Mid-North Safari Circuit Self-Drive Group Tour

ABOUT THE MID-NORTH SAFARI CIRCUIT

Background Information

The Mara Nomads offroad trips are always a great adventure, and when you combine it with camping and exploring wildlife, they become an unforgettable experience. Our next offroad and camping adventure is to the Mid-North region of Kenya comprising Marsabit National Park, Samburu National Reserve and Buffalo Springs National Reserve. These renown wildlife strongholds provide a perfect blend of adventure, wilderness, and natural beauty.

Marsabit National Park, Samburu National Reserve and Buffalo Springs National Reserve are located in the mid-northern part of Kenya, approximately 523 and 360 kms respectively from Nairobi, a 8-hour drive, approx. They are a perfect destination for nature lovers and those seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life on Easter. They are a perfect place to hang out with close friends and strangers who become friends, tell stories around a campfire, and laugh under starry nights. The journey itself is an adventure, with a scenic view of the countryside, crossing the Equator, and driving through the Great Rift Valley.

As you drive through the vast and arid landscape of northern Kenya, you'll marvel at the sight of a stunning, heavily forested mountain rising amidst the stark surroundings. This is the park's main attraction and a sight to behold. What’s amazing is the diversity of wildlife that call it home. Elephants, leopards, hyenas, baboons, and many other species of animals roam free within the park's boundaries. One of the park's most famous attractions is the seasonal Lake Paradise, a beautiful oasis in the middle of the park. The lake is surrounded by indigenous vegetation whose vibrant colors provide a stunning contrast to the arid landscape around them.

When we arrive at Samburu National Reserve, we will set up our campsite on the banks of Ewaso Nyiro and start exploring the wilderness. The vast grasslands and acacia trees create a beautiful landscape that is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, wild dogs and many other animals. The best part is that you can witness them in their natural habitat, living and thriving as they have for centuries.

One of the most exciting things about camping in the Samburu National Reserve is the sound of the wildlife at night. We could hear the hyenas howling, the lions roaring, and the elephants trumpeting. It was an experience like no other, and it made us feel like we were truly in the heart of the wilderness. We might get elephant visitors who will pass a safe distance from us, but close enough for our jaws to drop to the floor. Security? We shall have experienced security persons with us at the campsite.

During the day, we shall go on safari drives inside Samburu National Reserve and then into Buffalo Springs National Reserve. We shall see many animals up close, a breathtaking experience. We might be fortunate enough to see a pride of lions lounging under a tree perhaps, and if lady luck smiles on us, see a leopard perched on a tree branch. What we shall for sure see, are hundreds of elephants of which the Reserves are known for, bathing in the river or browsing on delicious tree barks or leaves.

Apart from the wildlife, the landscape itself is worth admiring. The Ewaso Nyiro River flows between the two Reserves serving as a boundary between them, and the view of it snaking its way through the grasslands is a sight to behold. The river also attracts a variety of birds, including the rare Somali ostrich, vultures, eagles, and many more. The two Reserves have so many Inselbergs scattered through them, rugged hills, riverine forests, and vast savannahs giving the Reserves a very unique appearance.

Our evenings will be spent around a campfire at the campsite. We will cook dinner under the stars and share stories of our adventures. The night skies are often clear, and we could see millions of stars, making us feel small in the grand scheme of things.

What You Need to Know

✅      Due to the current rains, this is a 4X4 and AWD vehicles only trip.

✅     The route passes through beautiful landscapes with panoramic views of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare ranges. The road trip is an adventure in itself as it allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery like Kisima Farm and Timau, and interact with the locals.

✅   Marsabit National Park was the home of the legendary Ahmed the elephant. An elephant whose tusks were so long that he could only climb hills by walking backwards! He lived in the forests of Mount Marsabit in the 1960s and 1970s, a mountain rising out of the scrublands of northern Kenya. He was aptly named “The King Of Marsabit”. His tusks, the longest and heaviest in Africa, weighed over 150lbs each. Pursuant to a heartfelt letter by school children of Marsabit, Ahmed was declared a “living monument by Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, requested him to protect this national treasure and was protected night and day by 2 armed rangers.  

