Giraffes to control acacia hockii spread in Lake Mburo NP

Uganda wildlife Authority has promised to restock Lake Mburo National Park with twenty giraffes so that it can attract more tourists to this small national Park. A team of rangers and veterinary from Murchison Falls National park and Kenya tourism services are pioneering this project to see that it is a success.

It should be noted that Lake Mburo National Park which is the closest National Park from Kampala capital city. The distance from Kampala to Lake Mburo National park is about 228 km and one may take about 3 hours to get there.

Anyone travelling to do gorilla trekking may take a break from the long journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. From Kampala, the capital of Uganda Bwindi impenetrable national Park is about 530km. This would definitely make a great break away from the long journey.

Lake Mburo National Park once had these giraffes but in the late 1960’s they were declared extinct due to several facts ranging from human and wildlife conflicts in and around Lake Mburo National Park.

Experts say that relocation of these giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park to lake Mburo National park may take about one month since it is sensitive. Some rangers from Murchison Falls national park and Kidepo valley national park will be employed.

These will oversee the way giraffes coupe up with the new environment in Lake Mburo National park. In Uganda, the giraffes are known to be living two national parks that is Murchison Falls National park and Kidepo valley National park.

To make sure that these giraffes get used, a boma has been constructed in lake mburo national parks where these giraffes will be kept for three weeks before they are introduced to the wild.

Lake Mburo National Park has been known as a park for impalas, elands,  and Zebra but with the arrival of the long towering creatures will change the whole image.

Uganda Wildlife Authority feels that this will bring more tourists and visitors to Lake Mburo National Park hence more earnings from both domestic and foreign tourists. With Acacia Hockii threatening to occupy all park land, their introduction will help to reduce it down since it is food for giraffes the number of these plants had increased and over taking other pastures that other animals feed on. These plants have been surviving due to the fact that giraffes which used to feed on them were declared extinct in the late 1960’s.

Having a volatile community around Lake Mburo national park was one of the problems facing the park. The local community around the park are mainly cattle keeper who used to do nomadic cattle keeping and Lake Mburo National park was not spared.

To strike a balance in the relationship between the locals and  Uganda Wildlife Authority, changes in policy were put in place where the park shares some revenue with the locals. About 20% of the local revenue annually earned from activities in Lake Mburo National Park are given back to the local community to facilitate there community need.

Further more, the community is allowed but under regulations of park authorities to use resources such as the lake for water and land for grazing their cattle and much more. The relationship between the park and the local communities has improved thereby creating an enabling environment to develop and restore lake Mburo National park to its past glory.

If this is achieved then we expect more clients to visit lake Mburo national parks to participate in activities such as game drives, boat cruises on the lake, night game drives, and others.

You can also do escorted safari walks in Lake Mburo National Park which are fully conducted by Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides. Although the park is not known for hosting predators like lions, chances of encountering other animals that may harm you are high in case you don’t have professional security.

You can also do horseback riding in the nearby Mihingo lodge, cultural walks and encounters, visit to local farms to see the famous long horned Ankole cattle and so much more. We look forward to see how the local community will react to this and how the giraffes themselves will adopt to this new environment. We will keep you posted on any new developments.

Details about Activities To Do In Lake Mburo National Park

Game Drives In Lake Mburo National Park

Early morning or late evening, when you take a game drive in the vast Lake Mburo National park you may get to spot giraffes, impalas, Deffessa water bucks, bushbuck, reedbucks, cape buffaloes, Burchell’s zebras, elands, topis, oribi, hippos, crocodiles and others. A number of savanna animals and birds can be sighted

Enjoy the great views of Lake Mburo and lash green vegetation where most ungulates feed. When you take the northern and eastern side of the park, you see the grassy valley floors, that seasonally develop out of lush and soggy rain drain flowing from undulating hills.

Taking the tracks in the southern part of Lake Mburo National Park leads you to dense woodland where bushbucks and bush duikers are common residents. When you take the route to Kigamba hill or Kazuma hill you enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Mburo.

Enjoy the rock kopje along the eastern margin of the park.

Boat Trip on Lake Mburo

Taking a boat trip on the eastern side of Lake Mburo National Park give, you chance to watch hippos, crocodiles during the 2 hours voyage. A number of birds flock the lake shoreline like Pelicans, herons, cormorant, fish eagle, shoebill and others.

The cool breeze from the lake gives you chance to relax and enjoy your holiday time in Uganda away from hectic work places.

You may have the chance of seeing fishermen casting there nets to catch some fish but this is possible if authorized by Park authorities.

