Combining Kalangala Island Beach Escape With Safari In Lake Mburo National Park

The combination of a game safari in Lake Mburo National Park and Kalangala Island Beach holiday is a mix of game viewing with tranquility in the wilderness. This combination requires a strategically planned Uganda safari itinerary considering time on safari and avoiding backtracking.

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Lake Mburo National Park is the closest National Park to Kampala city the capital of Uganda and to Entebbe airport. From Kampala city, the drive to Lake Mburo National Park takes about 3 to 4 hours covering a distance of about 228 kilometers. Lake Mburo National Park is home to animals like giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, elands, waterbucks, reedbucks, buffaloes, oribi, leopards, hyenas and others.

Kalangala Island also called the Ssese Islands a combination of about 84 islands in Lake Victoria. While on Kalangala Island, you may engage in activities like birding, swimming, quad biking, community tours, sports fishing, beach sidewalks, forest walks, agriculture tours and others. In case you are tired of the chaotic environment of the busy town centers, this is one of the Uganda safari destinations you may think about.

How To Plan Kalangala Island Beach and Lake Mburo National Park Holiday 

Day 1 Drive To Lake Mburo National Park

Take breakfast early morning and your driver guide will pick you up from the overnight hotel. On the way, you may stop at the Equator for a photography moment while standing on both sides of the earth at the same time. 

Enjoy the stunning features and green vegetation along the way. Different gates can be used to get into Lake Mburo National Park but from Kampala, using the Sanga or Nshara gate. Lake Mburo National Park is composed of different vegetation zones ranging from open Savannah, forest, acacia woodland, rock kopjes, seasonal and permanent swamps.

These favor the survival of a range of wild animals living in Lake Mburo National Park.

 Get into your lodge to Relax

Lake Mburo National Park Accommodations: Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo Lodge, Arcadia Cottages, Rwonyo Rest Camp, Mburo Lodge

Day 2 Game drive and boat ride in Lake Mburo National Park

Rise up early for a game drive in the tracks of Lake Mburo National Park. Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park are more rewarding early morning and late afternoon. During the drive in Lake Mburo National Park, you pass tracks like the Impala track, Zebra track, Eland Track and others. visit the salt lick area where most animals in this park love spending their time licking on the salty soil of this location. 

While driving through Lake Mburo National Park, you may spot animals like elands, Burchell’s zebras, Defassa waterbucks, cape buffaloes, giraffes, reedbucks, Uganda Kobs, herds of elephants and others. A wide variety of birds grace Lake Mburo National Park including Tabora cisticola, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Acacia woodland birds, shoebill, papyrus yellow warblers, great snipe and others.

Take a break and in the afternoon enjoy the relaxing boat ride on Lake Mburo. This lake is the largest lake located in the National Park of Uganda. Relax and feel the cool breeze of the late, look out for the swamp vegetation and its occupants.

Day 3 Drive to Entebbe

Enjoy breakfast and another game drive before proceeding to Entebbe where to spend the night. 

Day 4 Catch a Ferry To Kalangala Island ( Ssese Island)

Rise up early for breakfast and get ready to catch the ferry to Kalangala Islands. Ensure you get to the checkpoint on time to catch up with the ferry.

Kalangala Island is a combination of about 84 islands nestled in Lake Victoria. Bungala Islanda is the largest of them all and its where the headquarters of Kalangala district are situated. Some other islands that make up Kalangala district include Ngamba Island, Buyova, Bugaba, Bukasa, Selinya and others.

 Get there in the evening ready to check into your lodge

Kalangala Accommodations: Brovad Sand Beach, Ssese Habit Resort, Hornbill Camp, Panorama Camp, Banda Island.

Day 5 Kalangala Island activities

While on Kalangala, you can choose from the activities you wish to engage in like Swimming, forest walks, local community tours, sports fishing, Quad biking, Agricultural farm tours, local site tours and much more. Campfire in the late evening by the Lake shores

Day 5 Kalangala Island activities

Wake up early for breakfast and engage in Kalangala activities you may have missed the previous day. you may go on a boat ride, palm oil farms, relax by the shores of the beach and much more.

Day 6 Departure

After early morning breakfast, carry your belongings to catch up with ferry time to the mainland. Drive to Entebbe airport to catch up with your departure flight. Alternatively, you can take an optional visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center ( UWEC) the former Entebbe Zoo.

When is the best time to book Kalangala Island and Lake Mburo National Park safari?

Although most Uganda safari activities are open all year, the dry season is most preferred. The dry season is normally June to October and December to February but this too is the peak Uganda tourism season.

In Lake Mburo National Park, mist wild animals may be quicker to spot because the grass is lower and since there is less to feed on, these animals traverse the park in search of greener pastures. The dry season favors free movement in Lake Mburo National Park as the tracks are drier.

Note that more people visit Lake Mburo National Park in the dry season so expect more vehicles and competition for logistics that support your stay in this park.

