Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is located in Kiruhura District in the Western Region of Uganda, about 30 km (19 mi) east of Mbarara and about 240 km (150 mi) by road west of Kampala. It sits on an area covering 260 sq km hence making it the smallest Savannah Park in Uganda. The Lake Mburo is the center of activities in the park but there are 11 other lakes around the area. There is a local Ankole myth and legend about two brothers Kigarama and Mburo once lived in a big valley around the park. Kigarama had a revelation in a dream that warned of a danger that would befall them if they continued staying in the valley. He shared his dream with Mburo who didn’t believe him. Kigarama moved to safety on the hills away from the valley. One day the valley got flooded with water that eventually drowned Mburo. The lake was named Mburo and the nearby hills Kigarama.
Lake Mburo National Park may be Uganda’s smallest savanna park, but it is rich in biodiversity, scenic beauty, and cultural significance. Conveniently located near the highway linking Kampala to western Uganda, the park offers an accessible yet immersive safari experience.
Despite its size, wetlands cover 20% of the park’s surface, forming part of a 50km-long wetland system connected by swamps and five lakes within the park’s borders. These diverse ecosystems support an incredible variety of wildlife, birds, and aquatic species, making Lake Mburo a must-visit destination for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
Lake Mburo was originally gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting area and upgraded to a game reserve in 1963 and to a national park status in 1983.
Although the park is small in size compared to the others, it has stunning landscape that consists of flat grasslands, rolling hills, forests, bush thickets, rocky outcrops, Lakes and swamps. The elimination of elephants in the park has led to the growth of vast woodlands in the park. Lake Mburo has some wildlife species rarely found in other parks of Uganda. Some of the species include the Eland, Klipspringer, Impala, Zebra (5,000 in number) and giant bush rats. Lake Mburo national park is the best place to spot Leopards in Uganda because of their high numbers per square kilometer.
How to get to lake mburo national park
Lake Mburo National Park provides a convenient stopover when traveling between Entebbe and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It’s located approximately 230 km (143 miles) from both Entebbe and Kampala, with the drive taking about 3.5 – 4 hours. From Bwindi, the distance is approximately 225 km (140 miles).
The park is easily accessible via two dirt roads branching off the main Mbarara-Masaka highway:
- Sanga Gate (Northern Access): Located 37km east of Mbarara, this is the most convenient route if you’re traveling from western Uganda.
- Northeastern Access: Branching off 50km before Mbarara (about 20km past Lyantonde town), this access point is ideal when coming from Kampala. The drive from Kampala to Lake Mburo typically takes four to five hours.
Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park
Besides lions the park has got animals like buffalo, eland, hippos, impala, jackals, leopards, oribi, reedbuck, topi, warthog, waterbucks, zebras and the recently reintroduced giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park. One is required to pay an entrance fee to enter the park. 20% of the fee is channelled to funding nearby community projects (clinics, schools and buildings
Activities to do in lake mburo national park
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- Birdwatching; Lake Mburo is one of the best places for birding in Uganda. Birding in Lake Mburo is mainly done along the swamps of Warukiri and Miriti. Some of the species include the African grey hornbill, barefaced go-way bird, black-billed barbet, blue-napped mousebird, brown parrot, common quails, crested francolin, emerald spotted wood Dove, greenwood hoopoe, Lilac-breasted Roller, Nubian woodpecker, Red necked Spur, trilling cisticola, white-winged warbler and the Shoebill stork.
- Guided Nature Walks; Unlike in the other park in Uganda, nature walks can be taken in any part of the park under the arrangement and guidance of an armed guard from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. While on the nature walk you will get to see the various antelopes, Zebras, buffaloes and giraffes grazing. Watch out for the butterflies and birds too. During the morning walks, you might even encounter hyenas going to their dens after the nights hunt or hippos heading to the water after grazing on land.
- The Lakeside Track; Related to the nature walk is the walk through the established Lakeside Track in the southern part of Lake Mburo. This track allows visitors spot bush duiker and marvel at the dense woodland. The track leads up to the Kigarama summit which allows for great views of Lake Mburo and the greater national park.
- Fishing; The numerous lakes and spots like Mazinga offer opportunities for fishing species like the Tilapia, Haplochromes, mud fish, lung fish and catfish. Mazinga fishing spot is located in a safe section of Lake Mburo with no crocodiles or hippos. Visitors can take part in sport fishing and arrange for someone to help fry the fish back in their lodge.
- Day and Night Game Drives; Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park allow you to spot most of the parks animal and birds that call the park home. The game drives are led by an armed ranger from the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA) who helps identify the different species of animal and birds. The “leopard rock” is a popular place to spot leopards during the night safari or early in the morning. Hyenas exist in the park but are not as many as in some of the other major game parks in Uganda. The night game drives take 2 hours and are perfect for spotting genet, leopards, bush pigs, mongooses and white-tailed mongooses.
- Boat Cruise; A boat cruise along the Lake Mburo will help unlock all that is beautiful about the park. This is more so during the dry season when most of the animals come for a drink. During the boat cruise visitors can spot zebras, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, otters and buffaloes. The commonest birds during the boat cruise include African Fish Eagles, Blue-headed Weavers, Cormorants, Green-necked Doves, Hammerkops, Herons, Malachite Kingfishers, Pelicans, Pied Kingfishers, Rufous Long-tailed Starlings and Shoebill Storks. The duration of the boat cruise is not fixed and is open to negotiation.
- Horseback Riding; Lake Mburo is one of the two parks in Uganda where visitors can go out to watch game from the back of a horse. Kabwoya wildlife reserve along Lake Albert is the other place where horse riding safaris can be done in Uganda. Horseback safaris allow visitors get very close to the animals. The horses appear familiar to the Zebras and even shy Eland. Though they still keep their distance, they do not run away like they do in the presence of safari cars.
- Walking Safaris; Visitors who arrive by public means can opt for a walking safari around places like the Kazuma Hill. A walking safari will enrich your experience in Uganda and offer something unique and different. The Kazuma Hil offers a perfect place to see the beautiful spots in the park ranging from the 14 Lakes, rolling hills and surrounding areas of the park.
- Quad Biking; Because there are few big cats,biking is one of the best ways to spot game in Lake Mburo National Park. The Quad bike rides take you in the middle of grazing zebra and surrounding areas to spot the local Banyankole tribe graze their long horned Ankole cattle. Quad Biking safaris are special because they take you nearer to nature. Visitors need to pack water and snack while on their Quad biking safari in case of hunger and exhaustion.
- Rubanga Forest Walk; The forest walk is usually arranged by the Uganda Wild Life Authority in advance and starts from Western shores of Lake Mburo. Rubanga forest is a great place for birding and over 42 species can be spotted during the forest walk. Some of the tree species to look out for while in Rubanga forest are Acacia, Fig Trees, Markhamia, Palm and Platycaluz among others. The bird species include the double-toothed barbet, green pigeon, Grey-backed cameroptera, harrier hawk, narina trogn and the much sought out Shoebill Stork.
- The Salt Lick; An armed ranger can lead you for the guided walk to the Salt lick where animals lick the salty soil found in the area. Observation points have been identified by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to allow visitors view all the different species of animals that come to lick the salt like zebras and antelopes. The activity usually starts in the morning and takes at most two hours.
Note: Although tourism activities are carried out throughout the year, the best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park is during the dry season. The roads in the park become muddy and difficult to pass through during the rainy season.
If you are interested in doing a trip to lake mburo national park, having any questions, making bookings, getting tour guides, and drafting lake mburo national park itinerary, do not hesitate to inquire from our company we shall be happy to help.
Accommodation in Lake Mburo National Park
Mantana tented camp
This luxury camp has been in the park for many years offering consistent and reliable services that keep clients coming. There are 9 tents that are built on wooden platforms with wonderful views of the game park. The camp use solar and rooms are furnished with showers. It is possible to spot the lakes and wildlife as they roam about the park while dining or relaxing in the room verandahs.
The Arcadia Cottages
This mid-range lodge is part of the Arcadia group of lodges and is located close to the shores of Lake Mburo. The lodge offers a serene and peaceful environment that is perfect for relaxation. Because it is located very near Rwonyo (tourism center of the park), it is a good choice for those intending on going for game drives, boat cruises and nature walks.
Rwonyo Rest Camp
Rwonyo Rest camp is a budget lodge located in the park and is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The lodge is grass thatched and constructed with wood and other local materials. Visitors can see some of the wild animals that come near the camp while in the lodge.
Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
This is yet another great budget lodge that offers great value and privacy while allowing residents marvel at the African wilderness. This lodge is a favorite of many visitors because of the moderate prices for rooms. The lodge offers both family and honeymoon grass thatched cottages.
Eagle’s Nest Lodge
This budget lodge is built on a hill near Lake Mburo Park. The hill gives you an excellent view of most of the park. You can hear bush sounds, roaring lions, crickets and other night animals while having dinner. The lodge has 12 tents with thatched roof and stone floors.
Mihingo Lodge
Mihingo lodge is a luxury lodge that was built in 2007 by a group of Germans. The 10 tented rooms are built with local materials and stand on wooden platforms that are covered with neat grass. The rooms are furnished with private bathrooms, hot showers and a verandah. There is also a swimming pool and tennis court.
Rwakobo Rock
The Rwakobo Rock is a mid-range family hotel built at the edge of the park. The hotel is Eco-friendly with 9 cottages that are suitable for private retreats while offering great views of the mountains and animals (bushbucks, warthogs, impala and zebras) assembling to drink at the water hole. The cottages have solar heated showers, solar lights, WiFi and charging facilities.