Guided Nature walks In Lake Mburo National Park

Nature is refreshing and this is what you get from a walk through Rubanga Forest. This may be a small forest but ecologically endowed. You enjoy the taste of a tropical high forest with closed canopy. A number of primates enjoy living in this park. Some of these primates include red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and others.

A walk to the salt lick area around Rwonyo gives you chance to see a number of animals that love licking this salty soil. When you stand at the view platform, you may get to enjoy animals like impalas, elands, reedbucks, Uganda Kobs and others.

Birding safari In National Park

The environment of Lake Mburo National park favors the existence of a number of birds like fish eagels, herons, cormorant, papyrus Gonolek, African Scops, African Fin foot, Brown Chested Plover, Red faced and black collared barbet and others.

The park is occupied by acacia woodland where numerous birds live. in case you wish to see savanna bird species like Red faced Barbet, lake Mburo National Park is the place to be.

Along the shores of lake Mburo, you may get to see African finfoot, papyrus Gonolek, White tailed and Pennant-winged night jars, verreaus’s eagle-owl and fiery necked, White tailed and Pennant-winged night jars, shoe bill and others.

Horse Back Riding on Uganda Safari

In Uganda, horseback riding in the national park is only possible in Lake Mburo National park. You have to do prior booking so that a ranger guide is spared for this purpose. You do not have to have horse riding experience because instructors are in place to take you through this adventure.

Explore the park and all its environs to enjoy the best experience of nature from the back of a horse. You may get to see animals like cape buffaloes, elephants, bush duikers, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, reedbucks, giraffes, impalas, elands and others. This arrangement is with Mihingo lodge.

Cultural Walks around Lake Mburo National Park

 The rich Ankole culture is amazing for tourists to enjoy. The traditions of the Ankole people are based around cattle and its products. When you get chance for a home stay, you may get to take part in preparations like churning ghee, milking a cow, taking the cows to the field to feed and others.

The Ankole people had a traditional leader called Omugabe and his palace is currently a tourist point for those interested in Culture.

What to Pack for Safari in lake Mburo National Park

•  Safari hat to wear when in the wilderness for a game drive. It must cover your hair from dusty tracks.
• A camera to take photographs of wild animals in the wilderness.
• Insect repellant to smear yourself and keep away stinging insects in the wilderness.
• A pair of binoculars to bring closer the fur ranging features.
• First aid kit just in case you get hurt while in the wilderness
• A backpack where you can keep your safari gears
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from sunrays. Some times when you expose your skin to too much sunrays them may cause you sunburns. This may not look good on your skin
• Pajamas to wear in the night because it get too hot or cold
• Toiletries for the case of lodges that may not provide them or those that are not comfortable on your skin.
• Safari shirt or convertible trousers in colors that are wilderness friendly like Khaki, Tan and others. Try not to carry clothes in colors like blue, white or black because these attract insects like tsetse flies.
• A torch to use in case lights go out in the night because majority of the lodges use solar for lighting and heating water.
• Bag spray just in case these insects infect your room.
• A travel adapter or charger for recharging your electric gadgets in case you need to. Carrying a spare battery in case your camera runs low and you need to change it.
• A warmer because the nights are very cold and early mornings in lake Mburo National Park.
• Safari boots to wear while in the field to protect your feet from sharp surfaces just in case you have to walk out of your safari vehicle.
• Some hard cash to change into local currency just in case you need to purchase any personal items like souvenirs. In Africa, credit cards are not commonly used because of the lengthy process of acquiring money from them.
• A duffel bag to carry in your safari gears because you may be required to carry the bags by yourself especially when changing from one location from another. 

When is the best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park

All year round lake Mburo National park is open. The drier months however are most favorable for game drives because the tracks are not slippery even walking safaris are comfortable.

You need to book accommodation for your time in the park and accommodations you can choose from include Mihingo Lodge, Rwonyo Rest CampMantana Tented Camp, Uganda Wildlife Authority hostels, more accommodations can be booked in Mbarara city.

How to get to Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is like the stopover point to any safaris done in Western Uganda. From Kampala, lake Mburo National park is about 228km. you need about 3 hour to 4 hours to get there.

You can enter Lake Mburo National Park through Nshara gate which is 13 km past Lyantonde.An alternative is through Sanga gate going through Sanga trading center, which is 27 km from Lyantonde.

Daily domestic flights are available from Entebbe Airport or Kajansi Airstrip.

Charter flights can be booked too but you need to do this in advance of travel.

What is the cost of safari in Lake Mburo National Park

The universal cost of a safari to Lake Mburo National park is park entrance fee which doesn’t discriminate Luxury or midrange or budget Safari package. Others Uganda safari costs are according to accommodations you wish to stay at, the number of people travelling with, number of days on safari, timing of the safari is it peak season or low season and others.

Contact us for more information.