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Buffalo
Springs National
Reserve is
located in the
Eastern province
85 kilometres
north of Mount
Kenya. Buffalo
Springs National
Reserve is
separated from
the Samburu
National Reserve
by the Ewaso
Nyiro river and
it takes it's
name from an
oasis of crystal
clear water at
the western end
of the reserve.
The Environment
of the reserve
is a gently
rolling lowland
plain, and the
main feature
being the
ancient
lava-terrace
that forms the
Champagne Ride
in the
southeast. The
Buffalo Springs
are permanent
and provide
drinking water
for the wildlife
and for the
nearby town of
Archer's Post.
Wildlife
found in the
Buffalo Springs
Nature Reserve
include buffalo,
cheetah, eland,
elephant,
gazelle,
gerenuk, Grevy's
zebra,
Guenther's dik
dik, hippo,
impala, leopard,
lion, oryx,
Reticulated
giraffe, Spotted
and Striped
hyena, warthog,
waterbuck and
wild dog.
The
Reticulated
Giraffe
and
the
Beisa
Oryx seen
here
in
Shaba
national
reserve |
The
Reticulated
Giraffe
against
a
rocky
background
in
Shaba
national
reserve |
In addition
to the wildlife
found in Samburu
National
Reserve, the
common zebra is
also an
attraction often
marching with
its cousin, the
Grevy Zebra,
although they do
not interbreed.
An unexplained
phenomenon is
why the common
zebra is not
found on the
north side of
the river.
Birdlife, too,
is prolific with
the Somali
ostrich
dominating the
plains. Larger
than its
southern
relative the
Maasai ostrich
it is more
easily
distinguished by
its indigo legs
and neck. Next
in size is the
Kori Bustard who
stands a meter
high. His
behavior is
unpredictable,
at times running
or crouching at
the first sign
of danger and at
others
completely
fearless of
humans. The male
has a remarkable
display
inflating his
neck and neck
feathers until
the head seems
to disappear
then raising his
tail until it
lies along his
back.
During the
struggle for
independence in
Kenya Mau Mau
used the park as
their place for
tactical
retreat. Indeed
it is the route
that the
Legendary
General Mathenge
of the Mau Mau
followed on his
flight to
Ethiopia.
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