Lake Mburo National Park is one of the top Uganda safari parks popular for walking safaris with a slogan “whispers of the wild”.
Lake Mburo Park is Uganda’s closest safari park from the capital – Kampala just 235km west of the capital. Being one of the destinations popular for short tours in Uganda and part of the long trips in Uganda, here is the most relevant information on location, distance, history, tours, attractions, activities best time and accommodations at Lake Mburo National Park.
Lake Mburo Park situated in Kiruhura district of western Uganda is located conveniently close to the highway from Kampala that connects to several other parks in the western region. Covered by much woodland, Lake Mburo Park is underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks. Lake Mburo Park is just 235km from Kampala – Uganda’s capital and the popular start point for safaris in Uganda.
The now Lake Mburo National Park was initially upgraded as a game reserve in 1963 after being gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting area. In 1983, the area was then upgraded to a national park status though was not successful since the residents re-occupied the park after the fall of the second Obote regime in 198, an act that led to killing of wildlife. By 1985, less than half of the parks original land was re-gazetted by the government in 1986. This is probably why the park is the country’s smallest Uganda wildlife safari park 260square kilometers.
The myth of how Lake Mburo was formed is said by the locals to have been a fateful incident that happened to a man known as Mburo. Mburo had been warned by his brother Kigarama of how he had a dream of the valley in which they lived in flooding but Mburo refused to move. His brother shifted to live in the hills and Mburo was taken by floods that left behind a lake. The lake was then named after him.
The dry season from June – August and December – February form the best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park. However, the park is open year round with wildlife viewing possible almost at all times. One can opt for a visit to Lake Mburo National Park with less interruptions however, the disadvantage with this time (March-May and September-November) is that the vegetation is lush, photography is not clear and wildlife doesn’t often collect in the water holes to quench their thirst.
| Months | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Poor | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Poor | Good |
From Entebbe International Airport (the national Airport of the country), Lake Mburo National Park is about 260km with a 5-6 hours road drive.
Lake Mburo National Park is about 235km on the fastest route on about 5 hours drive. This is via Mbarara – Masaka Rd and Masaka Rd. From
Mbarara – the closest city to the park, Lake Mburo National Park is 68km on a road drive of about 2 hours.
There are two roads that lead to the two gates of Lake Mburo National Park. One road leads to Nshara gate which is 13km from Lyantonde and the other leads to Sanga gate which is 27km after Lyantonde, both junctions with clear signposts.
Wildlife in Lake Mburo Park
With the parks varied habitat, Lake Mburo Park is home to a variety of wildlife species and these include the Burchell’s Zebra, Warthog, Common eland, African buffalo, Jackal, African Leopard, Oribi, Defassa waterbuck, reedbuck, hyena, duikers, hippopotami and crocodile. In Uganda, the Impala can only be seen in Lake Mburo Park.
Birds in Lake Mburo Park
About 350 bird species have been recorded existent within the boundaries of Lake Mburo Park. Birds that can be sighted here include the shoebill stork, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Saddle-billed Stork, Brown-chested Lapwing, African-wattled Lapwing, Tabora Cisticola, Carruther’s Cisticola, African Scops Owl, White-winged Warbler, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird and many others.
The Red-faced Barbet can only be seen in Lake Mburo Park in Uganda.
Game drives in Lake Mburo Park
The top wildlife safari activity in the park is the game drive where travelers are driven through the park in a 4×4 safari vehicle. A safari ranger will always be helpful on spotting wildlife. Game drives can be done either in the morning or in the evening depending on the preferred time or choice of activity done in the morning. A game drive is the best way of getting close to wildlife like the Burchell’s Zebra, Warthog, Common eland, African buffalo, Jackal, African Leopard, Oribi, Defassa waterbuck, reedbuck, hyena, duikers and many more.
Birding in Lake Mburo Park
Just like many Uganda safari parks, Lake Mburo Park is a great Uganda birding tour destination. Birding in Lake Mburo Park offers birders the chance to see bird species like the Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Saddle-billed Stork, Brown-chested Lapwing, African-wattled Lapwing, Tabora Cisticola, Carruther’s Cisticola, African Scops Owl, White-winged Warbler, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. The key birding spots include the swampy valleys, viewing platforms near the salt lick and the forest.
