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    Shaba National Reserve
    Marc Samsom / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Kenya

    Shaba National Reserve

    Point of Interest

    The Shaba National Reserve borders Samburu and Buffalo Springs to the east and spans approximately 240 square kilometers south of the Ewaso Ng’iro, which forms about 34 kilometers of its northern boundary.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu
    9. Shaba National Reserve
    The Shaba National Reserve borders Samburu and Buffalo Springs to the east and spans approximately 240 square kilometers south of the Ewaso Ng’iro, which forms about 34 kilometers of its northern boundary. The 2,145-meter-high Shaba Hill volcano, lava fields, springs, and riverine forests characterize the landscape.Joy Adamson released the leopardess Penny here and was murdered in the reserve in January 1980.

    Restaurants in Shaba National Reserve

    Heritage

    Joy Adamson and PennyIn August 1977, Joy Adamson received permission to release a young leopard named Penny into the wild in Shaba. Her observations from the last three years of her life went into the book 'Penny Queen of Shaba'. On January 3, 1980, she was found dead in the reserve; a former worker was convicted. A monument commemorates her.Film LocationParts of 'Out of Africa' were filmed in Shaba. In 2001, a large part of the reserve was closed for four months for the US television show 'Survivor: Africa'.LandscapeThe reserve, protected since 1974, is managed by Isiolo County. Scattered hills, gorges at the foot of Shaba Hill, waterholes, swamps, and springs provide water in the dry savanna.

    Practical Details

    Getting ThereShaba lies east of Samburu and Buffalo Springs on Ewaso Ng’iro’s south bank.AccommodationThe Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is situated on the Ewaso Ng’iro, fed by natural springs.Joy’s Camp, on the site of Joy Adamson’s former camp, is reportedly closed indefinitely; check status with the operator.SafetyShaba is located in Isiolo County near Samburu. Before traveling, check the current travel and safety advisories from the UK FCDO, linked on the country page.

    Accommodations in Shaba National Reserve

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    Nearby

    Samburu National Reserve

    Samburu National Reserve

    The Samburu National Reserve lies approximately 350 kilometers north of Nairobi on the Ewaso Ng'iro, whose doum palms and riverine forests attract elephants, lions, and leopards to the arid landscape. Together with the Buffalo Springs National Reserve on the south bank, it is the most renowned safari destination in northern Kenya.Here you can spot the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and Somali Ostrich.
    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa is a private Wildlife Conservancy at the northern foot of Mount Kenya, south of Isiolo in Meru County, which originated from a Craig family cattle ranch. It protects more than twelve percent of Kenya's black rhinos and the world's largest single population of Grevy's zebra.Since 2013, Lewa, along with the adjacent Ngare Ndare Forest, has been part of the Mount Kenya UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Meru National Park

    Meru National Park

    Meru National Park is located east of Meru town, approximately 350 kilometers from Nairobi, in the lowlands between Mount Kenya and the Tana River. It was here that George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, whose story became world-famous through the book and film 'Born Free'.Following a reconstruction between 2000 and 2005, the park is once again home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, black and white rhinos, and Grevy's zebras.
    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    North of Nairobi, the land rises towards Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. Around the summit are national parks with mountain forest and moorland, private conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau, and further north the dry reserves of Samburu and Shaba, home to animals rarely seen in southern Kenya.The market town of Nanyuki, on the Equator, is a practical starting point for mountain treks and game drives.
    Mount Kenya National Park

    Mount Kenya National Park

    The Mount Kenya National Park protects the high altitudes of Africa's second-highest mountain, just south of the Equator in central Kenya. Trekkers ascend via the Sirimon, Naro Moru, or Chogoria routes to the 4,985-meter-high Point Lenana, while the main peaks Batian and Nelion are reserved for climbers.Since 1997, the park and mountain forest have been UNESCO World Heritage. Above the mountain forest, you reach glacier remnants and mountain lakes like Lake Michaelson.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Each photo carries its credit.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI