Lake Mburo is one of the smallest Savannah national parks in Uganda, located in the western part of the country, covering 470 kilometers squared with an altitude of 1,220m-1,828m above sea level. The park is the perfect weekend getaway from Kampala because it’s the closest to the city.
Though Lake Mburo is small, its size should not be undermined as it’s blessed with 13 lakes, with 5 lakes found within the park, 350 species of birds, and several animal species, and 68 species of mammals.
Lake Mburo National Park is the only place where tourists can explore the whole park on foot and even on horseback, organized by Mihingo Lodge.
The park’s size should not be underestimated because it’s really a true gem and also a good stopover when coming from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Tourist Activities in Lake Mburo
- Wildlife Viewing: Lake Mburo National Park is home to various animals, for example, impalas, mountain reedbuck, oribi, waterbuck, warthogs, leopards, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, reedbucks, zebras, giraffes, hippos, bush pigs, duikers, and so much more. The best time for wildlife watching is in the morning and afternoon hours.
- Birding Safaris: Lake Mburo National Park is an ideal place for bird enthusiasts, with over 300 species of birds recorded. The best places for birding are at the Miriti and Warukiri swamp valleys, around Rwonyo Rest Camp, and the good viewing points at the salt lick. Some of the birds that can be seen at Lake Mburo include the Burchell’s zebra (found only in Lake Mburo National Park) and others such as the Rufous-bellied Heron, African finfoot, papyrus yellow warbler, Abyssinian ground hornbill, white-winged warbler, Carruthers’s cisticola, saddle-billed stork, brown-chested lapwing, African scops owl, hairy-breasted barbet, blue-breasted kingfisher, and yellow-rumped tinkerbird, among others.
- Boat Safaris: The boat safaris at Lake Mburo National Park are mainly conducted on Lake Mburo. You will explore the lake’s flora and fauna, with many wild animals streaming to the lake shores to quench their thirst, especially in the afternoon. There are also a lot of water birds to be seen, like the African fish eagle, malachite kingfishers, Rufous long-tailed starling, pied kingfishers, rare shoebill, barefaced go-away bird, Nubian woodpecker, emerald-spotted wood dove, green wood hoopoe, and white-winged tit, among others.
- Horseback Safaris: Lake Mburo National Park is the only national park in Uganda where tourists can view the game on a horseback safari. This interesting activity offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience as you intermingle with many zebras and antelopes in the wild. The cost for horseback safaris is charged according to the hours you spend riding, ranging from 1-3 hours.
- Walking Safaris: The whole of Lake Mburo National Park is open for walking safaris. You can walk to the salt lick where you will get greater views of wildlife coming to lick the salt. Early morning walks can be taken near the lake where you will see lots of hippos and hyenas returning from hunting. Tourists can also walk through the hillside and have views of endless savannah plains and all the park’s lakes.
- Community Tours: There are many places where you will encounter African traditional culture. The Igongo Cultural Center provides insight into the tribes of southwestern Uganda in its museum, while the Rwenjeru Campsite offers a cattle grazing and watering adventure. The Rwambaatra group performs local traditional dances, which you can join, and the Rubale fishing community offers fishing adventures plus lessons in local fish processing methods.
- Fishing Safaris: There are many lakes to fish from while in Lake Mburo National Park, but the most commonly fished lake is Mburo, which has six species of fish, with tilapia being the most common. Fishing requires a permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the activity should be done in the Mazinga designated area.
- Visit Rubanga Forest: Rubanga Forest in Lake Mburo National Park is one of the best places for birding. There are over 40 species of birds found in the forest, plus some unique plants and trees. There are also many primates like the black-and-white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and so much more.
- Biking Safaris: Another unique way of experiencing the wilderness in Lake Mburo National Park is by getting on a bike. This exposes you to a unique encounter with wildlife other than in a car. Tourists can rent bikes or bring their own, and the activity takes as long as you want with no limited time.
- Visit the Equator: While traveling to Lake Mburo National Park, tourists can stop at the equator. The equator is an imaginary line that separates the two halves of the world, so you can stand on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It’s also a great place to take photos, with many craft shops selling local African unique designs you can buy and take home as souvenirs.
Best Time to Visit
Lake Mburo National Park can be visited all year round, but the best time is during the drier seasons of June to September and December to February.
The dry season is when it’s very easy to spot wildlife, while November to April is the best time for bird enthusiasts as migratory birds are present during this time of the year.
Accommodation at Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo National Park has a variety of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, mid-range, and luxury options. Some of the lodges you can stay at include Mihingo Lodge, Rwonyo Rest Camp, Mantana Tented Camp, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge, Rwakobo Rock, Eagles Nest Lodge, and many others.
Lake Mburo National Park can easily be reached from Kampala within 4 hours by road. This can be through Lyantonde or via the Masaka-Mbarara road.