In Kalangala Island, the dry season is perfect timing for those interested in outdoor activities on these Islands. Lake Victoria is also calm and has clearer water in the dry season providing a great time to enjoy the scenery surrounding the Islands.

The wet season which is normally March to May and November attracts fewer people to Lake Mburo National Park. In case you wish to have less disturbance from other tourists, the low season may be the time appropriate time for exclusivity.

In Kalangala Island, most of the activities are outdoor so the wet season keeps you in door for most of the time. This is also the best time to get away from the chaos of the city to relax.

How much is the cost of Kalangala Island and Lake Mburo National Park Escape

The cost of Lake Mburo National Park and Kalangala Island escape varies with the package you choose, At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our safaris according to up-market, mid-range and budget. A visit to Lake Mburo National Park requires you to pay park entrance fees as this is one way to support park maintenance no matter the package you choose.

When costing our Uganda safaris, some of the things we consider include number of people traveling with, number of days on safari, activities to engage in and others.

How To Get To lake Mburo National Park and Kalangala Island

By Road

To travel to Lake Mburo National Park, road transport is the main means used. The drive from Kampala to Lake Mburo National Park takes about 228 kilometers. When using the Nsara gate it is 13 kilometers from Lyantonde. Sanga Gate is about 27 kilometers from Lyantonde. Hiring a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle is important because of the nature of the roads within the park.

Even in Kalangala Island you need a vehicle to get around the Island.

By Air

At Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airstrip, there are charter flights to Mbarara from where you can transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Daily domestic flights arrangements can also be made on request to Mbarara but you need to book a seat in advance.

Charter flights to Kalangala Island can be arranged but advance booking is required for advance clearing.

By water

From Entebbe airport, you catch a ferry to Kalangala Island which travels once a day that is Afternoon. You can also arrange a charter speedboat to Kalangala Island.

Is it safe to do a Uganda Safari to Lake Mburo National Park and Kalangala Island?

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the National Parks in Uganda under the watch of Uganda Wildlife Authority. A team of well trained ranger guides routinely patrol Lake Mburo National Park to protect the wild animals, their habitat and tourists who visit.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides do this work with the help of other Uganda security agencies present to keep law and order in and around these parks. 

 As a tourist, you are cautioned not to get out of your vehicle during a game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. The animals in this park may mainly be ungulates but carnivores are present too. Even in the night do not walk out alone because it is dangerous.

Kalangala Island is safe for a visit because on ground are Uganda security agencies to keep law and order however be cautious with your personal security. Ensure you do not walk out with your precious belongings as you may attract wrong company.

In case you are not a good swimmer, do not attempt moving into the deeper ends of Lake Victoria because you will drown.

While on the ferry, do not try to maintain the rules of the ferry so that you do not fall onto the water on your way to and from Kalangala Island.

What Is The Age Limit For A Visit To Lake Mburo National Park And Kalangala Island?

There is no age limit to either of the two Uganda safari destinations however when traveling with children, ensure they are under a responsible adult’s watch. In Lake Mburo National Park, the children can easily wander into the Parks and be hurt by the wild animals.

In Kalangala island, children may be lost or drawn in Lake Victoria so ensure they are always under your watch.

Is The Cost Of A Visit To Lake Mburo National Park And Kalangala Island Escape Worth?

Depending on what you wish to achieve after this Uganda safari holiday, taking the Lake Mburo National Park and venture leaves you relaxed and not tired from the long drives on the road. Even in Kalangala Island, you get to feel the freshness away from the polluted environment of town.

While in Kalangala Island, you get to wind and unwind from the noise of the city and dig deep into your busy life with less chances of disturbance.

What To Pack For Lake Mburo National Park And Kalangala Island Escape 

• Camera to take photos and keep memories of this holiday experience.
• Safari hat with a large foldable brim to protect your head from buzzing insects.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the strong sunrays.
• Sunscreen to cover your body from Ultra Violet rays
• Back pack or rack sack to keep in your belongings
• Some hard cash for on ground purchases in case you wish to buy anything. Credit cards are not easy to use in Africa.
• A torch for lighting while at night in case lights run low because solar is the main source of power in Lake Mburo National Park and Kalangala Island.
• Flip flops to change into after a long day
•  Extra clothes to change into after a long day of activities
• Warm wear because it gets so sold very early morning and afternoon
• Beach wear to use for swimming in Lake Victoria or in the swimming pool of your hotel
• Pair of stockings to tack in your trousers so that creeping insects do not get into them.
• Safari shoes like canvas to protect your feet.
• A pair of binoculars to capture closer visibility of far ranging features.
• Some snacks to munch as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire day
• Extra batteries fully charged in case one runs low of power.
• Charger and travel adapter in case you need to recharge 
• Raincoat in case it falls as sometimes rains fall without warning.
• First aid kit for any emergency while on this African safari

Contact us to plan your combined safari to Kalangala Island beach and Lake Mburo National Park.