Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Buffalo Springs National Reserve is a protected area in Isiolo County, Kenya, covering 131 square kilometres of semi-arid savannah landscape. Visitors can book safari tours for USD 70 per person per day for international tourists, with access via road from Nairobi or scheduled flights. This reserve sits south of Samburu National Reserve across the Ewaso Ngiro River and takes its name from an oasis of clear water at its western end.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Safari Overview

Buffalo Springs National Reserve has long existed in the shadow of Samburu National Reserve but offers equally good game viewing with fewer crowds than southern Kenya parks. The reserve protects semi-arid savannah flanking the scenic Ewaso Nyiro River, with crystal clear springs that attract a steady stream of thirsty animals. Most operators of Kenyan safaris offer visits to the reserve, which has several safari lodges and camps.

The presence of northern Kenya’s “Special Five” species makes Buffalo Springs particularly noteworthy, including reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx, and the long-necked gerenuk. Game viewing consistently produces sightings of elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalo, hyenas, and jackals.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Entry Fees and Costs

Most professional safari operators include entry fees, vehicle fees, and applicable taxes in their total quoted prices, though budget tours and self-drive itineraries may list park fees separately. Children under 3 years often enter free, but this may vary slightly depending on gate policies.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Wildlife and Game Viewing

Buffalo Springs is particularly abundant with elephants and offers quite reliable leopard sightings. There are no rhinos in the reserve, but lion and buffalo sightings are possible. Wildlife includes Grant’s zebra, endangered Grévy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, African bush elephant, oryx, gerenuk, African buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve is one of the best places in Kenya to see cheetah, as the wide open plains are perfect hunting grounds with reasonable chances of observing hunts. Numerous leopards make their home along the riverbanks of the reserve and great sightings are quite frequent.

The reserve is home to the “Samburu Five” which are the reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, and Beisa oryx. Most visitors can spot the long-necked gerenuk, which is considered the weirdest animal many people have seen in Kenya.

Game Drives in Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Game drives are definitely the best way to see a large variety of wildlife and are the main activity in Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Unlike most game reserves where early morning or late afternoon drives are best, Buffalo Springs drives through the riverine forest area should yield good sightings at any time of day, as large numbers of animals converge on shady river banks to escape the heat.

Safari game drives in this reserve usually start in the early mornings and late afternoons, which are the renowned times for grazing, hunting and animals quenching their thirst at the Ngiro River. Game drives are conducted in dependable all-wheel drive vehicles with pop-up roofs and windows that create clear light for unobstructed park views, coordinated by experienced guides or park rangers plus a skilled driver.

Many people are unaware that Buffalo Springs offers visitors the chance to do amazing wildlife viewing without contending with crowds, with no jostling vehicles or disruptive radio crackles.

Best Time to Visit Buffalo Springs National Reserve

During dry seasons, roads are easier to travel making game drives more comfortable, with generally sunny weather and clear skies perfect for photography and sightseeing. Wildlife can still be seen throughout the year in the reserve.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Activities Beyond Game Drives

Game walks escorted by an armed Samburu guide are probably the best way to see all the smaller creatures you would probably miss on a game drive, with guides pointing out plants for traditional medicine and teaching track interpretation, offering great photo opportunities.

Buffalo Springs offers excellent walking safari opportunities with visitors accompanied by armed rangers and seasoned guides who can track animals, identify plants, and learn the subtleties of the bush through slow, deliberate movement.

Cultural visits to Samburu villages provide a chance to interact with Samburu people, glimpse their unique way of life, and see their customs and practices. The Samburu people live in round huts with small entrances closed by blankets, built by women using interwoven sticks, mud, and cow dung.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Birdwatching

Over 365 species of bird have been recorded in the reserve. There is a large variety of bird species to be spotted in Buffalo Springs National Reserve, with being on foot a great advantage for keen birders, as the vast majority of birds will be seen in riverine forested areas near river banks or in the vicinity of freshwater springs and pools, with large flocks of Helmeted Guinea Fowl descending on sandy river banks at sunset to quench their thirst.

Buffalo Springs is a sleeper hit for birders with over 390 species recorded, presenting an exciting mix of dry country specialists and riverine residents including vulturine guineafowls, golden breasted starlings, Somali bee eaters and Egyptian vultures.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Access and Location

Buffalo Springs National Reserve is located 325 kilometers north of Nairobi and can be accessed by road via the A2 highway through Nanyuki and Isiolo or by flight. From Nairobi the distance is approximately 325 km taking 6 to 7 hours by 4×4 vehicle, with roads paved until Archer’s Post then gravel up to the park gate.

Direct flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport are offered daily and are roughly 50 minutes long to three airstrips in Buffalo Springs or the neighboring Samburu National Reserve, with scheduled flights connecting well with other game reserves like Lewa Downs Wildlife Conservancy, Meru National Park, and the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Whether you’re on a self-drive safari, joining a guided tour, or flying in, arriving early in the day is recommended to enjoy cooler temperatures and peak wildlife activity.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Landscape and Features

The reserve is a gently rolling lowland plain of old lava flows and volcanic soils of olivine basalt, with the main feature being the Champagne Ride in the southeast, an ancient lava-terrace. There is a narrow band of riverine forest along the Ewaso Ngiro which includes Tana River Poplar, Doum Palm and specimens of Acacia elatior, with vegetation including acacia tortilis woodland and large stretches of bushland dominated by Commiphora.

During the Second World War, an Italian bomber mistook Buffalos for humans and blew into a crater creating a large spring called Buffalo Springs, which are permanent and provide drinking water for wild animals and residents of the nearby town called Archer’s Post.

Doum palms line the riverbanks offering cool relief to herds of breeding elephants taking refuge in the shade, while open plains stretch out with herds of Beisa Oryx displaying their ornate scimitar-like horns and dune-colored hides blending into the landscape.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve Accommodations and Practical Information

Vehicle charges apply to self-drive travelers, tour vehicles, and anyone entering the park with a registered motor vehicle, with fees charged per vehicle per entry day, though tour companies often include this in packages, and vehicles must be 4×4 to access deeper sections especially during rainy seasons.

Each of the three reserves – Buffalo Springs, Samburu, and Shaba – is managed independently and charges separate entry fees, with visitors needing to pay each park’s entrance fees separately even on the same day.