Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s second smallest National Park occupying only 260 square kilometers of wide and varying ecosystems that include savannah wood and grassland, wetlands, lakes among others. Lake Mburo National Park is strategically located in between Entebbe and other bigger National Parks in west and south western Uganda such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park and as such, it is used as a stop over to break the long driving journeys to these National Parks.

Long horned cattle in Mburo

Accessing Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is accessed by Road from Entebbe/Kampala driving southwest words for approximately five to six our drive. This drive takes you to the equator crossing where you can stop and have some coffee and take some photographs or participate in some experiments to prove that indeed this is the equator. If you are coming from Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will drive through Bushenyi and Mbarara to Lake Mburo National Park for approximately 4-5 hours. If you are coming from Rwanda, then you will drive through Kisoro or Kabale to Mbarara town which might take approximately 7-8 hours. For those opting to fly, the only airfield closer to Lake Mburo National Park is Nyakisharara in Mbarara town from where you can drive for approximately one hour to Lake Mburo National Park.

Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park

With a varied topography of marshland, acacia woodland, sweeping valleys, rock Kopjes and rolling hills, Lake Mburo National Park supports an impressive variety of flora and fauna, including some unique wildlife. Covering just 260 square kilometres, the park is one of Uganda’s smallest, but this makes for some easy and exciting explorations into its unusual and diverse terrains. The five lakes for which the park is also renowned create an area of abundant birdlife and some of Uganda’s finest scenery. Once a game reserve set up to protect wildlife from returning humans displaced by the tsetse fly, Lake Mburo subsequently gained park status in 1983 and has since welcomed visitors to its vast range of habitats. The park’s headquarters of Rwonyo are a good starting point for game walks or boat trips, and Lake Mburo itself sits in the centre of the park in the heart of the wetland system.

Some of the more unique wildlife in this park includes grazing animals such as the impala, and Lake Mburo is the only park in Uganda that supports this ecotone species. It is also home to the last Ugandan population of eland, the largest African antelope. Hyenas, leopards, buffalo, hippo, Burchell’s Zebra and warthog are all found in the acacia woods and grasslands that surround the lakes of the park. There is a good chance you will see crocodile, hippo, reedbuck and waterbuck here too, as well as some of the 315-strong bird species that have been recorded to date, including the elusive African finfoot. The wildlife is best enjoyed on a game drive or a guided walk and the guides are experience and knowledgeable at taking you to the best spots. There is also the opportunity here for boat safaris down Lake Mburo, horse-back safaris and night drives, for the chance to see the more nocturnal animals, such as leopard, hyena, civet and porcupine. The best end to the day is, of course, sundowners in the park, as the sun settles itself neatly below the horizon.

Lodges in Lake Mburo National Park

These include, Mihingo Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge, Arcadia Cottoges, Rwonyo Camp among others.

Activities in Lake Mburo National Park

Game Drive – Lake Mburo National Park

Depart for Lake Mburo National Park, home to elands, Burchell’s zebras, impalas and a wide variety of bird species. Free of carnivores, Lake Mburo provides a unique opportunity to see the park on foot and the chance to view vast numbers of diverse hoofed animals. Lake Mburo National Park works with local communities to create an environment in which domestic livestock peacefully coexist with the park’s native wildlife.

Boat Trip – Lake Mburo National Park

Enjoy a leisurely boat cruise on beautiful Lake Mburo. The lake, in the center of the park, provides an opportunity to see vast numbers of birds, large groups of hippos, and crocodiles basking on the shore. Cruise through the lake’s swamps, perfect hiding places for elusive species of birds, including the rare shoebill stork, one of the world’s most endangered bird species.

Safari Walk Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is the only National Park where you can do safari on foot. Guided by an armed ranger and a guide you will start your walk in the National Park with several chances of spotting elusive leopards, buffaloes, Zebras, impalas and other antelopes plus several species of birds. This activity can be done either in the morning or afternoon.

QUICK FACTS

Location: Mbarara District, Uganda
Nearest city: Mbarara
Coordinates: 00°37′40″S 30°58′00″E
Area: 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi)
Governing body: Ugandan Wildlife Authority

Ramsar Wetland

Official name: Lake Mburo-Nakivali Wetland System
Designated: 15 September 2006
Reference no. 1634