Lake Mburo National Park is located in Kiruhura district conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to Mbarara. It is the smallest of Uganda’s Savannah National Parks. It is 370 square kilometers in size.
Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 50km-long wetland system linked by a swamp. The park is covered by open savannah and now contains much woodland, as there are no elephants to tame the vegetation.
The park is also known as a home of Zebras but also shelters many other animals like topi, impala, waterbuck, eland, baboon, monkey, warthog and giraffes, which were translocated from Murchison falls national park. It is also a home of 350 bird species.
Activities in Lake Mburo National Park
Launch trips in Lake Mburo National Park
The beautiful scenery of lake Mburo can be viewed during the boat cruise that takes two hours. Here one keeps an eye out for crocodiles, buffaloes and hippos as well as colorful kingfishers, fish eagles and Hammerkops.
Game drives
It is better to have a morning and evening game drive where you see wildlife and pass a variety of landscape features including acacia woodlands, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rock outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors.
Birding
The best birding spots in Lake Mburo National Park include the swampy valleys of Warukiri and Miriti, and the roadsides between Rwonyo camp and the jetty. Bird species observed include Brown-chested Lapwing, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Brown Parrot, Red-headed Lovebird, Ross’s Turaco, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Green Wood-hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, White-headed Barbet, Red-faced Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker to mention but a few.
Hiking and nature walk
Nature walk is best enjoyed with a ranger guide who helps you spot most of the animals. At Rwonyo, a guided walk leads to a salt lick where many animals are attracted to the salty rocks. Walks on the western side of the lake begin at 7am and take 2 hours. At this time you may encounter hyenas returning to their den and hippos treating to the lake. Through the woodland there is an opportunity to sight forest birds and mammals.
Horseback safaris
This activity is arranged at Mihingo Lodge and it takes 4 hours up to the hilltop viewpoints with an option of bush breakfast or sundowners. It is an exciting way to view wildlife including eland, buffalo, warthog, topi, impala, duiker, waterbuck and zebra.
Sport fishing
Lake Mburo contains around six species of fish, with tilapia being the most common. The designated fishing spot is at Mazinga; visitors planning to fish here should carry their own equipment and obtain a permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
