Samburu and Shaba Game Reserves
You can explore three game reserves located in close. The clean air, exotic flora and fauna and the excitement of viewing some of the rare species is enough for you to prolong your stay in this game reserve.
Factfile – Samburu and Shaba Game Reserves
Location: Mount Kenya Samburu Area
Total Area: 165 sq. kms
Major Attractions: Reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra and beisa oryx
The Samburu Game Reserves are the most accessible of the Northern Frontier faunal sanctuaries. There are actually three reserves – the Samburu Reserve, Buffalo Springs and Shaba Reserve. The Samburu Reserve covers 104 sq. km (40 sq. miles) on the northern bank of the Uaso Nyiro River, with a river frontage of 16 km (10 miles). Shaba Reserve covers approximately 130 sq. km (50 sq. miles) and borders the southern bank of the Uaso Nyiro River just east of the Buffalo Springs Reserve.
Permanent water is available from the 20 miles of river, which ensures that an abundance of wildlife exists in the reserves at all times.
Be prepared to encounter some of the most rare species here. You may find a group of reticulated giraffes. It is really a great sight to view them standing in the vast grassland. While exploring the other sections of the park, you may came across various other wild species including grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx and the blue-necked Somali ostrich. You may spot a family of lions, spotted leopards, cheetahs, gerenuks, and buffaloes roaming freely in their natural habitat.
Related Travel Information
Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Buffalo springs is a 131 sq kms located south of the Ewaso Ngiro River, which serves as its northern border with Samburu Nationa Reserve. The unusual Down palm, the only palm tree species whose trunk divides into two branches, grows to over 60 Feets in height in this arid park. Wildlife seen here is same as Samburu National park.
Hippo : Wildlife Southern Africa
Hippos are the most feared animals in southern Africa. Each year more people are killed by them than by all the other animals together.
Hippos weigh up to two tons and can be four metres long. Hippos are vegetarians and feed exclusively on grass.
Hippos watch strictly over their territories and threaten anybody invading it by what looks like yawning. If the invader does not withdraw, they usually attack without any further hesitation. Smaller boats are particularly at risk, because a rhino can easily topple it over, and as their front teeth are as sharp as razorblades,
The Khutse Game Reserve
Khutse Game Reserve abuts the southern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Set in typical pan country of undulating savannah, most of the larger arid-adapted herbivores can be found, together with the common predators, lions, leopards and cheetahs. Duiker and steenbok are as common as the ostrich. Many smaller species abound, like Cape fox, bat-eared fox, ground squirrel, jackal, porcupine, yellow mongoose and suricate. There are more than 60 pans and game is usually seen in or near them, but it is seasonal and difficult to predict. Khutse has interesting birds associated with arid areas,
Maralal National Sanctuary
Maralal National Sanctuary is located northwest of Samburu and 95 miles north of Nyahururu near the town of Maralal. This park has zebra, buffalo, eland, impala and hyena. On the cedar clad hillside above the Maralal town and in the thorn scrub lower down there is much resident game. Seasonally elephant pass through the sanctuary descending from the forested hills, which lie to the north. Much of this wildlife can be seen from the comfortable terrace of the Maralal Safari Lodge for the only permanent water in the sanctuary is a small waterhole just a few meters away.
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Kwe Kwe (Que Que)
A small town in central Zimbabwe, Kwe Kwe is best known for its nearby privately owned wildlife reserves and proximity to other sights (see also Gweru Midlands). Cabergeigh Estates, the best of the bunch, includes of a picturesque game lodge set amid 20,000 acres/8,100 hectares of mopane trees and water holes. Open-top all-terrain vehicles make it easy to spot large herds of elephants, wildebeests and impala, while sable, giraffes, eland, nyala, waterbucks, zebras and crocodiles are also common. Licensed hunting is possible in the park. 110 mi/180 km southwest of Harare.
