Lake Mburo National Park

LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK-Whispers of the wild

The scenic gem dominated by lakes and 20% of wetland surface is surrounded and restricted to the green hills of Nyabushozi county, Kiruhura district near Mbarara city. The 260km2 park is Uganda’s smallest savanna park.

Despite the ease of to access the park (just 253km from Kampala and a few Kilometers off the Mbarara-Masaka Highway), many travelers have bypassed it because it is low on the count of the mammals that bring them down to Africa- the Big 5. The park has no elephants, it’s rare to see a lion and leopard though they have been sighted at the park of recent the park has gained popularity and visitation from travelers who break on transfer to Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth National parks or to Kampala.

Lake Mburo may be low on the heavyweights but it has excellent and not easily seen species in the country. It hosts the only population of impalas in the country, it is one of the two parks with Zebras in Uganda other wildlife species here include the Eland, defassa waterbuck, hippos, buffaloes, common duiker, mongooses, reedbucks, topi, oribi, and hyenas. The park is rich with acacia and water birds counting up to 350 bird species that include the African Finfoot. In 2015, giraffes were introduced to the park from Murchison Falls National park as a way to control the acacia that was taking over the park.

Unusually, the park can be experienced on horseback, foot, or a mountain bike for active travelers and still the traditional ways of driving and watching the game on vehicles and a boat safari on the lake. 

Activities

Guided walks

It’s magical to experience the wilderness on foot and it allows noticing even the smaller details overlooked while on a drive. Armed Guides lead visitors to anywhere in the park from the visitors center, walk along the swamps bordering the lake, to the salt lick where animals visit to lick the salty soils. Listen to ancient stories and the history of the park as told by your guide as you do your walk.

Game drives

Hit the trails in an open roof vehicle with professional ranger guides either early mornings or later in the late evenings for a night game drive. Spot zebras, buffaloes, elands, impalas, waterbucks, and at night lookout for the nocturnals like buffaloes, bush babies, and if lucky the leopard can be revealed by Mother Nature.  

Cycling

Adventurous, more outdoor or do you like to stay fit? You can explore the wilderness in Lake Mburo and the sandy tracks of the park on a mountain bike. Ride with guides on the large road to the narrow animal-created paths and at your own pace.

Horseback safaris

No noise of the engine but the stamping of the horse. What an awesome way to see wildlife. Get so close to even the timidest and shy animals like the Eland in the wild and have a chance of having the Zebras come so close in wonder why their relative is a bit taller and has stripes. It is safe and horse guides are always around to ride with you. 

Whether experienced or not you can engage in the activity.

Boat cruises

Encounter the park’s aquatic life like crocodiles, hippos, water birds, and relaxed cruises on the lake. The 2-hour cruise is a popular way of experiencing the park’s diversity. Get to see otters, birds like the African fish eagle, African Finfoot, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied kingfisher among others. 

Birding

350 bird species are recorded at the park and the park’s water, savanna, and forest ecosystems offer a variety of species. The Warukiri and Miiriti valleys, Rubanga forest, the stretch from Rwonyo camp to the jetty are famous for birding, and a walk or drive to the salt lick is always productive for birders. Species here include the famous African Finfoot, Brown parrot, Red-headed love birds, Nubian Woodpecker, Long-tailed Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Red-faced Barbet among others. 

Sport fishing

Tilapia is the most common of the 6 species of fish in Lake Mburo. A spot was designated at Mazinga for the sport. Visitors who intend to participate in the activity are advised to carry their fishing equipment and acquire permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

How to get to the park

Lake Mburo is the nearest park to Kampala lying between Masaka and Mbarara close to the main south-western transit route that links the capital to Bwindi Kabale and the Rwandan. The park is 254km (3½ hours) from Kampala. Two gates enter the park and these are Nshara Gate which is 13kms past Lyantonde town as you drive to the park and the junction at Sanga Gate is at Sanga trading center is 27km past Lyantonde. Both junctions are signposted.

It is about a 20-minute drive from either gate to the park offices at Rwonyo.