Buffalo Springs National Reserve is located in Isiolo County, covering an area of 131 square kilometers.
The reserve used to be part of the renowned Samburu-Isiolo Game Reserve until 1985, when it was separated to form Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
The reserve is managed by the Isiolo County Council.
Buffalo Springs National Reserve is characterized by acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands, riverine forests, swamps, rivers, springs, and lava rock.
The reserve derives its name from Buffalo Springs, located at the western end of the reserve.
Visitor’s Guide – Entry Fees and Regulations
The entry fee to Buffalo Springs National Reserve depends on the residency of the visitors.
Foreign non-resident adults pay $70, and foreign non-resident children pay $40.
Kenyan residents will pay Ksh 1000, while Kenyan citizens and East Africans will pay Ksh 500 only.
Resident travelers will be asked to present a document to confirm their residency in order to enjoy reduced rates.
Children’s rates apply only to children 11 years and below.
Safari vehicles with less than 6 seats will pay Ksh 400, those with 6 to 12 seats will pay Ksh 1000, and those with 13 to 25 seats will pay Ksh 2000.
History and Origins
Buffalo Springs Reserve was gazetted in 1948 as part of the Samburu-Isiolo Game Reserve until 1985, when its boundaries were redrawn to form Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
Location
Buffalo Springs National Reserve is situated in the northern part of Kenya, in the eastern province of Isiolo County, south of Samburu National Reserve.
It’s approximately 355 kilometers north of Nairobi by road.
There are three airstrips close to the reserve, and those who prefer air transport can fly in from Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
A 4WD vehicle is highly recommended when visiting during the wet season because road conditions can be challenging.
Animals & Wildlife
Buffalo Springs National Reserve offers a great wildlife experience for travelers.
The best time for a game drive is early morning or late afternoon hours so that you can catch nocturnal animals emerging or returning to their hiding places.
Some of the wildlife you will see at Buffalo Springs include elephants, rhinos, leopards, greater and lesser kudus, hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, Beisa oryx, gerenuks, olive baboons, and many others.
Activities – Top Things to Do
Game Drives
The most common activity at Buffalo Springs National Reserve is game driving.
Tourists have great opportunities to spot diverse wildlife and enjoy the flora and fauna of the reserve.
There are many tracks created for safari cars to provide the best experience.
Birding
With over 300 species of birds recorded, Buffalo Springs National Reserve is a prime birding destination.
Visitors might see the common ostrich, Egyptian goose, African open-bill, African darter, yellow-billed stork, black-headed heron, Goliath heron, African sacred ibis, African harrier-hawk, tawny eagle, palm-nut vulture, blacksmith lapwing, three-banded plover, long-tailed cormorant, white-headed vulture, speckled mousebird, white-headed mousebird, Narina trogon, African hoopoe, African grey hornbill, malachite kingfisher, little bee-eater, rufous-crowned roller, lesser honeyguide, black and red-throated barbets, pygmy falcon, red-bellied parrot, slate-colored boubou, northern puffback, Isabelline shrike, chestnut-headed sparrow-lark, red-faced crombec, red-fronted warbler, pale white-eye, red-billed oxpecker, golden-breasted starling, spotted flycatcher, white-starred robin, white-brown Robin chat, eastern violet backed sunbird, black headed weaver, crimson rumped waxbill and the lesser masked weaver to mention a few.
Cultural Encounters
Buffalo Springs National Reserve is situated in Isiolo County, home to the local Samburu people.
The Samburu have a very distinctive culture and traditions, closely related to the famous Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania.
Visitors can explore a Samburu homestead to learn about their daily lives and perhaps enjoy some traditional African music and dance performed by the locals.
Tourists can also participate in day-to-day activities to experience what it feels like to be a Samburu.
The locals display handmade crafts for sale, and tourists are encouraged to support them by purchasing souvenirs to take home as gifts or keepsakes.
Nature-Guided Walks
Nature-guided walks are among the best ways to get close to African wildlife, although it is recommended that these be done in designated areas with a ranger guide for safety.
