The Studio by the Sea: Buffalo Springs Reserve

On leaving Samburu, we visited Buffalo Springs Reserve, which is to the south on the other side of the Ewaso Ngiro river. The two parks were originally one large park but were divided along either side the river in 1985. Animals can range throughout both parks with no limitations. It is a small reserve, 131 sq. km. but has over 350 types of birds and a large variety of animals.

White Headed Buffalo Weaver

Superb Starling

As I was searching for the names of these birds, I came across a funny quote. The only way you couldn't see a Superb Starling in Kenya would be if you kept your eyes closed the whole time! They were quite plentiful. Them, I came home with a lot of photos of, unlike the poor warthogs!

We left Samburu via the highway, and within 15 minutes crossed the Ewaso Ngiro and entered Buffalo Springs. We couldn't believe the difference in the topography. We hadn't seen water for a couple of days, being the end of the very long dry season, it was, well, dry. We'd seen holes dug by the elephants searching for water and everything covered with dust. All of that changed when we entered Buffalo Springs.

The first thing we saw was a large well type structure, filled with water. Our guide, Marcos, told us it had been created when Italy was trying to bomb the English in Nairobi (about 200 miles away) during WWII but missed. Their bomb created this large crater which happened to be right over the natural springs and this water hole was created. Locals even swim in it I was told. There is no way I'd have swum in it, ever. Nope. So here's the thing. This was only day 3. What I learned as we went along, is that sometimes Kenyan truth is not always truth as some of the rest of us would tell it. So I'm unable to find anything, anywhere, which corroborates this story, but I'm sticking with it, I like the story, I definitely wouldn't quote me however!!!! Apologies if you're Kenyan and take offense, but more likely you're agreeing with me, 'ndiyo, we do have our own versions of things, and those crazy tourists, they will believe anything...' Personally, I'm a fan. Of everything about Kenya, the people, the stories, the birds, the animals, the smiles, the singing.... well, you get the idea!

The grass was so green, the vistas were new, the entire feeling of the park was completely different from what we'd just been traveling in a literal stone's throw away. Even the soil was different, it was white instead of the red we'd been seeing and much more alkaline. It was funny to see the termite mounds in the white soil, they looked like sandcastles made out of cement!! We totally weren't expecting such a difference!

We didn't spend long in this reserve, but our first viewing was a little family of warthogs that are so funny when they run off, they put their tails straight up in the air like little antennas and can move very quickly. Their first instinct is to run, and then when they reach what they must feel is a safe distance, they turn and stare at you. Turns out I mostly watched them in amusement, because although we saw literally hundreds during our trip, I have very few images of them! Guess I was 'in the moment'.

We then saw a lovely family of elephants grazing in the bright, lush green grass joined by white herons. Gorgeous. All of those young elephants were a joy to watch. These were definitely enjoying themselves, intertwining trunks, and interacting quite a bit.