3 Day Lake Mburo Safari from Kampala

Drive from Kampala to Lake Mburo and Afternoon Game Drive

Your safari driver guide will meet you at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe after breakfast and begin the journey southwest towards Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes approximately 4 to 5 hours from Kampala, with additional time possible when starting from Entebbe or during heavy traffic. Along the way, stop at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe for photographs, refreshments and a short break before continuing towards Lyantonde and the park.

As you approach Lake Mburo, the countryside gives way to rolling hills, acacia woodland, open grassland and wetlands. Depending on the route, you may begin spotting zebras, Ankole cattle and other animals near the park boundaries. Continue to your lodge, check in and enjoy lunch before heading out for your first game drive in the afternoon.

Lake Mburo is one of Uganda's most rewarding parks for observing plains wildlife. Your guide will explore suitable tracks in search of zebras, impalas, elands, topis, buffaloes, warthogs and other animals. Look out for giraffes in areas where they occur and birds moving between the grasslands and scattered trees. The afternoon light provides particularly attractive conditions for wildlife photography.

Return to your lodge before evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation options: Budget: Eagle's Nest Lodge or Leopard Rest Camp · Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock or Arcadia Cottages Lake Mburo · Luxury: Mihingo Lodge or Kigambira Safari Lodge

Lake Mburo Boat Cruise and Guided Walking Safari

After breakfast, transfer to the lake's landing site for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. This experience gives you a different perspective of the national park, allowing you to watch wildlife along the water's edge without the movement and noise of a game-drive vehicle. Look for hippos resting in the shallows, Nile crocodiles along the shoreline, and buffaloes or waterbucks that may approach the lake to drink.

Birdwatching is one of the highlights of the cruise. African fish eagles are often seen around the lake, while pied kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, herons, cormorants and other waterbirds occupy the shoreline vegetation. The elusive African finfoot may also be encountered, although sightings are never certain. Your boat guide will help identify the birds and point out wildlife along the route.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. Later in the afternoon, meet an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger for a guided walking safari through selected areas of the park. Walking through the bush gives you the chance to observe wildlife at a slower pace and understand details you might miss from a vehicle, including footprints, animal droppings, feeding signs and different plants.

Depending on the walking route and animal movements, you may see zebras, impalas, elands, bushbucks, giraffes and a variety of birds. Your ranger will decide the route and maintain safe distances from wildlife, particularly buffaloes and other potentially dangerous animals.

Return to your lodge for dinner and a second overnight in Lake Mburo National Park. Travellers interested in a horseback safari, guided cycling or a night game drive can discuss an alternative activity arrangement in advance, subject to availability and additional charges.

Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 1

Morning Game Drive and Return to Kampala or Entebbe

Enjoy an early breakfast before setting off for your final morning game drive through Lake Mburo National Park. Your guide will explore different wildlife tracks, giving you another chance to see zebras, impalas, elands, topis, giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs and the park's abundant birdlife. Early morning is particularly pleasant because the air is cooler and many animals are actively feeding before the heat of the day.

If your lodge offers a bush breakfast, this can be arranged as an optional alternative, subject to advance booking and the timing of your return transfer. After the morning activity, check out and begin the journey back towards Kampala or Entebbe.

The return drive generally takes around 4 to 5 hours to Kampala, with additional time required for Entebbe depending on traffic and stops. Your guide can arrange lunch along the way according to your departure arrangements. Expect to reach Kampala or Entebbe in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on when you leave the park.

On arrival, your driver guide will drop you at your hotel, residence or Entebbe International Airport. If you are connecting to an international flight on the same day, a late evening departure is preferable to allow enough time for traffic and airport check-in.

This marks the end of your 3 Day Lake Mburo Safari from Kampala.