Lake Mburo National Park is a gem of a park, conveniently located close to the western highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. Lake Mburo is one of the smaller national parks in Uganda just 370sqkm but it should not be bypassed because of its size! Make sure to include Lake Mburo in your safari to Uganda. This park has abundant game, great birding, and it is the only park that allows for game viewing by foot, horseback or quad bike. Furthermore, Lake Mburo is home to a population of impala, the antelope after which Kampala is named.
Beautiful and tranquil Lake Mburo National Park is situated in rolling hills and open grassy valleys. This lovely landscape is complemented by Lake Mburo and four smaller lakes, beautiful and tranquil surroundings where you’ll see Impala, Eland, Waterbuck, Klipspringer, Rare topi, Zebra and Buffalo. Also look our for starling, Bee eaters, Crowned crane and even more exotic birds like Blue-napped coucal, Bare-faced go away bird, Nubian woodpecker and Swamp flycatcher and even the rare Shoebill stork. The park’s lake supports Crocodiles and Hippos, which can be seen grazing on cool mornings and the surrounding papyrus swamps hide the beautiful Sitatunga, a special Antelope with narrow elongated hooves, which allow them to move freely on marshy land.
Getting there:
Lake Mburo National Park lies between the towns of Masaka and Mbarara in western Uganda, 228km from Kampala about 3½ hrs drive. Approaching from Kampala, the turning to Nshara gate is 13kms past Lyantonde. The junction for Sanga gate is at Sanga trading centre, 27kms past Lyantonde. Both junctions are clearly signposted. It is about 20 minutes drive from either gate to Rwonyo.
See:
A variety of vegetative habitats surround the open water lake Mburo. The Lake’s western side is dominated by a grassy escarpment rising above a shoreline fringed with acacia forest and the closed canopy Rubanga forest. To the north and east, grassy valley floors, made seasonally lush and soggy by rain, drain between undulating hills. These seep through expanses of wetland into the lake. Rock kopjes are found along the eastern margins of the park.
These varied habitats support an impressive variety of wildlife including 68 mammal species. Lake Mburo is the only park in Uganda to contain impala and the only one in the rift region to host Burch ell’s zebra and eland. In Uganda, topi are only found in Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Commoner species include, Bushbubk, Common duiker, Oribi, Eland, Rock hyrax, Waterbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Bushpig, Buffalo, Warthog, Leopard, Civet, Hyena, Hippo, Crocodile, Vervet monkey, Olive baboon, Jackal, Mongoose and Otters. Although lions are not commonly seen in Lake Mburo, three adults and two cubs were spotted in the park in December 2008.
The park also has a very respectable birdlist with around 357 species including Shoebill, Papyrus yellow warbler, African finfoot, Saddle billed stork, Brown chested wattled plover, Carruther’s cisticola, Tabora cisticola, Great snipe, Abyssinian ground hornbill and White warbler. Acacia woodland bird species are well represented while forest species may be found in Rubanga forest.
Uganda Safari Activities:
- Nature Walk: It is possible to walk around the park on self-guided walks in the company of an armed ranger. It is particularly enjoyable to explore the Rubanga Forest area, off the Rwizi Track.
- Game Drive: Enjoy game viewing by driving through the park in your safari vehicle. Your guide will take you around the park according to the best routes for spotting game, depending on the season.
- Lake Cruise: A boat trip on Lake Mburo provides beautiful scenery as well as guaranteed hippo sightings and crocodiles. A cruise on the lake also provides birders with the opportunity to view the African fish eagle, marabou stork, pied kingfisher, herons, and various egrets.
- Quad Biking: Enjoy riding through the park without the confines of a vehicle! Exploring the park by quad is an exciting way to spice up your safari. There is a maximum of five people for this activity.
- Horseback Safaris: Exploring Lake Mburo by horseback is an exceptional experience because of the lack of engine noise. You will experience game viewing close-up as animals graze, unperturbed by your visit. No horse ride experience necessary.
Trail Accommodation for your Uganda Safari:
Luxury Safari:
The Mihingo Lodge, is one of the most beautiful lodges in any safari park in Uganda. Attention to detail makes this lodge especially delightful to stay in, and the views from the unit’s verandas will leave you breathless.
Another excellent option for staying in a luxurious lodge is opting for the Kimbla-Mantana Tented Camp. This classic tented camp is located just outside of the park overlooking a granite kopje and a scenic valley where you may view impala and buffalo roaming peacefully.
Mid-Range Safari:
The Sky Blue Motel provides adequate accommodation for travelers looking to stay in comfortable rooms near Lake Mburo’s Nshara Gate (only 30-40 mins drive away)
Budget Safari:
The Rwonyo Rest Camp overlook the lakeside, and they sit about 1 km from the nearby open-air restaurant. Showers are communal, and it is possible for guests to cook for themselves if they bring their own equipment.
If you prefer camping, opt to pitch a tent at the Lake Mburo Campsite, 1 km away from Rwonyo. Hippos are frequent visitors to the campsite. You can either cook your own food or go to the restaurant located on the premises.