Situated in Eastern Province of Kenya in Isiolo district, Buffalo Springs National Reserve is endowed with various species of wildlife species, stunning features and much more. This reserve was habituated in the early months of 1985 as an accomplice with Isiolo Game Reserve. The Isiolo County runs the activities of this reserve and saw the establishment of its present boundaries in 1985.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve surpasses 51 square miles of savannah landscapes with acacia woodlands and shrubs. The conservation area is majorly a low land plain with semi-arid climate conditions. This reserve has a couple of features in its strides, the likes of the Ewaso Ng’iro River. This water body is primarily the wildlife attraction in this reserve.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve is an open game reserve that can accessed by all people, both citizens and foreigners. It has so many wildlife that visitors would pick interest to explore. Its biodiversity is vast comprising of the big five, numerous bird species and aquatic life.

Sustainable tourism efforts are priority at this game reserve. The Isiolo County Council has seen the management of this reserve improve and sustain the protection of the endangered and key wildlife species remote from extinction. This has helped keep the scale of ecology at this reserve balanced.

Tourist attractions at Buffalo Springs National Reserve

• The Ewaso Nyiro River
• Numerous bird species
• Scenic landscapes
• Various herbivores, i.e. giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes
• Herds of elephants
• Lion prides

Activities at Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Buffalo Springs National Reserve has an extensive list of activities that tourists can embark on while adventuring this reserve. These activities offer you the opportunity to engage with the flora and fauna of this reserve in the most adventurous ways. Bear in mind that these activities are well coordinated by Park guides and sometimes by armed rangers to keep you secure from any wildlife dangers.

Things to do in Buffalo Springs National Reserve

1. Game drives:

These are far much the most fun ways to explore Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Game drives are done in dependable all-wheel drive vehicles that can traverse through all kinds of terrain in this park. The safari drive cars have pop up roofs and windows that bring in clear light creating magnificent and unobstructed views of the park.

These drives are coordinated by experienced guides or park rangers plus a skilled driver. These experts provide all the biography of whatever encountered wildlife species you would need to know about on this Safari.

Safari game drives in this reserve usually start in the early mornings and late afternoons. These timings are the best to see wildlife as they are the renowned times for grazing, hunting and quenching down their thirst at the Ng’iro River.

Await a diversified blend of wildlife on these discerning treks highlighted by the three fierce cats, i.e. the lion, cheetah and African leopard, and the buffalos plus elephants which make up the list of the big five.

These adventurous drives that take you through this semi-arid topography are charged 75 USD for each adult tourist and 50USD for each infant tourist.

2. River Ewaso Ng’iro excursions

This activity along Ewaso Nyiro River is conducted on standardized canoes and motorized boats. These are sailed by experienced guides and expert water captains that guide you along the river as you observe the landscapes and wildlife from an entirely unique perspective.

The Ewaso Ng’iro River is amazing and further beautifies this game reserve. Excursions on this river are a ticket to observing aquatic wildlife like crocodiles, hippos and floating birds.

The bird species on this guided excursion are of numerous species. Bird watchers should pin this activity as it’s a breathtaking encounter to view all the endangered species. Sailing as you snap the water waves plus the wildlife on the shores drinking, bathing and resting on the banks is absolutely amazing. When exploring this national reserve, this activity should be among the ones you intend to experience.

3. Guided nature walks

Guided walks in the Buffalo springs National reserve are wonderful and memorable. They give you the opportunity to get detailed about the least and most information about this park. They are led by a knowledgeable guide or park ranger who is familiar with the geographical setting of the park.

Along the walks, the guide explains about the ways of life of the encountered wildlife species from the names to as far as their body attributes. Await an extensive array of plants, trees, small mammals like the aardvarks and the Kirk’s dik-dik.

The adventure gets amusing when you get to encounter the outstanding variety of bird species this haven inhabits. It’s a home to endangered bird species like the white-headed vulture and the yellow-billed Ox-pecker.

These walks will present you perfect photographic opportunities to take snaps around the wildlife encounter only at spots designated safe. Nature walks at Buffalo Springs National Reserve are free of charge.

Other interesting activities at this park include;

• Bird watching
• Elephant watching
• Cultural visits
• Picnics and bush meals.
• Night game drives.
• Camping
• Photography Safaris

Best time to visit Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Planning your trip to Buffalo Springs National Reserve needs you to consider quite a number of aspects. Among the few aspects you should consider is what times of the year you should give this game reserve a visit.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve phases through two weather seasons, i.e. the wet season and the dry season. The wet season runs from November to May whereas the dry season runs from June to October.

