The remote Shaba National Park

The Shaba Game Reserve in Kenya is a rugged wilderness that has an inspiring landscape of rolling savannah, scrub land, arid desert and bubbling hot springs. Shaba has totally beautiful scenery and even though it enjoys excellent game viewing is relatively less visited than other game reserves in Kenya but provides a very exclusive and private safari experience.

Shaba is one of three small adjoining game reserves that form the Samburu Eco-system. The land is a semi arid plain lying on the southern bank of the Ewaso Ngiro River which in conjunction with the numerous springs and swamp areas support the resident wildlife. Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and the Somialian ostrich are grateful for the permanent water sources within the hot and arid landscape of hills and plains.

Ewaso Nyiro River is fringed by a welcome shaded tree canopy for the wildlife that visit the river. Good populations of elephant, lion, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and zebra make the journey from the surrounding savannah to drink and cool off in the river and it is not uncommon to have a sighting of a leopard sleeping off his lunch high in a tree.

In addition to the river there are seventeen springs in Shaba which naturally are the focus for much of the game during the dry season and as such provide excellent game viewing opportunities. Venturing out on the usual twice daily game drives from your luxury camp or lodge, the experienced and knowledgeable guides will be right on the money as to where the best game viewing will be at any given time although obviously luck also plays its part in allowing you to witness an event out of the ordinary. As Shaba is one of Kenya’s more exclusive game reserves with only two lodges and therefore few vehicles making this very much an untouched wilderness.

On the game drives or at a waterhole, as well as the wildlife expected at the Ewaso Nyiro River you are likely to see Buffalo, Somalia ostrich, Baboon, African Bush Baby, Bushbuck, Caracal, Dik-dik, Kirk's Duiker, Bush, Eland, Grant's Giraffe, Reticulated Klipspringer, Mongoose, Monkey, Beisa, Warthog and Waterbuck. Shaba is also considered a haven for bird watching with hundreds of species.

Even with the abundance of wildlife a visit to Shaba Game Reserve is not just about game viewing as it is also provides a rich cultural experience – a glimpse - of Kenya’s tribal heritage. The reserve is the home of the Samburu Tribe, a semi-nomadic people whose survival is reliant on their cattle, sheep, goats and camels as much today as it has always been. Close co-operation between the safari operators, rangers and wardens is crucial to reduce the impact on local communities and to ensure tourism supports the future of the game reserve.

Of the two lodges, it is only Joy’s Camp that operates game drives in Shaba Game Reserve itself and this camp has its place in the history of the area. Joy Adamson, for whom the property is named, was the conservationist and successful author of Born Free, which subsequently became a film, of the relationship she and her husband George formed with the lioness Elsa. The lodge, built on the original site of her tented home, is a very stylish and luxurious tented camp with each canvas bedroom having amazing views of the stunningly beautiful surrounding hills.

With access easily available by regular scheduled light aircraft flights Shaba is perfect for those seeking a safari experience that is a little more remote and exclusive than in some of Kenya’s larger and more well known game reserves and national parks.