Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba National Reserves

The northern Kenyan national reserves of Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba are famous tourist attractions with a diversified and unique semi-arid wildlife population. Three spots are located in an arid region in Kenya's distant north, on the banks of the palm-lined Ewaso Nyiro River.

Elsa the lioness, made famous in the film Born Free, was raised at Shaba National Reserve, one of two sites where George and Joy Adamson raised her. The wildlife in all three reserves is reliant on the river's waters to survive, and many species have evolved to thrive in the dry conditions. Grevy's zebras, Somali ostriches, and gerenuks, long-necked eland that stand on two back legs to reach the young sprouts on top tree limbs, are among them. The Sarara Singing Wells, local watering holes where Samburu warriors sing traditional songs while hauling water for their animals to drink, are a top attraction in Samburu National Reserve. There's a chance you'll see big cats and wild dogs as well.