About Shaba National Reserve

Shaba National Reserve covers 300 sq kms, and covers more than 50% of the three reserves that make up “Samburu” – Shaba, Buffalo Springs and Samburu. Shaba is the most picturesque of the three.

Joy’s Camp has the whole of the eastern sector of the reserves to itself. Dramatic arid countryside with stunning views of beautiful Bodich and Shaba mountains glowing red in the evening sun. The reserve has natural salts and lush palm fringed springs that attract the wildlife. The northern border of the park is the great Ewaso Nyiro River with rocky gorges, waterfalls and sandy beaches to explore.

This is leopard, elephant and lion country. The leopard love the massive tortilis acacia trees, especially in the forest close to camp, and hunt for klipsringer on the rocks. In this landscape of yellow grass and rocks, the lion are pale in colour and truly wild. Being arid country, the reserve is host to herds of the rare Beisa oryx, families of Gerenuk, the splendid blue-legged Somali ostrich, Grevy zebra, the most beautiful species of giraffe – the rare Reticulated Giraffe, plus for the aficionados both the rare brown and rare stripped hyenas!

Climate

At an altitude of 2400 ft, the days are warm, rising to maximum of 30 deg C, but comfortable with minimum humidity, and the evenings are warm and comfortable. Rainfall is mostly in April and May with an average of 250mm per year.