Boat cruise in Lake Mburo Park
Lake Mburo National Park is actually the only safari park in Uganda with a lake and definitely a boat cruise/launch trip is one of the top activities in Lake Mburo Park. A boat cruise lasts about a 2 hours voyage on the eastern wildlife rich banks of Lake Mburo. Boat cruises depart after every 2 hours depending on demand starting at 8:00am. On a boat cruise, you have the chance to see species like crocodiles, buffaloes and hippopotami. Bird species like Fish Eagles and Kingfishers can also be sighted.
Walking safaris in Lake Mburo Park
Dubbed the whispers of the wild, Lake Mburo Park is a great destination in Uganda for a walking safari. Unlike other national parks in Uganda, at Lake Mburo Park a tourist can walk within the park and get close to wildlife since there no carnivores in the park. The whole park is open for walking safaris as long as you are accompanied by a park game ranger. The best spots for walking safaris in Lake Mburo Park include the salt lick at Rwonyo, the lake’s banks, Rubanga Forest and a hilltop with gorgeous lake views.
Horseback riding in Lake Mburo Park
In Uganda, there’s no other place to undertake a horseback safari in the park than at Lake Mburo Park. Horseback riding is an awesome way of seeing wildlife without the noise of an engine something that gives more possibilities of seeing the more timid animals. Wild animals that can be seen on a horse ride include the impala, topi, duiker, bushbuck, waterbuck, zebra, elands and buffaloes. Watching wildlife on a horse is very peaceful and a great way to relax on a tour in Uganda with shy wild species like the eland seen at a close distance.
Sport fishing in Lake Mburo National Park
Sport fishing in Lake Mburo Park is one of the activities in Lake Mburo that tourists can choose from. The common fish species in the lake is tilapia. Sport fishing in Lake Mburo Park is especially done at Mazinga spot and anglers are advised not to cross the fishing boundaries. Interested anglers are advised to carry their own fishing gear or else, you can contact Wild Jungle Trails Safaris for gear renting and fishing permit bookings.
Quad biking in Lake Mburo National Park
Quad biking safaris in Lake Mburo Park are operated by African ATV safaris taking small groups of a maximum of 5 people twice a day. Quad biking safaris expose tourists to a beautiful area of varied landscapes with several wildlife species. Some of the wildlife and bird species seen include herds of zebras, waterbucks, topi, families of warthogs, egrets, pairs of crested cranes, black-backed vultures and many more.
Cycling safaris at Lake Mburo National Park
The other fun way of getting close to wildlife and seeing animals of Lake Mburo National Park is by choosing to cycle or biking through the park. This is only possible at Lake Mburo Park in all of the Uganda wildlife safari parks. There guided bike rides in the park and wildlife like the antelopes, zebras, buffaloes and many more species.
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Being the closest savannah park from Uganda’s capital, Lake Mburo Park is favorable for both short and long Uganda safaris tours and therefore has accommodation facilities for all kinds of travelers. Accommodation in Lake Mburo Park ranges from budget, mid-range to luxury and here are the top picks for each of them;
Mihingo Lodge is a luxury accommodation facility just adjacent to Lake Mburo Park. The Lodge has spectacular views over a vast savannah landscape designed to blend in its fragile environment. The environmentally friendly lodge offers comfort, relaxation and the feeling of being at one with nature. Mihingo Lodge is a start point for many of the safari activities in the park and the only lodge that offers both daytime and overnight horseback riding safaris into the park.
Rwakobo rock is an eco friendly hotel and restaurant nestled on a scenic outcrop at the edge of Lake Mburo Park. Rwakobo Rock is a peaceful and secluded retreat where you can breathe in the essence of the wild jungle of Uganda. The lodge has 8 comfortable and spacious cottages dotted around the hill, all very private and offering great sunset views. Rwakobo offers a variety of nature walks to the park as well as mountain biking.
Located on a high hill bordering Lake Mburo Park, this tented camp has not only one of the best views in Uganda; it is also the ultimate African canvas experience. Every safari tent has its own veranda, overlooking the park. The bathrooms are real bush-experiences: we fill the shower upon your request and the toilet is a new eco-friendly invention. For dinner the hotel prepares a woodfire and uses the big African potjies.
