Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in Uganda and attracts a range of nature lovers including birders, wildlife enthusiasts, or even those in search of once-in-a-lifetime African safari experiences. The wilderness adventure in Lake Mburo Park awaits you. Lake Mburo Game Park is a compact savanna park and is the most accessible from the heart of Kampala city.

Location, size, & elevation.

Lake Mburo National Park is situated in Nyabushozi Country, Kiruhura District in Western Uganda. It was officially gazetted as a National Park in 1983 after being a Game Reserve since 1963. Originally, this protected area was gazetted as a Controlled Hunting Area in 1933. Currently, Lake Mburo National Park is covering a land area of 370 sq. km and at an altitude of 1220 to 1828 meters. Lake Mburo Game Park is compact but contains hidden treasures of every nature lover’s interest. The park is home to a diversity of natural wonders and its landscape is characterized by lakes, savanna grassland, and more.

Lake Mburo National Park is best described as “Whispers of the Wild” for a good reason. Its landscape features unique trees and grasses that bring peace to the city-worn souls on Uganda safaris. In addition to the golden savannas, Lake Mburo National Park features a network of scenic Lakes and 50 sq. km wetland system; seasonal and permanent swamps, thickets, rocky outcrops, hills, and shrublands. Out of about 13 lakes that exist in Lake Mburo National Park’s geographical area, 5 of them are found within the borders of the park.

Wildlife in Lake Mburo Game Park

A huge profusion of wildlife calls Lake Mburo National Park their home. More than 68 species of mammals are concentrated in this park. These share the same habitats with other species such as reptiles, carnivores, herbivores, and primates. The check-list of wildlife to expect to encounter on the Uganda tour in Lake Mburo National Park includes impalas, zebras, buffaloes, elands, Defassa waterbucks, topis, spotted hyenas, oribis, Bohor reedbucks, leopards, and warthogs. The other wildlife to encounter on a game viewing tour in Lake Mburo National Park include hippos, crocodiles, bush pigs, side-striped jackals, mongoose, common duikers, Klipspringers, Sitatunga, and more.

Birds

Over 315 species of birds live in Lake Mburo National Park’s diverse habitat including the acacia and water species. Top bird species of interest on birding tours in Lake Mburo include the African fin foot, elusive shoebill storks, African paradise flycatchers, the green-winged pytilia, African harrier hawks, papyrus yellow warblers, black-headed gonoleks, rufous-bellied herons, African fish eagle, gray crowned crane, African wattled lapwing, martial eagle, double-toothed barbet, lilac-breasted rollers, Great blue turacos, western tinker birds, white-headed barbet, white-throated bee-eaters, blue-cheeked bee-eaters, European bee-eaters, cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, and spur-winged lapwing.

Other birds to identify on the Lake Mburo bird-watching tour include the African pied hornbills, Brown-chested lapwing, long-toed lapwing, white-winged tit, green wood-hoopoe, Senegal thick-knee, bat hawks, bateleur, African pygmy kingfishers, African wood-owl, Palm-nut vultures, Southern red bishop, Giant kingfishers, Pennant-winged nightjars, African crakes, laughing dove, Namaqua dove, and more.

Things to Enjoy in and around Lake Mburo National Park.

There are multiple exciting safari activities to expect to enjoy in and around Lake Mburo National Park. They include guided game drives, walking tours, horseback riding, cultural/community tours, and more.

Game drives

Guided game drives are top on the list of thrilling safari activities to do in Lake Mburo National Park. Embarking on a guided game drive in Lake Mburo Game Park involves exploring the park’s endowed game tracks in a 4×4 safari vehicle with an expert. The enriching game tracks to explore in this protected area include the Kigambira loop, zebra track, and Kazuma game track.

Diverse wildlife species should be expected to be encountered on a game drive in Lake Mburo Park including the bushbucks, waterbucks, Bohor reedbucks, zebras, buffaloes, oribis, Kobs, giraffes, leopards, and topis. Other wildlife to expect to find on a game drive include bush pigs, spotted hyenas, mongoose, elands, and more. A normal game drive through the game tracks of Lake Mburo National Park takes about 2-3 hours. Visitors can go for the memorable morning game drive or afternoon session.

