Shaba National Reserve Entrance fee

Shaba National Reserve Entrance fee : Shaba National Reserve is located in Isiolo county in Northern Kenya, it borders Buffalo springs National Reserves and Samburu National Reserve to the east, which when combined the three reserves form a large protected area. It is one of the less visited parks of Kenya as it is located off the main tourist paths. It is one of the Northern parks in the country and it has some of the best landscapes to be seen anywhere else with a perfect view of Mount Kenya which is south of the park.

Shaba National Reserve was established in 1974 and it has been used to shoot several award wining movies such as Born Free ,Out of Africa and the reality  show survivor 3. The park has an area of 239 Square kilometres. Shaba National Reserve experiences annual rainfall of  250mm and 500 mm. The park has Ewaso Nyiro River which runs 34 kilometres along the boundary of the reserve. Shaba Hill has its volcanic formations which rises to 2,145 metres above sea level. It is steep and rugged at the foot of the hill.

Shaba National Reserve is a bit smaller than Samburu National Reserve but has more riverine forests and it contains acacia, and doum palms. Apart from the region near the river ,there are scattered umbrella thorn acacia, woodland, and bush land dominated by commiphora, alkaline grasslands and some areas of lava rock that has scattered patches of grass and shrubs.

Wildlife

Shaba National Reserve is greener than Samburu National Reserve, the park has many klipspringers and Hyrax which inhabit the hills. Aardvarks, warthogs  and bat-eared foxes live in the domed termite moulds which are scattered in the scrubland. Other herbivores such as impala, common eland, Grant’s gazelle and gerenuk cab be seen I’m the shrubs. Zebras, Beisa Oryx, Greater kudu, Lesser kudu are seen grazing in the grasslands. Shaba National Reserve is also known for its large population of lions and other predators such as black-backed jackal, stripped hyenas and spotted hyena. It is also home to the rare species such as reticulated giraffe, Somali Ostrich and the endangered Grevy’s Zebra. Plenty of African leopards and elephants.

There are plenty of birds in Shaba National Reserve  just like its adjacent reserves of Samburu and Buffalo springs National Reserves. At the rocky lava and the semi desert regions of the reserve you will find the little known Williams’s Lark. This species has not been spotted anywhere else in a protected area. The Shaba National Reserve is located on the migration route for the globally threatened lesser kestrel which pass through the park every year. It is also home to some of the threatened birds species such as African darter, great Egret which are the visiting birds ,the resident birds include white headed vulture, Martial Eagle  and the  Yellow-billed oxpeckers.

The park captured the attention of the world when Joy Adamson and the lioness Known as Elsa story was captured in the film Born Free in 1966. Unfortunately in January 1980 Adamson was killed in the Reserve and there is a Monument of her in the park. The film “Out of Africa” too captures various parts of the park, utilising the big advantage of abundant wildlife and the reserves beautiful scenery.

The park sharply rose to fame in the year 2001 when two third of the park was completely sealed off for a period of four months by CBS crew who were using it to shoot episodes of their reality television show competition series Survivor.

The park is even more known for its landscape than its wildlife.  The southern part of Shaba National Reserve is known to be the haunting ground for leopards.

Activities at Shaba National Reserve

Cultural interactions

This is the opportunity for both the visitor and the locals to interact with each other and learn more about their lifestyle, dressing, feeding and cultural practices. The local community around the park are the Samburu people ,they have similar cultures like the Maasai people and they also practice cattle herding, making of jewellery among other things.

Guided Nature walks

 Nature walks is one of the activities  in which one has the opportunity to interact with nature on one on one close up.  It is the most convenient way to explore more about the park its features ,the landscape ,bird species ,amphibians, insects ,plants ,reptiles ,diverse animal species and flowers. The Nature walks are always done with the guide of experienced knowledgeable tour guides which are mostly from the community around who are very familiar with the park.

Bird watching

This is one of the best locations for bird watchers with plenty of birds species such as Marabou storks, Sand grouse ,Black-capped social weaver, Black faced sand grouse among many more. There are plenty of birds in the park because the birds enjoy the climatic conditions of the park which are favourable.

Game viewing

Shaba National Reserve is a popular destination for game viewing in Kenya, located in the eastern part of the country. The reserve is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including several species that are unique to the region, Shaba National Reserve Entrance fee

To go on a game viewing safari in Shaba National Reserve, you can either self-drive or join a guided tour. Self-driving can be a bit challenging due to the rugged terrain and the possibility of getting lost, so it’s recommended to hire a local guide or join a guided tour.

During a game drive, you can expect to see a variety of animals, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, and many others. The reserve is also known for its birdlife, with over 450 species recorded in the area.

The best time to visit

The best time to visit Shaba National Reserve for game viewing is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. During this time, the vegetation is less dense, making it easier to spot wildlife. However, the park is open year-round, and there is always something to see no matter when you visit.

Citizens	Charges
Adult	Ksh 515
Child	Ksh 215
Non-Resident	Charges
Adult	52 USD
Child	26 USD
Resident	Charges
Adult	Ksh 1030
Child	Ksh 515

Vehicles  are charged as follows

Saloon cars ksh 400

Minibuses ksh 1,200

Buses and trucks ksh 2,400