Trails have been established in the riverine forests along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, where tourists can explore the park on foot.
The reward for taking nature walks includes the chance to observe several primate species and numerous bird species up close.
Attractions – Top Things to See
Ewaso Ng’iro River
The magnificent Ewaso Ng’iro River banks are teeming with wildlife, especially during the dry season.
The river derives its name from the local Samburu language, meaning “brown or muddy water.”
It acts as a permanent water source for animals at the reserve.
Buffalo Springs
The mighty Buffalo Springs, from which the reserve gets its name, are a series of three springs found within the reserve.
The spectacular springs are fed by underground water flowing from Mount Kenya.
Two of the springs are walled, while one flows through the plains to the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve and Buffalo Springs National Reserve both share an ecosystem bisected by the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
It would be thrilling to combine a safari to Buffalo Springs Reserve with Samburu National Reserve.
The reserve gets its name from the local Samburu people who live around the reserve.
Samburu National Reserve covers an area of 165 square kilometers and was established in 1985.
It’s one of the areas where George and Joy Adamson, the conservationists, lived while raising Elsa the lioness.
One of the fascinating stories about Samburu National Reserve is of a lioness known as “Kamunyak” that adopted oryx calves.
Samburu National Reserve has been considered a lion conservation unit since 2005 and boasts diverse wildlife and over 350 species of birds recorded.
Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy
Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy was formed as a result of an understanding between the local Samburu pastoralists and the Northern Rangelands Trust.
It was set up in 1995, spanning an area of 75,000 hectares to protect wildlife and help the locals benefit from tourism.
Since its setup, the conservancy has seen the successful return of several wildlife species that had dwindled due to heavy poaching in the area.
There are about 1,200 families registered at Namunyak.
Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy offers guided forest walks, game drives, hiking to Mount Mathews, climbing to the top of Ololokwe with donkeys (commonly used by the Samburu people), fly camping safaris on Samburu camels, bird shooting upon request, and much more.
Shaba Game Reserve
Shaba Game Reserve is one of three reserves found in the Samburu region of Kenya.
It’s located to the east of Buffalo Springs Game Reserve, covering an area of 239 square kilometers.
Shaba Game Reserve was established in 1974 to protect its wildlife and habitat.
Shaba National Game Reserve is renowned for its beautiful scenery, harboring wildlife like Grevy’s zebra, klipspringer, hyrax, common eland, Grant’s gazelles, impalas, Beisa oryx, lesser and greater kudus, striped and spotted hyenas, elephants, African leopards, and is also known for large prides of lions.
Mount Ololokwe
Mount Ololokwe emerges from the desert plains of the Samburu region; it provides some of the most panoramic views in Kenya.
Its beauty is not only captivating but also of great significance to the local Samburu people.
The mountain is sacred to the Samburu, and a knowledgeable local guide can provide further insight into its importance to the locals.
Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy
Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy was established in collaboration with the Northern Range-lands Trust to conserve elephants and other wildlife in northern Kenya.
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is a community-owned sanctuary established to care for orphaned baby elephants and later release them back into the wilderness.
It’s situated close to Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy.
Over 25 elephants have been rescued since 2016 and have been returned to their natural habitat.
When to Go – Best Times for Your Buffalo Springs Visit
Buffalo Springs National Reserve can be visited at any time of the year, although some months are better than others.
The best time for visiting is during the drier months of June to August and December to February, when the roads leading to the reserve are in good condition.
Animals are also concentrated around water catchment areas during the dry season, compared to the wet season when water is available everywhere, and wildlife is dispersed all over the park.
Accommodation Choices – Where to Stay near Buffalo Springs
There are numerous accommodation options in and around Buffalo Springs National Reserve, ranging from luxury to mid-range and budget.
The choice of accommodation will highly depend on the tourist’s budget and preference.
Some of the establishments found in and within the reserve are Ashnil Samburu Camp, Samburu Sopa Lodge, Samburu Simba Lodge, Buffalo Springs Lodge, Lion King Bush Camp, Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, Elephant Bedroom Camp, Samburu Game Lodge, and many more.