Tourist attractions in Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Tourist attractions in Buffalo Springs National Reserve: Buffalo Springs National Reserve is a protected area located in Isiolo County, Kenya. it sits to the south of Samburu National Reserve, across the Ewaso Ngiro River. The reserve gets its name from a clear water oasis found at its western end. The national reserve covers an area of approximately 131 square kilometers (about 51 square miles), and its elevation varies between 850 meters (2,790 feet) and 1,230 meters (4,040 feet) above sea level.
The landscape here is gent gently rolling and consists of old lava flows with volcanic soils of olivine basalt. One of the main attractions is the Champagne Ride in the southeast, which is a fascinating ancient lava terrace. The climate in Buffalo Springs is typically hot, dry, and semi-arid, making it unique in its natural environment.
The reserve was created in 1948 and was originally part of the Samburu – Isiolo Game Reserve. The current boundaries that we have today were set in 1985. The reserve is managed by the Isiolo County Council. Many Kenya safari companies include a visit to this reserve in their tours and there are a number odd lodges and camps where visitors scan stays while on a Kenya safari in Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
Wildlife
Buffalo Springs National Reserve has a good number of animals, and you can see many of them in just a few days. The wildlife includes various animals like Grant’s Zebras and the endangered Grevy’s Zebras, which with its rounded ‘Mickey Mouse’ ears is notably different from its more common cousin, the Burchell’s zebra. Gerenuks (meaning ‘camel head’ in Somali). Other mammals found in the wild area are the Reticulated giraffe, Oryx, gerenuk, African buffalo, lion, cheetah, hyena warthogs, and Kirk’s and Guenther’s dik-diks. You can often spot leopards near the riverbanks, as they like to live there. While there are no rhinos in the reserve, you’ll find plenty of elephants. The reserve is also where you can find animals hippopotamuses and crocodiles living in the river. There area also different types of antelopes, including greater and lesser kudu, elands, adding to the variety of wildlife you can experience here. Each of these animals plays an important role in their ecosystem and adds to the rich diversity of wildlife.
Birds of Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Buffalo Springs National Reserve is home to more than 365 different bird species. One of the most common birds you’ll see here is the Somali Ostriches. This type of ostriches is bigger than the Maasai ostrich and is easy to recognize because of its unquiet indigo-colored legs and neck. Other bird species spotted here includes Abyssinian ground hornbill, acacia tit, African palm swift, ashy cisticola, bare-eyed thrush, black-bellied sunbird, black-capped social weaver, bristle-crowned starling, chestnut weaver, chestnut-headed sparrow lark, Egyptian vulture, Fischer’s starling, golden pipit, golden-breasted starling, greater kestrel, grey wren-warbler, hunter’s sunbird, lanner falcon, mariqua sunbird, martial eagle, northern brownbul , red-winged lark, red-bellied parrot and palm-nut vulture among others.
Flora
The reserve is characterized by large tracts of Commiphora-dominated bushland, open areas of lava rock with scattered grass and shrubs and alkaline grasslands dotted with springs and swamps. The Ewaso Ngiro River is surrounded by a narrow strip of forest that is home to several unique trees, such as the Tana River Poplar and the Doum Palm, along with impressive Acacia elatior trees. The area also features acacia tortilis woodlands and wide stretches of bushland mainly filled with Commiphora plants. In some spots, you can see pieces of lava rock peeking through the ground, scattered with grasses and shrubs. Other areas are filled with alkaline grasslands, where you’ll find occasional springs and swamps. Among the scrub, the bright pink flowers of the “Desert Rose” (Adenium obesum) can be spotted. The Salvadora persica, commonly called the toothbrush tree, is a shrub that elephants love to eat. Its twigs are also used by the nomadic Samburu people as natural toothbrushes.
Buffalo springs
Buffalo Springs is a great place to visit in Buffalo Springs National Park while you’re on a safari in Kenya. These springs are what give the Buffalo Springs Game Reserve its name and are an important part of the area. There are three springs in total: two are surrounded by walls, and the third one flows into the plains, creating a small marshy area that leads to the Ewaso Nyiro River.
One of the walled springs used to be a natural swimming spot for visitors, but swimming there is no longer allowed. The other walled spring provides water for Archer’s Post, a small town nearby. Sometimes, buffalo and other animals can be seen drinking from the springs.
Ewaso Nyiro River
The Ewaso Nyiro River is the main highlight of Buffalo Springs Game Reserve and a top spot for seeing animals and birds while visiting Kenya. The river’s name comes from the Samburu language, where “Ewaso” means “the river of brown or muddy water.” It is the largest and most reliable river in northern Kenya, providing a steady water supply for the animals and plants in the reserve.
The river is surrounded by grassy areas, dense acacia trees, and doum palm forests, making it a great place to find various wildlife. You can see crocodiles, buffaloes, impalas, hippos, and a wide range of birds, including saddle-billed storks, among others.