Birding / bird-watching

Birding tours in Lake Mburo National Park are a perfect option for all bird enthusiasts to embark on a journey to explore the diverse birds in this protected area. Over 315 species of birds survive in this park and the ideal spots for you to explore include the Rubanga Forest, Warukiri, and Miriti Swampy Valleys. Bird watching in Lake Mburo National Park can be experienced on a normal game drive, boat, or launch cruise.

Some of the birds to find on a birding tour in Lake Mburo National Park Uganda include the blue-breasted kingfishers, saddle-billed storks, elusive shoebill storks, brown chested lapwings, Nubian woodpeckers, blue-headed coucal, African fish eagle, red-faced barbets, grey crowned cranes, white-winged tit, ross’s turacos, African fin foots, and hairy breasted barbet.

Nature walks

Lake Mburo National Park is also an ideal place for nature enthusiasts to experience the best of guided nature walks. The beauty of a guided nature walk in Lake Mburo is that visitors get a chance to explore the wonders of this protected area on foot with the presence of an experienced guide.

There are different trails to enjoy a guided nature walk including Kazuma Hill, trails to the salt lick, and Rubanga forest trails. As you embark on a guided nature walk, expect to enjoy a close interaction with some of the interesting wildlife including warthogs, zebras, giraffes, butterflies, waterbucks, and others.

Boat cruise

A launch cruise or boat excursion offers visitors a chance to explore the diversity of aquatic life in Lake Mburo Park. There are different phases or sessions of boat cruise to opt for including the morning and afternoon, each lasting for 2 to 3 hours. All Lake Mburo boat cruise excursions are done with the presence of an expert and expect to come across hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds.

Sport fishing

Sport fishing is a memorable watersport excursion that awaits you on a tour of Lake Mburo National Park. Anglers on sport fishing tours are required to have fishing permits which are available for booking at Uganda Wildlife Authority. Essential fishing gear is also needed, and expect to catch some of the different fish species including catfish, mudfish, lungfish, tiger, tilapia fish, and more.

Cycling

Lake Mburo Game Park is a special park in Uganda in the sense it is among the very few in Africa where visitors can experience the best of cycling. Cycling through Lake Mburo is a great chance to explore the different wildlife along the various tracks including swampy valleys, savanna grasslands, and forested hills. The likely species to encounter on a bike in Lake Mburo National Park include impalas, waterbucks, zebras, giraffes, and birds.

Horseback riding

Horseback riding excursions are incredible alternative options for nature lovers to explore Lake Mburo National Park. Visitors get to enjoy views of wildlife while on the horseback and the likely sights include waterbucks, bushbucks, zebras, duikers, topis, impalas, and birds.

The best time to travel to Lake Mburo National Park for a vacation

Lake Mburo National Park attracts visitors all year round to enjoy its hidden treasures. But the peak dry season is notably the best for visitors to enjoy most of the safari activities including game drives. This is around June, July, August, to September or you can travel from December, January, and February. It is around these peak dry months when there is minimal rainfall amount experienced in Lake Mburo National Park thus making them the best for wildlife tours.

Where to stay in and around Lake Mburo National Park?

Lake Mburo Game Park features budget, midrange, and luxury accommodation options thus catering for all kinds of visitors. Top places to book for overnight stay include Kigambira Safari Lodge, Hyena Hill Lodge, Mburo Eagles Nest, Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Mihingo Lodge, Lake Mburo Luxury Tented Camp, and more.

Getting to Lake Mburo National Park.

Lake Mburo National Park is found in Kiruhura, western Uganda, and is accessible by road or air. By road, it takes visitors only 4-5 hours to drive from the heart of Kampala to Lake Mburo Game Park. A 4×4 tourist car is the most preferred means for road trips to Lake Mburo National Park.

By air, visitors can take flights from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Mbarara Airstrip. From Mbarara Airstrip you can drive to the national park for about 1.5 hours.