All three reserves offer unique vistas of rounded, rugged hills and undulating plains. The mix of wood and grassland with riverine forest and swamp is home to a wide variety of animal and birdlife, Buffalo Springs records more than 365 species of bird.


Game viewing and visibility is excellent: Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, elephant, oryx, Somali Ostrich, hippo, crocodile, gerenuk, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena.

Shaba National Reserve is home to Joy Adamson's Monumentand is notable for its hot springs.

Samburu and Buffalo Springs are popular tourist routes.

There are three lodges in Samburu (total 270 beds), and one in Shaba with 178 beds and one tented lodge with 34 beds.

There are a number of special campsites in each Park, favoured by the mobile safari operators which have to be pre-booked. Shaba also has an airstrip.

National Parks & Reserves in Northern Kenya

• Meru National Park
• Bisanadi National Reserve
• Kora National Reserve
• Rahole National Reserve
• Mwingi National Reserve
• Samburu National Reserve
• Buffalo Springs National Reserve
• Shaba National Reserve
• Maralal Game Sanctuary
• Laikipia Game Sanctuary
• Marsabit National Reserve
• Losai National Reserve
• South Turkana National Reserve
• Nasalot National Reserve
• Sibiloi National Park
• South Island National Park
• Malkamari National Park