In the dry season, Buffalo Springs National Reserve is often dry with less dense vegetation. Animals gather so many around Ewaso Ng’iro River and other water sources to bathe and drink up because of the scorching sun. This makes it very easy for tourists to spot wildlife.

The skies are very clear with the sun vibrantly raying in the savannah grasslands of this park. The trails in the reserve are very smooth and dry making movements on all safaris easy, quick and enjoyable.

The wet season however is characterized by a bust of infant wildlife and plentiful bird species in this game reserve. The vegetation is lush green and densely vegetated with vibrant green.

The biggest challenge of this weather season is probably the muddy and almost unnavigable terrains of this game reserves after the heavy rain pours. Buffalo springs National Reserve records high rainfall totals in this season that make park activities have a few inconveniences in their punctuality.

The skies are often dark because of the ever present nimbus clouds lashing a rain pour at any moment. This makes spotting of wildlife challenging, plus recording photographic memories is quite unclear too.

The dry season is statically the best time to visit Buffalo Springs National Reserve because of its so many advantages to its bio and its less flaws.

Accommodation at Buffalo Springs National Reserve

An impressive number of resorts, hotels, camp sites and lodges reside and surround this park. These accommodation options are distinctive in accommodation, i.e. there are luxury lodges, midrange lodges and budget friendly lodges. Lodges under all the above classes are well equipped with accommodation facilities and amenities but with distinctive extras.

Best luxury lodge

Buffalo Springs National Reserve has an extensive list of high end accommodation options. They all offer premium services worthy their costs but a bit less substantial than each other.

Samburu Simba lodge is far much the best luxurious accommodation option near Buffalo Springs. It boarders Ewaso Nyiro lodge in the south a few distance from the reserve. It has the best luxury endowed rooms made in a theme that relives you of wildlife.

This lodge has an extensive array of amenities and facilities like a fully stacked health club, multi cuisine restaurants, no lag internet connection, and so much more. It tops its uniqueness with exhilarating views of Buffalo Springs National Reserve in the South west of the lodge.

This high end hotel charges 500 USD for a fully accommodated night of two people in one room. Bookings and reservations for space at this hotel go on at their website or you can book through your trusted tour operator to see availability.

Besides this lodge, you can choose to stay at Ashnil Samburu camp, Samburu sopa lodge or at Larsens Tented camp. These lodges are the other top options in the luxury sector of accommodation at Buffalo Springs National Reserve.

Best midrange lodge

Midrange accommodation at Buffalo Springs National Reserve is led by Ceamo Prestige Lodge Lodwar. This lodge is a 3 hours’ drive from Buffalo Springs National Reserve themed in love and romance.

This exquisite setting provides skeptical views of the game reserve that is just steps far from it. The rooms for resting are self-contained and elegant. The atmosphere the park surrounds is cheerful during day and colorful in the nights.

Customer care at this lodge is delightful with meals and other services are delivered in time. Expect to pay 300 USD each night for a well packaged accommodation at Ceamo Prestige Lodge Lodwar.

El Boran Resort and Elephant Watch Camp are the top most alternatives if not comfortable with this lodge.

Best Budget Friendly stays

Grande Hotel is the best budget friendly lodge at Buffalo Springs National Reserve. It is 30 miles far from the park at a well elevated landscape. Its services are slick and affordable. The meals are perfect and the environment I cozy.

The prices per night for a couple at this tented lodge is 40 USD inclusive of meal plans. Its counter parts in the budget friendly stays are Isiolo Transit Hotel, Lion’s Cave Camp and Lion King Bush Camp.

How to get to Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Travelers to this game reserve can arrive most conveniently by road, specifically through a trusted tour company. With a tour company safari, expect to pass through Kenyan traffic swiftly. These companies can cover this 301 km stretch from Nairobi to the park location in under 6 hours. The drivers are skilled and know whatever quickest routes to get to the park. Some of the routes these drivers may use are not traceable on GPS platforms.

Alternatively you can travel by self-drive through the smart road network from Nairobi to the Samburu County. For those unfamiliar with Kenyan roads, the GPS platforms are quite accurate and provide less traffic routes to the reserve. Going to this game reserve, you need an all-wheel drive vehicle to cruise through the mixed Kenyan roads terrain. Talk to us for the most reliable all-wheel drive vehicles at the fairest prices.

In conclusion, this game reserve is an astounding stop for wildlife enthusiasts. With the high level of significance it holds in the sustainable tourism efforts of Kenya.