Buffalo springs Game reserve is situated in the Eastern province at isiolo district of Kenya, south of Samburu national reserve covering an area of about 131 square kilometers on vast plains at the backdrop of Mount Kenya. The reserve is bordered by Shaba national reserve to the northeastand Samburu national reserve to the north.
Buffalo springs national reserve got its name from the clear water springs running through the park and they never run dry, even when there’s no rain. Buffalo springs national park is renowned for its leopard sightings and other big animals and has recorded over 365 species of birds.
Buffalo springs national reserve was established as part of the isiolo Samburu game reserve in 1948 but was later separated on its own to be a game reserve in 1985, the reserve has rich diversity ranging from golden Savannah vegetation, springs, acacia woodlands, shrubs, the Ewaso Ng’iro river, thorny bushes, lava terraces and riparian forests.
Activities at Buffalo springs game reserve
Game viewing
There are various animal species to be seen roaming around the plains; for example, Grevy’s zebra, Fringe eared Oryx, Dik Dik, giraffe, gazelles, African elephant, cheetahs, gerenuk, African wild dog, warthog, impala, waterbuck, lion, hippos, spotted hyena and giraffes, among the rest.
Birdwatching
Bird enthusiasts can include Buffalo Springs Reserve in their travel list to Kenya, as the reserve is home to over 365 bird species, including Somali ostriches, vulturine guinea fowl, Taita falcons, yellow-billed oxpeckers, great egrets, sand grouse, Verreaux’s eagle, martial eagles, yellow-billed hornbills, grey-headed kingfishers, secretary birds, pygmy falcons, lilac-breasted rollers, and African darters.
Cultural experience
Tourists can enjoy cultural experiences from the local Samburu community living around the park with their unique nomadic lifestyle; they can get entertained in the evenings with local traditional dances from the traditional dancing groups. There are also various craft shops where you can acquire souvenirs to take back home.
Nature-guided walks
Tourists can take guided nature walks at the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro river and experience a lot of nature and wildlife. This is normally done by an armed Samburu guide who will show you how to interpret animal tracks and also show you a lot of plant species they normally use for their traditional medicines and a lot more.
Swimming
Tourists can engage in this recreational activity at the magnificent Ewaso Ng’iro River; they are normally advised to carry their swimming gear, and there are lots of fish species to be caught and aquatic birds to be seen.
Visit the singing wells
The singing wells are a unique place where you witness typical African culture; the Samburu pastoralists bring their livestock to the wells and draw water from the deep for them to drink this place can be crowded, as there’s a scarcity of water; everyone struggles to have their animals drink.
How to get there
Buffalo springs national reserve can be accessed from Nairobi or any other Kenyan city by road; two airstrips serve the park daily. the drive from Nairobi is about 4-5 hours depending on the traffic; the flight takes about one hour and twenty minutes
Best time to visit
The park’s climate is favorable to make it visited all year round but the very best months are from July to December, when the grass is shorter and vegetation is not thick, making it easy to view wildlife. The water springs are also always flooded with wildlife for water during this period.
Where to stay
There are a number of places to stay depending on the tourist’s budget and choice; some of the accommodation units include Samburu Simba lodge, Ashnil Samburu camp, camping.
