These two reserves are located back to back and offer spectacular vistas of rounded rugged hills and undulating plains. The area is comprised of acacia scrub and rocky landscapes, wood and grassland, riverine forest and swamp and is home to a wide variety of animal and birdlife and some of the rarer species. Buffalo Springs alone records over 365 species of birds.
Samburu National Reserve lies north of the Uaso Nyiro, which forms the southern boundary of the Reserve. The topography rises gently form the river, with altitude increasing in a northerly direction. Samburu’s geological features are dominated by ancient basement complex rocks hornblende gneisses and schisis, and banded biotite gneisses, outcrops of which from the isolated steep-sided hills, or inselbergs, such as Koitogor, Lolkoitoi and Lowa Mara. The soils are generally sandy or gravelly, derived from weathering of the basement rocks.
Buffalo Springs National Reserve 339 sq. km. lies south of the Uaso Nyiro, which forms its 22km. long northern boundary. This Reserve is a gently rolling lowland plain, the main topographical feature being the ancient lava-terrace which forms Champagne Ride in the southeast. Much of the Reserve is dominated by old lava flows and volcanic soils of olivine basalt. In the past, these lava flows blocked the eastward progression of the river and the white calcareous and calcrete.
Country: Kenya
Park Size: 350 sq. miles – 564 sq. kilometers
Altitude: 2,500 – 4,000 ft. | 725 – 1,200 meters.
Ecosystems: Acacia scrub, rocky landscape, woods, grassland, riverine forest, swamp
Wildlife: 365 species of birds, reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra, elephant, Beisa Oryx, Somali ostrich, hippo, crocodile, gerenuk, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena
When to go: Anytime except April – May
Highlights: Game drives, night game drives,