Lake Mburo National Park, Attractions, Hotels, Photos + Best Tours:
Lake Mburo National Park is one of Uganda’s smallest parks and is undoubtedly the best place to find abundant Burchell’s zebras, giraffes, impalas, eland populations and several of other antelope families.
The park’s diverse species survive in the varying habitats making it one of the most preferred wildlife/game viewing destinations in Uganda.
Location, size of Lake Mburo Park.
Lying in Nyabushozi County, Kiruhura District in Western Uganda. It is the most accessible park from the heart of Kampala or Entebbe city. From Mbarara city, Lake Mburo National Park is 30km. It is the smallest park with the landscape area coverage of about 260sq.km.
Lake Mburo National Park features a distinct landscape which comprises of acacia woodlands, papyrus swamps, open and wooded savanna grass, rocky outcrops, dry hills, and Lakes. The diverse habitats in Lake Mburo Park provide refuge to a range of wildlife and birds.
Brief history
In 1933, Lake Mburo was gazetted as a controlled hunting area. In 1963, it was upgraded from a controlled hunting area to a game reserve and officially declared as a National Park in 1983. Today, Lake Mburo wildlife park happens to be among the 10 Parks that are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Diverse Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park:
Wildlife Species.
Within Lake Mburo National Park, there exist diverse wildlife and plant life. A total of 63 mammal species live in this park. Wildlife in Lake Mburo Park include hyenas, waterbucks, leopards, elands, zebras, hippos, buffaloes, oribis, reedbucks, elands, bushbucks, klipspringer, topis, Uganda kobs, Rothschild giraffes, and crocodiles.
Lake Mburo Park has network of 13 Lakes including Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo makes up a section of 50km extensive wetland system connected by a swamp. 5 of the lakes are found within the borders of the lake.
Bird Species.
Over 350 species of birds exist in Lake Mburo National Park and they survive in various habitats characterized by woodland, acacia savannas, swamps, lakes, and grasslands.
The birds to be identified in the park include papyrus gonoleks, white-winged warblers, black-bellied bustard, red faced and black collared barbets, brown-chested plovers, African finfoot, brown parrot, shoebill storks, yellow-billed ox-peckers, grey-crowned cranes, pied kingfishers, African fish eagles, African wattled lapwing, white headed barbets, eastern plantain eaters, white bellied go-away birds, tropical boubou, red-chested sunbirds, pin-tailed whydahs, malachite kingfishers, blue breasted kingfishers, saddle billed storks, pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed storks, African darters, great cormorants, black-breasted snake eagle, long-crested eagle, African openbilll, goliath herons, Southern ground hornbill, African sacred ibis, speckled mouse bird, black-headed gonoleks, blue headed coucal, black cuckoos,
Other birds included the African gray hornbill, crowned lapwing, African emerald cuckoos, green wood-hoopoe, spur-winged lapwing, rufous bellied herons, Diederik cuckoo, white-winged tit, long toed lapwing, purple heron, red shouldered cuckoos, Senegal lapwing, booted eagle, banded snake eagle, tawny eagle, bateleurs, lesser spotted eagle, lizard buzzard, white headed vultures, lappet faced vultures, palm nut vultures, bat hawks, black kite, Narina trogon, crested francolins, red necked francolins, common quails, green headed sunbird, giant kingfishers and more.
Activities to do in and around Lake Mburo National Park:
Top activities/things to do in and around Lake Mburo National Park include guided game drives (both day and night game drives), launch or boat cruise, horseback riding, birding, cultural experiences, guided nature walks, and quad biking.
Game Drives.
Lake Mburo National Park is one of the best places in Uganda where tourists can experience the most of a guided game drive. A guided game drive in this park involves exploring key enriching game tracks and the notable tracks include Kazuma track, zebra track, Lakeside track, Kigambira loop trail and others.
In your 4×4 safari car and an experienced guide, expect to explore different wildlife in each of the game tracks.
