Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Buffalo Springs National Reserve is one of the least visited reserves in Kenya that have quite a large amount of wildlife species that attract may travelers. Buffalo Springs is a protected area found in the northern parts of Kenya in Isiolo County. The national reserve was established as part of the Samburu- Isiolo game reserve and is managed by the Isiolo county council.
The national reserve is named after an oasis of clear water of the Ewaso Nyiro River and springs on its western end. The reserve is characterized by a gently rolling lowland plain of the old lava flow, volcanic soils, grasslands, doum palms, forest and scrub brush.
The reserve is part of a larger ecosystem that includes Samburu national reserve in the north and Shaba national reserve in the north east which sustain the free-ranging wildlife species. The three national reserves are a very popular tourist destination because of the diverse wildlife populations they support.
Buffalo springs national reserve consists of semi-arid savannah and the scenic Ewaso Nyiro river with riverine forest along its shores and dry acacia scrub as you get further away from the river.
Entry gates into buffalo springs national reserve include Choka gate, Ngare Mara gate, and Uaso gate.
Access to Buffalo springs reserve can be through the following means;
- By road; from Nairobi –Nanyuki –Isiolo
- By air/flight; from Nairobi to Buffalo springs airstrip
Attractions in Buffalo Springs
Attractions for tourists to view during a safari in Buffalo springs include the following;
- Wildlife species that are present in many of Kenya’s protected areas are of a variety within Buffalo springs national reserve and they include elephants, hippos, olive baboons, buffalos, gazelles, leopards, cheetahs, and Nile crocodiles.
- Bird species are of a variety in buffalo springs national reserve some of which are rare species such as the Somali ostrich, vulturine guinea fowl, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Egyptian vulture, black-capped social weaver, black-faced sand grouse, D’Anaurd’s barbet, and many other bird species.
Activities in Buffalo Springs
Activities for tourists to engage in while touring Buffalo springs national reserve include;
- Game viewing is done in the open protected land available where the wildlife species move around freely between the reserves and among livestock. The wildlife species which are sighted in Buffalo springs national reserve on a game drive include elephants, hippos, olive baboons, buffalos, gazelles, leopards, cheetahs, Nile crocodiles.
- Birding Tours involves watching a variety of bird species found in the northern bush country and riverine forests in the national reserve and they include Somali ostriches, beisa oryx, gerenuks, great egrets, martial eagles, African darters, yellow-billed oxpeckers, bee-eaters, yellow billed hornbills, lilac-breasted rollers, grey-headed kingfishers and many other bird species.
- Guided nature walk which involves discovering the small and delicate details of the reserve in the company of a park ranger who also acts as a guide for the tourists.
- Cultural Tours and visits enrich any safari with an interaction between the locals living around the reserve and the tourists which allows the locals to share more about their ways of life. Some of the local communities around Buffalo springs national park include the Samburu pastoralists who live a semi-nomadic life and they occasionally pass through the reserve with their cattle which sometimes drives away the wildlife. Their unique way of life is a cultural tourist attraction.
Accommodation in Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Suitable accommodation in buffalo springs to ensure comfort and relaxation of guests ranges from luxury accommodation, midrange accommodation, budget accommodation and includes the following;
- Luxury accommodation; Elephant bedroom camp, Sarova Shaba game lodge, Ashnil Samburu lodge, Larsens tented camp.
- Midrange accommodation; Northern Galaxy hotel, Shamz hotel, Josera guest house.
- Budget accommodation; Grande hotel, Isiolo Bomen hotel.
Discover the beauty of nature in Buffalo springs of the special northern wildlife and freely traverse through the reserve for an amazing experience in the wild.
