The name “Shaba” comes from the Kiswahili word “shaba,” meaning “copper” or “brass.” The reserve is believed to be named after its distinctive reddish-golden soil and rock, which resembles the coppery hue of brass or burnished metal.
This coloration comes from the region’s volcanic history—Shaba is located on the lower slopes of an extinct volcano and features striking lava flows, black basalt ridges, and mineral-rich soil. When the sun sets over the landscape, the hills and plains glow with a warm, metallic tone, which likely inspired its name.
So in essence, Shaba National Reserve is “the copper-colored land”—a fitting tribute to its dramatic geology and shimmering natural beauty.