A normal game drive through Lake Mburo Game Park’s game tracks takes about 2-3 hours. Some of the wildlife to expect to encounter on a guided game drive in this park include giraffes, zebras, hyenas, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, impalas, bushbucks, topis, warthogs, elands, leopards, to mention but a few.
About three (3) game drive sessions can be enjoyed in Lake Mburo and include the morning, afternoon and evening/night game drive sessions.
Launch Cruise.
The best way to explore Lake Mburo National Park’s diverse aquatic life is by embarking on a boat or launch cruise excursion on Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo is home to variety of aquatic species including crocodiles, hippos, water birds, and many others.
Along the lake shores, there is a chance to see some antelopes and buffaloes as they freely roam around.
Guided Nature Walks.
Nature walks in Lake Mburo Park are best done with the lead of an experienced park ranger guide. The beauty about nature walks in this park is that you get to explore different wildlife and habitats hard to be reached by car.
The most preferred place to visit for a guided nature walk is Rubanga Forest, also a significant birding spot.
Horseback Riding.
Horseback riding is one of the most exciting things that allow you to have complete immersion into Lake Mburo National Park’s wilderness. You get to enjoy clear view of wildlife like giraffes, elands, zebras and others while on a horseback.
Biking/Cycling.
Lake Mburo Safari Park is one of the favorite places where cycling is done. Cycling experience in this park involves exploring the lush hills via the enriching game tracks as you enjoy sights of diverse wildlife and breathtaking sceneries.
Fishing Safaris.
Sport fishing safaris are conducted on this lake and should have their own fishing equipment and fish at only the designated point at Mazinga. At the campsite, a restaurant is available to ensure maximum relaxation for visitors while at the lake enjoying their fishing.
Cultural Experience.
Adjacent to the Lake Mburo Park, there exist some communities largely comprising of cattle keepers, especially Bahima and Banyankole. A guided cultural tour in their communities involves exploring different ways of their life, traditions, cultures and practices.
The key highlight of all is the milking process –a remarkable hands-on experience you shouldn’t miss.
When to visit Lake Mburo National Park?
The long and short dry months are the most favorite months of the year to visit Lake Mburo National Park for a holiday. These occur from June to August, December to February.
The park is also open for you to explore even during the wet months of the year (March, April, May, & September, October to November).
Where to Stay at Lake Mburo?
In and around Lake Mburo Game Park, you will find varied accommodation options ranging budget to luxury. Some of the best accommodation options to consider for a night stay on Uganda safaris in Lake Mburo Park include Mihingo Safari Lodge, Rwakobo Rock, Leopard Rest Camp, Kigambira Safari Lodge, Mburo Eagles Nest and more.
Getting to Lake Mburo National Park;
Getting to Lake Mburo Safari Park is easier by road or air. From Kampala to Lake Mburo Park, you can spend about 4-5 hours and the park very accessible along Masaka-Mbarara route.
Due to its strategic location, you can even have a stopover at the Equator crossing for photography or perform a water experiment to determine the 2 hemispheres –The Northern and Southern hemispheres.
By air, visitors can also connect to Lake Mburo National Park by air and this involves flying from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Mbarara airstrip. From Mbarara airstrip, your driver guide can connect you up to the park which is about an hour drive.
Best Uganda Safaris to Lake Mburo National Park:
4 Days Lake Mburo Wildlife Safari – Uganda Wildlife Safaris You will participate in game drive, birdwatching, guided nature walk and boat trip. Lake Mburo national Park is about 3-5 hours from Uganda’s capita city Kampala… Tour Details
14 Days Uganda Safari Tour will allow you to track the gorillas in Bwindi, wildlife viewing, chimp trekking and nature walks. It’s an unforgettable experience in the pearl of Africa full of natural wonders. You will get a chance of visiting… Tour Details
21 Days Uganda Safari takes you to the best tourism destinations in Uganda for exciting activities like gorilla/chimp trekking, birding & wildlife viewing. 21 Days Uganda Safari tour takes you to most of the country’s national parks… Tour Details