Lake Mburo National Park lies within Kiruhura district in Western Uganda, approximately 30kms by road, East of Mbarara and about 240kms west of Kampala capital city. It straddles along the shadows of Lake Victoria and by far the best destination for wildlife safaris in Uganda.

This park was gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting area prior upgrading its status into a game reserve in 1963 and then became a national park in 1983. However, the Banyakole and the Bahima residents never stopped grazing their cattle in the reserve till it was designated as a national park in 1983, a move that was taken during the Obote’s government. Lake Mburo National Park expands up to 270sq.kms which makes it one of the smallest national parks in Uganda the pearl of Africa.

Wildlife species in Lake Mburo National Park
Despite its small size, Lake Mburo National Park is an exceptional wildlife safari destination worth exploring while on Uganda safari. It prides itself as a home to numerous savanna dwellers and many other wildlife species including among others Rothschild giraffes, impalas, warthogs, lions, leopard, klipspringer, burchells zebras, hippos, topis, elands, buffaloes, jackals and over 350 bird species.

Bird species in Lake Mburo National Park
For birders on Uganda safari, Lake Mburo National Park is that one unique birding spot you need not to miss to pay a visit. Over 350 bird species are confined in different habitats in this park alone making it the best birding destination in Uganda. The birds to look out while on Uganda birding safari tour in Lake Mburo National Park include the martial eagles and red-faced barbets in the acacia-wooded savannah, pelicans, fish eagles, herons, papyrus yellow warblers and African fin foots in the wetlands, bronze tailed starling, crested crane, Coqui Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood, Rufous-bellied Heron, Bateleur, blue napped coucal, Nubian woodpecker, pennant winged nightjars, swamp flycatchers, go away bird, bronze tailed starling, shoebill stork, marabou stork to mention but a few.

Other attractions in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park lies an area with 13 beautiful lakes including Lake Mburo which is ideal for boat trips. This protected area is largely comprised of scattered savanna grassland and forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp and narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes.

Activities to do in Lake Mburo National Park

Game drives-day and night game drives
Immerse yourself in the wilderness of Lake Mburo National Park and have opportunity to explore diverse savanna dwellers. The wildlife species to see on Uganda wildlife safari in Lake Mburo National Park include giraffes, leopards, Burchell’s Zebras, lions, buffaloes, elands, impalas plus bird species.

Boat ride
The best way to explore most of the aquatic life in Lake Mburo National Park is by embarking on a boat ride along Lake Mburo. This allows you to see several hippos, crocodiles, water birds, antelopes, buffaloes and others. For birders, the Hammerkop, Herons, pelicans, the rare shoebill, malachite kingfishers, African Fish eagles, blue headed weavers, Rufous long tailed starlings, the pied kingfishers and cormorants.

Bird watching
Make your safari in Lake Mburo National Park on Uganda safari complete by including birding in your travel plan and you won’t be left in regrets. There are over 350 birds to identify in this park including Emerald-spotted Wood, Rufous-bellied Heron, Bateleur, Brown-chested Lapwing, Coqui Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-faced Barbet. The key birding sites in this park include the swampy valleys of Miriti and the Warukiri along the roadside between Rwonyo camp and jetty.

Nature walks
Nature walks in Lake Mburo National Park are the best for you to get close to nature. You can start your nature walk around Rwonyo to the salt lick for you to see variety of wildlife that confined in the salty rocks.

Horseback riding
Horseback riding takes you through the magical wilderness area of Lake Mburo National Park with a chance for you to see waterbuck, bushbuck, elands, buffaloes, warthogs, topis, impalas, duiker, Burchell’s zebras.

Sport fishing
This is one of the best and most thrilling watersports which allows you to challenge yourself and it is done in Lake Mburo where 6 fish species thrive including lung fish, tilapia, Haplochromes.

Where to stay in Lake Mburo National Park

  • Luxury: Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo Safari lodge
  • Mid-range: Arcadia Cottages Mburo, Mburo Safari Lodge, Rwakobo Rock
  • Budget: Eagle’s Nest Mburo, Rwonyo Rest Camp

Best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park
The dry season is the best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park especially for game viewing tours. It occurs in the months of June, July, August, September and the second phase begins from December, January, February. During the dry spell, most wildlife species confine in the water sources offering visitors clear view over huge concentration of most savanna dwellers in this park. Birding is ideal during the wet season and this begins in March, April, May and October, November.

How to get to Lake Mburo National Park
Visitors on Uganda wildlife safari can get to Lake Mburo National Park from Kampala through Masaka-Mbarara route about 4 hours’ drive. Get to the park through Sanga gate which is about 13kms past Lyantonde then proceed about 5kms from the main road to Nshara gate about 20 minutes’ drive to Rwonyo headquarters.