Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is a Lake-dominated protected area lying in Western Uganda. This Park shelters the largest antelope population, especially impalas, topis, elands and other unique wildlife. It prides of its off-the-beaten-path adventures and amazingly, it is a hidden gem.

Lake Mburo NP lies in Kiruhura District, Western Uganda and it was gazetted as a National Park in 1983. In 1933, it was recognized as a Controlled Hunting Area and in 1963, it was designated as a Game Reserve. This Park is set in an area where most of the Banyakole pastoralists (Bahima) reside.

Lake Mburo N. Park covers a compact area of 260sq.km comprising of savanna grassland. Its compact size makes it easier to explore on Uganda wildlife safari. This scenic protected area consists of gentle grassland, rolling hills, rocky outcrops, forests, bush thickets and swamps.

Wildlife

Lake Mburo National Park supports variety of savanna wildlife and considering the nature of its habitats, it is easier spotting wild animals. This Park holds diversity of wildlife including Defassa waterbucks, zebras, elands, topis, leopards, bushbucks, jackals, impalas, Rothschild giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, warthogs, duikers, Bohor reedbucks, bush pigs, klipspringer, sitatungas, and more. Lake Mburo National Park alone holds up to 68 mammal species and other wildlife.

Birds

Lake Mburo NP holds over 350 species of birds and includes acacia-associated species of birds. The birds of Lake Mburo National Park include yellow breasted pittas, papyrus yellow warblers, brown chested wattled plovers, African fish eagle, coqui francolins, Abyssinian ground hornbill, shoebill stork, black-throated barbets, green-capped eremomela, bare-faced go-away bird, Ruppell’s long-tailed starlings, blue-headed coucal, white-winged, papyrus gonoleks, black-bellied bustards, rufous bellied heron, long-tailed cisticolas, kingfishers, Nubian woodpeckers, crowned cranes, Ross’s turacos, and red-shouldered tit. The best birding locations in and around Lake Mburo National Park include Swampy valleys, Salt Licks Area and Miriti, etc.

The tourism activities in Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda)

Wildlife/game drive

Lake Mburo N. Park is one of the top visited parks for game drives in Uganda. Day and night game drives are enjoyable in Lake Mburo NP. The Park provides amazing wildlife encounters and a normal game drive lasts for 2-3 hours. The likely animals to come across on Uganda safaris in Lake Mburo National Park include the Rothschild giraffes, duikers, oribis, zebras, spotted hyenas, klipspringers, Defassa waterbucks, elands, impalas, reedbucks, and others. Nocturnal animals to view during a night game drive include leopards, genets, bush pigs, mongoose, and nightjar bird species.

Bird watching

Birding tours in Lake Mburo N. Park provide a remarkable chance to birders to look out for the park’s diverse birds. There are aquatic and acacia bird species, including the trilling cisticolas, lilac-breasted rollers, Nubian woodpeckers, common quails, red-necked spur, bare-faced go-away bird, yellow-throated long claw, greenwood hoopoe, African-wattled plovers, flappet larks, and more.

Around Rwonyo Camp, the common bird species to expect to encounter include emerald-spotted wood doves, flappet larks, black-bellied bustard, Southern red bishops, red-necked spur fowl, papyrus yellow warblers, heron birds, Ruppell’s long-tailed starlings, blue-headed coucal, jacanas to mention but a few.

Sport fishing

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the best places worth visiting for unforgettable sport fishing tours. Fishing adventures on Lake Mburo National Park are enjoyable around Mazinga. Different fish species exist here for you catch including mud fish, tilapia and others.

Launch/boat cruise

Boat cruise is a remarkable water excursion that allows you to explore a variety of aquatic species in Lake Mburo National Park. This is excellently carried out on Lake Mburo and takes guests 2 to 3 hours with a chance to identify aquatic birds, hippos and crocodiles. Aquatic birds to encounter on day boat excursion on Lake Mburo National Park include green-necked doves, blue-headed weavers, pelicans, fish eagles, pelicans, herons, rufous long-tailed starlings, pied kingfishers and more.

Horseback riding tours

Horseback ride tours are perfectly done on a Uganda safari in Lake Mburo NP. It is one unique park in Africa where you can clearly view wildlife on horseback rather than using a 4×4 safari vehicle. This wildlife adventure is often done starting from Mihingo Lodge.

Quad biking

Quad biking is one of the most memorable activities/experiences awaiting you to enjoy on Uganda safari. This is done from Mantana Tented Camp introduced by All Terrain Adventures. This group also operates quad biking tours around Bujagali Falls Eastern Uganda.

Nature walks

There are many nature walking opportunities at Lake Mburo National Park. A nature walk in Lake Mburo N. Park is best done with assistance of an experienced guide and there is a chance to see diversity of birds, wildlife and flora. The main areas to visit for a remarkable nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park include Rubanga Forest where 42 bird species live including green pigeons, Narina trogon, double-toothed barbets, etc.

The best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP)

The most ideal time to consider visiting Lake Mburo National Park is during the dry season. There are 2 phases of dry season to take note when planning a Uganda tour to Lake Mburo NP –that is long & short. The long dry season/months –June, July, August to September & short dry months December, January to February. The wet/rainy months are off-months/season and it is a breeding period for most bird species. This is from March to May, October to November –ideal time for budget travelers.

Accommodation facilities to stay

The budget, moderate and luxury/up-market lodges exist in and around Lake Mburo National Park. They include Hyena Hill Lodge, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge, Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge, Mburo Eagle’s Nest; Rwonyo Rest Camp, Lake Mburo Campsite, Acadia Cottages, Kigambira Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp and Mihingo Lodge.

Getting to Lake Mburo N/Park –Uganda

There are many ways to reach Lake Mburo National Park –by road and air. By road, getting to Lake Mburo NP is possible within 4 hours’ drive along the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara route.

Or connect from Queen Elizabeth N/Park or drive from Bwindi National Park/Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Lake Mburo NP. By air, a fly in safaris are available setting off from Entebbe Airport (EBB) or Kajjansi airfield to Mbarara airstrip in Western Uganda.