Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is a small but beautiful park, perfect for a stopover between Kampala and the western parts of Uganda. The park covers 370 square kilometers and has a variety of habitats, including rock outcrops, savanna, acacia woodland, bush, forest, swamp, and lakes. This mix of environments supports a wide range of wildlife, including some species that you won’t find in other Ugandan parks. Birdwatching is also excellent here, with many birds that thrive in the park’s papyrus and acacia areas.

Despite its smaller size compared to other East African parks, Lake Mburo National Park is home to an impressive array of wildlife. There are 69 mammal species and 332 bird species in the park. Unique animals you can find here include impalas, which are not found in other Ugandan parks, and zebras and elands, which are only in this park and not in the western part of Uganda. The park is also home to topis, which are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park as well. In 2015, Rothschild’s giraffes were moved to Lake Mburo from Murchison Falls National Park, adding to the park’s wildlife. Leopards and hyenas are present, and lions, which had been absent for a while, are now making appearances again. Hippos and crocodiles live in the park’s five lakes, and the swamps are home to the elusive sitatunga antelope. The park’s bird species include some rare swamp birds like the papyrus gonelek, papyrus yellow warbler, white-winged warbler, and shoebill.

Activities & Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park

Game Viewing:
You can explore the park by taking a boat trip on Lake Mburo. The boat leaves from a jetty near Rwonyo Rest Camp on the eastern shores of the lake. During the two-hour trip, you might see crocodiles, hippos, and a range of birds such as pelicans, herons, and fish eagles. Occasionally, you might spot rare birds like the finfoot and shoebill.

Game Drives:

The park has a network of game tracks that allow visitors to drive through the savanna and see various animals and birds.

Night Drives:

Night drives with a ranger guide offer a chance to see nocturnal animals like bush babies, pottos, and possibly even a leopard.

Salt Lick Walk:

Guided walks around Rwonyo lead to a natural salt lake. From a timber observation platform, you can watch wildlife as they come to the salt lick.

Forest Walk:

On the western side of the park, Rubanga Forest is home to several forest bird species. You can explore this area with a ranger guide.

Horseback Safaris:

You can go horseback riding in the grassy ridges of the eastern part of the park, with Mihingo Lodge offering this activity.

Mountain Biking:

Rwakobo Rock and Leopard Tail Rest Camp both provide mountain biking trips in the park from Nshara Gate.

View Points:

There are some great viewpoints in the park. South Rwonyo has the Lakeside Track that climbs Kigarama Hill for a panoramic view of Lake Mburo. The Kazuma Lookout, at the top of a steep track from the Ruroko Track near the Kazuma/Research Track junction, offers a dramatic view of Lake Mburo and seven other lakes.

Birding:

The best birdwatching spots in Lake Mburo include the acacia woodland along the Acacia and Research tracks, the wooded shores of the lake from the Rwonyo launch (where you might find the African finfoot), and the northern fringe of the lake’s papyrus wetland.

Getting to Lake Mburo National Park

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 3.5 hours. 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. Kyanyanshara Gate, which lies close to the upmarket Mihingo Lodge, is 18km south of Akagate trading centre, which is 14km west of Lyantonde. The 9km dirt road leading to Nshara Gate turns south from the main road, 500m west of Akagate. The 13km dirt road to Sanga Gate leaves the main road at Sanga trading centre, 13km from Akagate and 27kms from Lyantonde.