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Shaba National Reserve
Background
Information
Shaba is part of three small adjoining
savanna national reserves that lie on either side of the Northern
Ewaso Ngiro River, 340km North, North East of Nairobi (Samburu,
Buffalo Springs and Shaba). They were established in 1948 as the
Samburu Isiolo Game Reserve, part of the once extensive Marsabit
National Reserve. Now they are managed by their respective county
councils, Samburu and Isiolo.
The reserve consists of a
low lying, semi arid plain on the southern bank of the Northern
Ewaso Ngiro river. It lies 9 km east of buffalo springs national
reserve, from which it is separated by the main road from isiolo to
marsabit. The reserve was gazetted in 1974 and is administered by
the Isiolo CC. Its Northern section includes a 34km stretch of the
Ewaso Ngiro river; here and elsewhere in the reserve are numerous
springs and swampy areas, although some have bitter tasting
water.
The starkly beautiful
landscape is dominated by Shaba hill to the south, at the foot of
which is a rugged area with steep ravines. The sandy soils are
volcanic in origin.
Climate:
The
climate is hot and dry. Rainfall averages 250-300mm per
year.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Roads:
The
reserves are reached by tar road via Isiolo from Nairobi, a total
distance of 343 km.
MAJOR
ATTRACTIONS
Scenic landscape and
riverine forest, Permanent Springs. Shaba has 17 springs at which
animals congregate during the dry season, Reticulated giraffe,
Somalia ostrich, Grevy's zebra, Joy Adamson's monument.
COMMON
VEGETATION
The vegetation in the
reserve includes; thicket with patches of Acacia tortilis
woodland; riverine woodland and forest dominated by patches of
Acacia elatior and doum palm, Hyphaene
coriacea; bushland and open areas of lava rock with scattered
grass and shrubs, dominated by communties of Commiphora
spp. with Ipomoea, Grewia, Acacia senegal and Salvadora; and
Sporobolus spicatus alkaline grasslands dotted with springs
and swamps. |