Samburu Buffalo Springs National Park

Buffalo Springs consists of gently rolling plains of volcanic origin, while Samburu is more rugged, with outcrops of ancient basement rocks forming isolated inselbergs. The soils are mainly sandy or gravelly; rainfall is 350 mm/year.

Despite their relatively small size, the reserves contain contrasting habitats of rocky cliffs, scarps, pools, swamps and riverine sandbanks: Arid open bush, grassland and tracts of Acacia tortilis woodland. Along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro and its tributaries (the Isiolo and Ngare Mara), a narrow band of the riverine forest with magnificent Acacia elatior, Tana River poplar Populus ilicifolia and doum palm Hyphaene compressa. The Buffalo Springs themselves, with their pools and streams of bright, freshwater, is a magnet for thirsty wildlife in the dry season.

Samburu Buffalo Springs National Park Game Viewing

Samburu is famous for hosting some rare species which do not occur elsewhere in Kenya. Among them are long-necked Gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, African bush elephant, Crocodiles, Gazelles, reticulated Giraffes, Beisa Oryx and the leopard is a frequent passer-by.

Samburu Buffalo Springs National Park Birding 

Avifauna is diverse and magnificent, with over 380 species recorded. 62 of the 94 species of the Sudan-Masai biome that occur in Kenya have been filed here. Several riverine forest species augment birds of the arid northern bush country. Several raptor nest on the cliffs of Samburu’s inselbergs. Birds like Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver, Shining Sunbird and Bristle-crowned Starling and other arid-country species, reach their southern limit here. Two globally threatened species, the Lesser Falcon and Lesser Kestrel have also been recorded at these sites. Regionally threatened species include Casmerodius albus, Trigonoceps occipitalis, Buphagus africanus, Polemaetus bellicosus, and Anhinga rufa.

The availability of water by the river attracts a variety of other wildlife including large and small mammals.