free to visit these havens and the experience is for a lifetime as you will also be delighted in the Samburu Culture.
Samburu is one of those amazing as well as thrilling spots in Kenya. Its beauty is seen as the sunset brightens the doum palms across the river and a clear picture of the leopard coming to hunt makes the end of a wonderful safari.
Samburu – How to get there
These three entire regions for instance Shaba, Buffalo springs and Samburu can easily be accessible by road transport through Archers post to Isiolo.Its a six hours drive from Nairobi.
Samburu as well as Buffalo Springs have airstrips with daily well planned flights from Nairobi. If you can affordable a private charter, they are also available. Getting to the reserve may be quite challenging without any private means of transport.
Majority of tourists that visit this reserve plan for safari package right from Nairobi and this setting, a car is hired to take them through. Buffalo springs along with Samburu are neighboring reserves whereas Shaba is a bit far as you will drive taking the eastern part of Kenya. The reserves have well constructed inner roads as well as tracks.
Samburu – Where to Stay
Buffalo Springs and Samburu have the best accommodation that ranges from lodges as well as camps. They are budget friendly and serve to the best of one’s taste and preference. They have fundamental campsites that will only enable you to set up to your tent and enjoy the wild at night. They have well preorganized safari lodges and luxury tented camps that offer better facilities and services. Camps range from what you want.
Shaba doesn’t have sufficient accommodation but you can easily locate one outside the reserve. Private havens provide both simple camping and luxurious accommodation for all its visitors. You are free to sleep wherever you want as long as you have enough money to run you through your visit to Samburu.
Samburu – What to do
There are so many activities to do when you get to Buffalo springs; Shaba along with Samburu, the experience is worth your time and money. There is a wonderful view as they you walk by the river banks, it’s quite fascinating and you see many wildlife as they come to drink as well as cool off the heat. The easily seen are the elephants and during the dry season, they dig up the river beds to find water and the waterholes are left as a great attraction to the other wildlife. Other activities include birdwatching, camel safaris, trekking as well as water rafting along river Ewaso N’giro.