Buffalo Springs National Reserve is situated in the Northern parts of Kenya in the Isiolo County bordering Samburu national reserve to its North of which both reserves are divided by the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
It covers an area of 131 square kilometers and it is at an altitude of between 850 meters and 1,230 meters above the sea level.
The reserve was gazetted in 1948 as part of the Samburu – Isiolo Game Reserve and the present boundaries were established in 1985.
The reserve is managed by the Isiolo County Council. The Park was named due to an oasis of clear water at its western end and the reserve consists of gently rolling lowland plains of the old lava flows and volcanic soils of olivine basalt.
The Reserve’s climate throughout the year is ever dry, hot and semi-arid and if it wasn’t the existence of the Ewaso Ng’iro River, the area would be in much problems of water crisis.
The reserve is very attractive and thus will offer much fun to its visitors with the aid of local tour operators to organize and plan for your safari. Most operators of Kenyan safaris offer a visit to the reserve of which the reserve consists of various safari Lodges and safari camps where the visitors will stay such as; Sarova shaba lodge, Larsens tented camp, Samburu simba lodge, Samburu intrepids camp, Samburu sopa lodge and others. The main feature in the Park is the Champagne Ride in the southeast which is an ancient lava-terrace.
There is a narrow band of riverine forest along the Ewaso Ngiro which includes Tana River Poplar, Doum Palm and the magnificent specimens of Acacia elatior. Vegetation includes acacia tortilis woodland and large stretches of bush-land dominated by Commiphora.
In some areas lava rock is exposed with scattered grass and shrubs and other parts have alkaline grasslands with occasional springs and swamps.
Here and there the “Desert Rose” (Adenium obesum) is found in the scrub with bright pink blooms and the Salvadora persica (tooth-brush tree) shrub provides food to elephants and its twigs are used as toothbrushes by the nomadic Samburu people.
The Samburu people boost an amazing culture which is almost similar to that of the Masai people and thus visitors to the reserve will enjoy the Samburu culture during the cultural encounters in the reserve. Just like the Masai do, Samburu also modify their bodies most especially the earlobes.
The reserve resides an abundance of wildlife such as; the African cape buffaloes, African lions, African leopards, cheetahs, Oryx, reticulated giraffes, spotted hyenas, gerenuks, Grant’s zebras and the endangered Grevy’s Zebras.
More than 365 bird species have been recorded in the reserve such as the Somalia ostriches and also the Ewaso Ng’iro River within the Park is a habitat to larger quantities of hippos and crocodiles.
Therefore, the reserve is a best place for viewing various big games such as buffaloes, leopards, hippos, lions, and cheetahs and many others plus also being ideal for bird enthusiasts.
