Lake Mburo National Park
Whispers of the wild
A compact jewel of the park, Lake Mburo National Park is ideally placed for an overnight break between Kampala and the protected areas of western Uganda. A mosaic of abitats inclhudes rock outcrops, savanna, acacia woodland, bush, forest, swamp and lakes support a wealth of wildlife including species that are rare or absent from other parks in Uganda. Birding is also rich with papyrus and acacia species being particularly well represented. Visitors need not limit themselves to a game drive the park can be explored using mountain bikes, boas, horseback and on foot.
Though Mburo’s 370km2 is small compared to many east Africa parks, it contains an impressive diversity of wildlife with 69 mammal species and 332 bird species. A number of the park’s herbivores rarely, if at all found elsewhere in Uganda. Lake Mburo is the only park containing impala and the only one in western Uganda with elands and zebras. The species list was expanded when a number of Rothschild’s giraffe was relocated to Lake Mburo from Murchison Falls National Park. Leopards and hyenas are also present.
Activities/ Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo Boat trip
The eastern shores of Lake Mburo can be explored by boat, departing from a jetty at the lakeside campsite near Rwonyo Rest Camp. Watch out for crocodiles and Hippopotamus during the two hour voyage. You can also view a variety of birds including pelicans, herons and fish eagle and perhaps the rare finfoot and shoebill.
Game drives
A network of game tracks explores the eastern hinterland of Lake Mburo providing the chance to see a a variety of savanna animals and birds
Night Game drives
Night drives with a ranger guide provide the chance to see nocturnal animals such as bushbabies, pottos and perhaps even a leopard.
Salt lick Walk
Guided walks explore the park around Rwonyo, culminating in a visit to a natural salt lake where wildlife can be viewed from a timber observation platform.
Forest walk
The small tract of forest on the western side of Lake Mburo is home to a variety of forest bird species, Rubanga can be explored with a ranger guide
Horseback safaris
The grassy ridges in the eastern part of Lake Mburo can be explored on horseback and this activity is operated by Mihingo lodge.
Mountain Biking
Rwaboko rock and Leopard trail Rest camp both operate mountain biking trips into the national park at Nshara Gate.,
View points
South of Rwonyo, the lake side track climbs onto Kigarama hills providing panoramic views of Lake Mburo. This lake and 7 more can be seen from the equally dramatic Kazuma Lookout which lies at the of a rather steep track accessed from the Ruroko track near the Kazuma/Research track junction.
Birding
Prime areas for birding in Lake Mburo include the Acacia woodland along the Acacia and research tracks; the wooden shores of Lake Mburo as seen from the Rwonyo launch (ideal territory for African fin foot) and the lake’s northern fridge for papyrus wetland.
How to get to Lake Mburo National Park
By Road
Lake Mburo National Park lies between the towns of Masaka and Mbarara close to the main, south westerly road that links Kampala to Bwindi, Kabale and the Rwandan border. The 228km drive from Kampala takes 3.5hours. The park can also be reached from Kibale National Park via Ibanda and Rushere and from Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishaka and Mbarara. Three gates enter the park, Kanyanshara gate which lies close to upmarket Mihingo Lodge, is 18km south of Akagate trading centre which is 14km west of Lyatonde. The 9km dirt road leading to Nshara Gate turns south from the main road, 500m west of Akagate. The 13km dirt road from Sanga gate leaves the main road at Sanga trading centre 13km from Akagate and 27km from Lyatonde.
Best time of the year to visit Lake Mburo National Park
The best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park is June to August and December to February – during the dry season. Great wildlife viewing – animals congregate around the lake. The Migratory birds are also present.
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Lake Mburo National Park in Pictures
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