✅     Samburu National Reserve is home to some of the rarest animals in the world, called “Samburu Special 5”, they are the endangered Grevy's Zebra, beautiful Reticulated Giraffe, tall-necked Gerenuk, Beisa Orynx and blue-necked Somali Ostrich.

✅    Grevy’s zebra is native to East Africa and is the most threatened among the three species of Zebras, the other two being the Plains Zebra and the Mountain Zebra – you can easily identify them by looking at their belly as their bellies do not have stripes unlike other species of zebras.

✅    In 2003, an astonishing friendship was forged between a lioness called Kamunyak (meaning “blessed one” in Maa language) and a baby oryx in Samburu National Reserve. In a radical departure from its instincts, Kamunyak protected the little oryx calf for 15 days from its birth.

✅   Samburu National Reserve also boasts of other animals such as elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and buffalos. Herds and herds of elephants! The reserve's landscape is beautiful, with rolling hills, acacia trees, and the Ewaso Ng'iro River, which is a lifeline for the animals in the reserve.

✅    Buffalo Springs National Reserve is adjacent to Samburu National Reserve, and they share a common ecosystem. The two Reserves are separated by the Ewaso Nyiro River, which is the main source of water for the animals. Buffalo Springs is known for its beautiful landscapes.

✅     One of the unique experiences in this trip is interacting with the Samburu people, who are the indigenous people of the area. The Samburu people are known for their traditional way of life, and they live in harmony with the wildlife in the reserve. Visiting a Samburu village will give you a chance to learn about their culture, customs, and traditions.

✅     Buffalo Springs Reserve hosts the famous “Blue Pool”. Encircled by a rough stonewall, the spring is crystal clear, and we often jumped in for a swim to escape the searing heat of the afternoons.

✅     The natural pool has a very interesting history in that it is actually a bomb site. During World War II, a squadron of Italian fighter planes were flying back to Ethiopia from a bombing sortie in Kenya against the British. They spotted a huge herd of buffaloes drinking from the spring. They mistook the buffaloes for the tents of the British, who were advancing towards the Ethiopian border, so they dropped a bomb on them. The bomb killed many of the hapless elephants and created the crater that is the Blue Pool now. 

Departure & Other Details

Because of how far Marsabit is (530kms), an early start is required. 5.30 am departure will ensure that we make the most progress.

Nairobi to Marsabit takes about a 8 to 9 hours. The road from Nairobi to Marsabit is excellent tarmac. 

The Campsite

We shall be staying at a public campsite at Marsabit National Park on the first night. The campsite is a shady area with facilities – toilets, bathrooms and cleaning water. We shall need to carry everything else we need including drinking water and food.

What to look forward to is the peaceful, shady atmosphere and the fact that we will not be disturbed by anyone at all. Plentiful birdlife around Park. We shall enjoy a campfire in the evening as banter flows.

For the second and third nights, we shall camp at a public campsite along the banks of Ewaso Nyiro River at Samburu National Reserve. We shall use the campsite as our base to explore Samburu National Reserve and Buffalo Springs National Reserve.

The campsite has drop down toilets and bathrooms. However we shall carry our drinking water. Cleaning water is available from Ewaso Nyiro River but you can as well carry some additional fresh water..

We shall need to be self-sufficient in water, food and provisions. Clean fuel is available in Nanyuki, Isiolo and Marsabit.

Activities

✅    Drive to the Mid-North region of Kenya.

✅    Favorite part of this trip for many will be seeing Mt. Ololokwe, the Lake Paradise, Samburu Special 5, Samburu elephants and the crystal clear waters of Buffalo Springs.

✅    Geography and geology lovers will check out the Inselbergs of Samburu and the many beautiful mountains dotting the Samburu area. 

✅    Chill, drink, laugh, tell stories, enjoy campfire, sleep.

✅   Carry your barbeque grill and enjoy some nyama choma.