Lake Mburo National Park is one of the spectacular savanna parks and also a lake-dominated protected area in Uganda. Located in Western Uganda, Kiruhura District lies a splendid Lake Mburo National Park, home to countless impalas and other beautiful antelope families. It is Uganda’s smallest savanna park making it easier to explore on Uganda safaris even on short tours like 2 days or 4 days.
Lake Mburo NP was created in 1983 after being upgraded from a game reserve. It was originally established as a controlled hunting area in 1933 and became a reserve in 1963. This park lies in an area mostly occupied by the Banyankole pastoralists/Bahima.
Unlike other savanna parks like Murchison Falls National Park or Queen Elizabeth NP, Lake Mburo covers a compact area of 260sq.km. It takes its name from Lake Mburo and regardless of its size, there is so much to explore on a Uganda tour to Lake Mburo National Park. The park features a breathtaking landscape characterized by rolling hills, flat grasslands, rocky outcrops, bush thickets, forests, swamps and Lakes.
Wildlife/fauna species
Over 68 mammal species are all supported in the different habitats of Lake Mburo National Park. The park’s animal species include zebras, giraffes, topis, elands, zebras, bushbucks, leopards, jackals, hyenas, warthogs, impalas, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, and others.
Birds of Lake Mburo NP
Lake Mburo National Park is one of the numerous birding sites Uganda has got. The park supports over 350 bird species including terrestrial and aquatic species. They include the African fish eagle, brown chested wattled plover, papyrus yellow warblers, Abyssinian ground hornbill, African fin-foot, shoebill storks, saddle billed stork, Carruther’s cisticolas, coqui francolin, yellow breasted pitta, Long-tailed cisticolas, rufous bellied heron, bare-faced go away, king fisher, ross turacos, black bellied bustard, Nubian woodpecker, red-shouldered tit, crowned cranes, and more. The birding spots to explore in Lake Mburo include Lubanga Forest, Salt Licks Area, Swampy valleys around Miriti and others.
Activities to do on Lake Mburo NP tour
Birding
Birding opportunities in Lake Mburo National Park are many including Miriti and Warukiri swamps. The bird checklist to explore include the Nubian woodpecker, barefaced go-way bird, African grey hornbill, lilac-breasted roller, flappet larks, spotted wood dove, common quails, African-wattled plover, greenwood hoopoe, yellow-throated long claw, red-necked spur, shoebill stork, trilling cisticolas, brown parrot.
At Rwonyo camp, the expected birds to identify include the red-necked spur fowl, the Southern red bishop, black bellied bustard, temminck’s courser, flappet larks, coqui francolin, rufous chested swallow, and more. Lake Mburo NP also supports several of the pelican birds, heron birds, cormorants, jacanas, emerald –spotted wood doves, blue-headed coucal, papyrus gonoleks, papyrus yellow warblers, ruppell’s long-tailed starling, common scimitar bill, brown parrot etc.
Game drives
Lake Mburo N/Park offers excellent day and night game drives. The park is endowed with incredible wildlife of visitor interest on a guided game drive. The game drive in Lake Mburo NP takes 2-3 hours and animals to be spotted include impalas, elands, Defassa waterbucks, duikers, Bohor reedbucks, topis, oribis, giraffes, zebras, klipspringer, spotted hyenas, leopards and more. Nocturnal/night game drives offer a chance to tourists to encounter nocturnal species such as mongoose, bush pigs, genet, nightjar birds and leopards.
Nature walks
A nature walk is one of the memorable experiences Lake Mburo National Park has to offer the world travelers. With an experienced park guide, you will explore various wildlife and bird species. Areas of interest on Lake Mburo nature walk include Rubanga Forest, Salt lick and others. Rubanga Forest is a rich birding area, hosting more than 42 bird species; harrier hawk, double-toothed barbets, Narina trogon, green pigeon, and more. The salt lick offers excellent views of wildlife such as zebras and a variety of antelopes.
Sport fishing
Mazinga is where fishing expeditions are perfectly conducted in Lake Mburo National Park. Varieties of species of fish exist here including mud fish, tilapia, mud fish, making it an ideal location for sport fishing.
Launch/boat cruise
Launch cruise excursion is a great opportunity to unearth the park’s aquatic birds and animals. This is done on Lake Mburo, taking 2-3 hours and comes with remarkable sightings of hippos, crocodiles, antelopes and other wildlife. The birds to look out for during the 2-3 hours launch cruise include cormorants, blue-headed weavers, African fish eagles, pelicans, shoebill storks, hammerkops, green-necked doves, pied kingfishers, rufous long-tailed starlings, herons and more.
Horseback riding
Horseback riding is a unique experience that is enjoyable on Uganda tour in Lake Mburo National Park. You get a chance to see wild animals on a horseback rather than viewing them in a 4×4 safari vehicle. These include zebras, elands, topis, and birds.
Quad biking
Quad biking is another exceptional game viewing option available for you to explore Lake Mburo National Park’s diverse wildlife. You will immerse yourself into the heart of grazing spot of zebras and also other surrounding spots.
When to visit Lake Mburo National Park
The dry season offers excellent view of animals while on a game drive. It is easier driving through the park because of dry game tracks and this is from June, July, August to September; December, January to February. The wet season attracts migratory birds and it is also a breeding period for most resident birds. The rainy or wet season occurs twice a year; from March to May and October to November.
Lake Mburo NP accommodation options
Luxury lodging choices to consider for your overnight stay; Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo Lodge, and Kigambira Lodge. Moderate/standard lodges; Acadia Cottages, Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge, Hyena Hill Lodge, Mburo Eagle’s Nest & others. Basic lodges of Lake Mburo NP include Rwonyo Rest Camp and Lake Mburo Campsite. This is only your travel guide, hence contact the lodges directly for a price request.
Getting to Lake Mburo Park
Given Lake Mburo National Park’s proximity to Kampala city, it is easier driving to the park for wildlife tours. About 4 hours can be spent driving on the Kampala-Mbarara route and you access the park via Sanga gate or Nshara gate. Taking a flight, you set off at the Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Mbarara airfield.