Lake Mburo national park is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda located in the western Uganda in Kiruhura district, the park is the nearest national park to Kampala the capital city of Uganda about 4 hours’ drive. Lake Mburo national park covers an area of 370 square kilometers hosting 68 mammal species and 350 bird species living in the varied habitats of the park, the habitats in the park include acacia woodland, dry hills, rocky outcrops, bushy thickets, open and wooded savannah, seasonal and permanent swamps. Lake Mburo national park comprises of 14 lakes with Lake Mburo as the biggest lake all to thrill while on Uganda safaris Tours.
History of Lake Mburo national park
Initially Lake Mburo national was gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting place later in 1963 was upgraded to a game reserve, despite the area being gazetted as a protected area, the Banyankole and Bahoma people who are the residents of the area continued to graze in the reserve until 1983 when it was upgraded to a national park. Unfortunately, these people were not compensated as they were considered rebels to the administration/government of Obote. It is said that, the decision to make upgrade the park as a national park was done to oppress the Banyankole and Bahima people for not supporting Obote and his government.
After the collapse of Obote’s government in 1985, the Bahima resident re-occupied the park’s land to a an extent that the park’s staff were expelled and the infrastructures were destroyed and they started killed wildlife in the park. when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came in power in 1986, half of the area of the park’s land was re-gazetted as a national park again.
Wildlife and birdlife in Lake Mburo national park
Wildlife
There are about 68 mammal species calling Lake Mburo national park home, the park is the only place in Uganda where you find the Impalas. Mammals in the park include Topi, Elands, Zebras, Defassa waterbuck, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, lions, crocodiles, hippos and monitor lizards. These animals can easily be seen during game drives.
Birdlife
Lake Mburo national park is a birder’s nirvana hosting about 315 bird species supported in varied habitats, these birds include Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away bird, Red necked Spur, common Quails, Black-billed Barbet, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller, African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Bee-eaters and the Cheeky bronze-tailed starling and majestic crowned crane among others. Lake Mburo national park is also inhabits rare bird species such as African Finfoot, shoebill, African fish eagle, Malachite and pied kingfishers.
SAFARI AND ACTIVITIES IN LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Game drives
Game drives is the highlight activity in the park offering tourists a chance to views several wildlife inhabiting in the park, game drives are done in 4X4 safari vehicles with guides and during the drive you will be able to see animals such as zebras, hyenas, topis, antelopes, jackals, lions, leopards among others in the savannah plains of the park and along the shores of Lakes as they drink water.
Nature walks
Nature walks are memorable experience to engage in as it gets visitors close to nature in Lake Mburo national park, tourists participating in this activity are escorted by a ranger guide for purposes of security and education. Nature walks take you through the woodlands and you will be able to see several wild games such as zebras, warthogs, leopards, jackals, bush babies, waterbucks licking on the salty residues, several bird species, several lakes and the rolling hills dominating the landscape of the park.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing is a thrilling activity in Lake Mburo national park carried out on various lakes in the park including Lake Mburo in designated areas, to participate in this activity tourists are required to acquire a fishing permit from Uganda wildlife Authority and also have to be in possession of their own fishing gear. Fish species you should expect to catch during the fishing activity include Tilapia, mud fish, lung fish, haplochromes among others.
Bicycle tours
Bicycle tours are another adventurous safari activity to do in Lake Mburo national park, this activity is one of the best activities to explore the park and it done along various bicycle trails running through the park. on bicycle tours you will be able to see zebras, antelopes, buffaloes among others and enjoy incredible views of the park’s scenery.
Bird watching
The park is listed among the best birding destinations in Uganda, the park is boosts approximately 350 species of birds including the rare shoe bill Uganda’s most sought for bird, birding activity offer birders excellent opportunity to watch birds such as double toothed barbet, crested crane, saddle shoe bill, crested francolin, cisticola, Nubian woodpecker, rare white winged warbler among others.
Boat cruise
Boat cruise in Lake Mburo national park is carried out in 5 lakes out the 14 chain of lakes in the park including Lake Mburo, the boat cruise gives tourists a chance to enjoy the flora and fauna along the shores of the lakes. Along the banks of the lakes, lookout for animals like hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, antelopes and buffaloes which congregate at the shores to drink water and cool off. Visitors of the park will also enjoy various species of birds inhabiting in the swamps around the lakes such as white-backed night-heron, the rare shoe bill, African fin foot among others.
Horseback riding
Horseback riding is one of the major highlights of visiting the park, this eco-friendly activity is organized by the Mihingo lodge incorporation with the park. Horseback riding offer a close-up encounter with various animals inhabiting in the park such as zebras, waterbucks, cape buffaloes among others. You will also get to appreciate the beauty of the park’s landscape dominated by a chain of lakes and the rolling hills.
Cultural experience
Cultural experience is an amazing experience offering an encounter with the local communities and an opportunity to learn their cultural practices, this activity is conducted in about 13 local community groups which were identified and trained in eco-tourism by the park’s authorities. Some of the communities to visit for a cultural experience include
- Rwenjeru campsite
- Ankole cultural community group
- the Igongo cultural centre
- the Rwabarata drama group entertaining through local dance and drama
- The Rwamuhukajans craft markers – making and selling beautiful craft items to tourists
- Thhe Shara community tourism group
- The Rubale fishing community offering fishing adventures
- The Masha Community Wildlife forum.
Visiting these communities will offer you a deeper insights into the lifestyle of local people and their daily activities.
HOW TO GET TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Lake Mburo national park can be accessed by road and air
By road – the park can be accessed from the Main Kampala – road to the 2 main entrances of the park (Nshara gate and Sanga gate). When coming from Kampala the capital, to use Nshara gate you take a turn off 10 kilometers past the Lyantonde trading center to the park. To use Sanga you turn off left at the Sanga trading center. From Kampala city it is a drive of about 230 kilometers to Lake Mburo national park.
By air – domestic chartered flight are available from Entebbe International airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Nyakisharara airstrip in Mbarara Town, the flight time is about 1 hour.
WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Accommodation in Lake Mburo national park is categorized into 3 that is luxury, midrange and budget to fit the budget of the tourists, these accommodations are as follows
Luxury/high end accommodation
- Kigambira Safari Lodge
- Mihingo Lodge
- Hotel Triangle Mbarara
- Emburara Farm Lodge
- Mantana Tented camp
Midrange lodge accommodation
- Rwakobo Rock Lodge
- Mburo Safari Lodge
- Mpogo Lodge
- Arcadia Cottage Lake Mburo
Budget accommodation
- Leopard rest lodge
- Rwonyo Rest Camp
- Eagles Nest Lake Mburo
