Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is the largest of five lakes which, together with the surrounding wetlands, constituting 20% of the park’s surface of 260 square kilometers. But being only 260 square kilometers, makes it the smallest of the Uganda’s savanna National Parks. This nature makes this park very ideal for bird watching (over 310 species) throughout the year. Lake Mburo National Park is a place so much interesting that every part of it is alive with diversity, interest and colour contains an extensive area of wetland one of the only two such habitats to be included within a National Park in Uganda. It has mosaic habitat, dry hillside, rocky outcrops, bushes thickets, open and wooded savanna forests, lakes and swamps which homes to a surprising diversity of flora and fauna.
The park accommodates several species of mammals like a wider variety of antelopes Zebras, Impala, Buffaloes and many bird species including the bill storks which are found nowhere else in the country. Its landscape with rolling grassy hills and idyllic lake shore has a varied mosaic of habitats forest galleries, seasonal and permanent swamps and rich acacia wood valleys which all give a wealth of wildlife. It is the only place where the impala still occurs and it is the best place to see the eland, Africa’s largest antelope. Bigger buffalo and zebra herds are common in this park. With our professional, no doubt you will see more of these attractions.
Safari Activities at Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is among the loveliest wildlife Uganda safari destinations and very ideal for game viewing tours, Birding safaris, forest walks (walking in Rubanga forest), foot safaris (guided nature walks), boat trips, fishing, salt licks as well as sport hunting.
1. Game Viewing
It is the major tourist activity in this Park. A game drive enables you to see the famous biodiversity of the park which has got around 68 different species of mammals with the common ones being Zebras, Impalas, Buffaloes, Topis and Elands, Roan antelopes, leopard, Hyenas and jackals among the many.
2. Boat trips
Lake Mburo has wealth of fauna and flora species viewable properly from a boat ride starting from a lakeside campsite near Rwonyo. The crocodiles, hippopotamuses and birds like pelicans, black crake, heron, Cormorant, Fish Eagle and the rare shoebill stork among the fauna that can be seen in a two-hour boat voyage. The duration of each boat cruise is negotiable with the park management.
3. Bird Watching
Lake Mburo National Park has about 313 various bird species comprising of the rare Shoebill stork and White-winged Warbler. Other bird species are the Crested Francolin, common Quails, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Greenwood Hoopoe, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away bird, Blue-napped Mousebird, Red necked Spur, Black-billed Barbet, Lilac-breasted Roller, African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola a drive towards Rwonyo camp may show Coqui Francolin, Red necked spur fowl, Black Bellied Bustard, Temmincks Courser, African-wattle Plover Rufous napped and Flappet larks, Rufuos chested Swallow, Yellow-throated Long claw and Southern Red Bishop.
4. Forest walk
Forest Walk is done through Rubanga Forest; a walk through this small forest on the western side of Lake Mburo gives a taste of a tropical high forest with canopy and a watch of a variety of beautiful bird species (40 bird species). Bird watching can be explored best with the guiding service of a park ranger.
5. Salt Lick Guided walks.
In these walks, one explores the park around Rwonyo, leading to a visit to a natural salt lick frequented by wildlife. This kind of viewing is facilitated by a timber observation platform. From a wooden platform visitors have got an opportunity to see at least four different species of animals at any one time as they lick the salty soil. This is done to he animal’s unawareness since the wooden platform works as a hideaway.
6. Nature trail
With this trail, a tourist gets an opportunity to appreciate the nature, walking with utmost freedom in the company of an armed guide.
7. Fishing
The lake has about six fish species, common there include tilapia, lung fish, mud fish, haplochromes and others fished out of water using of hooks. Shades for relaxation for visitors are offered at the campsite near the lake.
Accommodation Facilities
The park has accommodation facilities in form of tents at Rwonyo park headquarters and at three public camp sites. Another luxury accommodation is at the tented Mantana Luxury Camp and Mihingo Lodge. This also Mburo Safari Lodge and Rwakobo Rock Hotel are also very goo midrange accommodations. Travelers on a safari in Uganda from Kampala can make a stopover at the various Masaka Hotels or those coming from western Uganda can stay in Mbarara town after leaving or before proceeding to the national park.
Accessing Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is in Mbarara district. It a 4-5 hours drive from Kampala on Mbarara-Kampala highway. Then turn left at 13 km at Akageti after Lyantonde town bringing you to Sanga gate. The road is tarmac from Kampala with some comfort. Another drive of 13 kms from Sanga trading center at Sanga gate, then drive 5 kms from the main road to Nshara gate and a 20-minute drive from Rwonyo Park Head Quarters.