Samburu & Buffalo Springs National Reserves
Shaba National Reserve
Maralal & Laikipia Game Sanctuaries

All three reserves offer unique vistas of rounded and rugged hills and undulating plains. The mix of wood and grassland with riverine forest and swamp is home to a wide variety of animal and birdlife. Buffalo Springs records over 365 species of bird. Game viewing and visibility is excellent. Reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, elephant, oryx, Somali ostrich, hippo, crocodile, gerenuk, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. Shaba National Reserve is home to Joy Adamson's Monument. It is notable for its hot springs. Samburu and Buffalo Springs, in particular, are popular tourist routes. There are three lodges in Samburu, one lodge in Shaba and one tented lodge. There are a number of special campsites in each park, favoured by the mobile tented safari operators, which have to be pre-booked. Shaba also has an airstrip.

Maralal and Laikipia Game Sanctuaries are also located in this area and can be visited by arrangement. Laikipia Plateau Reserve was opened in October 1991. It is north-east of Laikipia district and borders Isiolo district. To the west is the Mkogodo Forest Reserve, a belt of riverine forest along the Ngare Ndare River. It is the homeland of a unique small tribe known as the Laikipia Maasai.

The landscape is rich and varied, game includes elephant, eland, buffalo, zebra, bushbuck, duiker, bushpig, Gerenuk, Plains game and the big cats: cheetah, leopard and lion. Good for birdwatching, it is a little known area which is ideal for walking holidays and camel safaris for the intrepid traveller. No accommodation is available yet in this area.