Shaba National Reserve
Shaba National Reserve is a semi-desert with a rugged landscape, "kopjes" (hills) and several springs attract a large amount of wildlife. The landscape is similar to the nearby Samburu and Buffalo Springs Reserves: riparian forests, acacias and doum palms.
The 240 km2 Shaba National Reserve is closely associated with George and Joy Adamson, who from their camp contributed significantly to nature preservation.
Shaba National Reserve has a special habitat. During your safari you can encounter plenty of Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, generuk, reticulated giraffe, lesser kudu, leopards, lions and herds of elephants. Wildlife in this park is shyer than in the more tourist-Samburu reserve.
Shaba became famous by a tragic event, namely because of Joy Adamson who was murdered by poachers in 1980; she was a biologist, natural protector, actress and writer, and wrote several books amongst which Born Free and The Queen of Shaba. Adamson was at the time of her death involved in a project to release human trained leopards back into nature.
After her death some of her books were filmed. Born in Freedom is the classic book by Joy Adamson (1910-1980) about her life in East Africa, as the wife of game warden George Adamson. Her life changed one day when she assumes care of three lion cubs.
