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Most travelers researching a Kenya safari find Samburu National Reserve first — it’s the better-known name in the region, famous for the “Samburu Special Five” species you won’t find on a Masai Mara itinerary. Buffalo Springs National Reserve sits directly across the Ewaso Ng’iro River from Samburu, and it deserves its own mention rather than a footnote, since it’s often part of the same private itinerary and offers its own distinct terrain and wildlife viewing.
Buffalo Springs, Samburu, and Shaba National Reserves together form a connected ecosystem in Kenya’s arid north, split by the Ewaso Ng’iro River. Buffalo Springs sits on the river’s south bank, and while it shares much of the same wildlife and semi-arid, acacia-dotted terrain as Samburu, it tends to see fewer vehicles — a real advantage if crowd-free game viewing matters to you.
Because the three reserves are managed as a connected system and wildlife moves freely between them, a private itinerary can cover Buffalo Springs and Samburu together without the rigid boundaries a group tour schedule often imposes.
Buffalo Springs shares the “Samburu Special Five” that draw travelers to this region: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and beisa oryx — species adapted to this dry, northern habitat and rarely seen on a standard southern-circuit safari. Elephant, lion, leopard, and cheetah are also present, along with strong birdlife along the riverine forest that lines the Ewaso Ng’iro.
The landscape itself is part of the draw: red earth, doum palms, and acacia scrub give this region a visual character distinct from the green highlands or golden grassland most people picture when they imagine Kenya.
The reserve takes its name from a natural freshwater spring near its center, a clear pool that draws wildlife especially in the dry season and gives the area its name. It’s a quieter, more intimate wildlife-viewing spot than the open plains further south, and a good stop within a fuller day of game drives through the reserve.
Because Buffalo Springs and Samburu function as one connected wildlife area, there’s little reason to visit only one. A private, customizable itinerary lets us route your game drives across both reserves based on where wildlife is active that week, rather than locking you into a fixed schedule the way a group tour would. It’s a clear example of what “100% Private Safaris at Group Tour Prices” actually means in practice — the flexibility to follow the wildlife, not a printed itinerary.
All in Africa Safaris USA plans and quotes this from our Utah office, with US-based payment and a US contract. Our Kampala partner team coordinates the ground logistics across East Africa, including trips into Kenya’s Samburu region, working alongside experienced local guides who know this ecosystem well. Your journey is private; the wildlife encounter is shared.
They’re adjacent reserves in the same ecosystem, separated by the Ewaso Ng’iro River, and share most of the same wildlife. Buffalo Springs tends to be quieter with fewer vehicles; Samburu is the more established, better-known name. Most private itineraries cover both.
Yes. It’s a well-established part of Kenya’s northern safari circuit, with experienced guides and lodges operating in the area. As with the rest of your itinerary, we arrange this through vetted local partners rather than an unverified independent booking.
It typically doesn’t add significant cost when combined with a Samburu visit, since the two reserves are covered on the same game drives. We’ll give you a clear number once we know the rest of your route.
Not usually — it’s most often covered as part of your Samburu game drives rather than requiring a separate dedicated day.
The “Samburu Special Five” species found here don’t appear on a standard Masai Mara or Amboseli itinerary, making Buffalo Springs and Samburu a genuine addition rather than a repeat of wildlife you’ll already see elsewhere in Kenya.
Ready to start planning your private African safari? Contact All in Africa Safaris USA today for your personalized itinerary.
https://allinafricasafarisusa.com
We are happy to price a specific route so you can see what drives the number rather than guessing from a headline figure.
