TRAVEL GUIDE TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Along the Masaka-Mbarara highway in Kiruhura district is the Lake Mburo national park which sits on 370 square kilometers with grasslands, savanna woodlands and forests which inhabit various wildlife like buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, bohor reedbucks, waterbucks, bushbucks, topi, leopards, oribi, duikers, hippos, Nile crocodiles and numerous bird species.
Attractions in Lake Mburo national park
Wildlife: Various wildlife are housed in Lake Mburo national park like zebras, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, warthogs, topi, crocodiles, waterbucks, elands, bushbucks, sitatunga, duiker, klipspringer, oribi and many others.
Birds: Lake Mburo has quite a number of bird species that any birder would want to add on their check list like the long tailed cisticola, emerald spotted wood dove, black bellied bustard, water birds and very many other migratory birds.
Activities in Lake Mburo
Game drive
This is one of the main activities in Lake Mburo national park that gives an opportunity to a tourist to enjoy their safari from the comfort of their vehicle. The drive can be enjoyed either early in the morning or in the evening when the wildlife is most active. On the drive you might catch a glimpse at a few animals like buffaloes, topi, impalas, warthogs, bushbucks, oribi, giraffes and many other animals.
Night game drive
The park schedules a night drive with spotlight torches in order to enjoy the view of nocturnal wildlife like bush babies, porcupines, white tailed mangoes, civet, leopards, hyenas and hippos.
Boat cruise
Lake Mburo has two scheduled boat cruises a day that is; in the morning at 9am and afternoon at 2pm. The boat cruise enables you to gaze at some wildlife in the water like Nile crocodiles, hippos and buffaloes, giraffes at the shores. The cruise also provides a view towards birds like hornbills, cormorants, bee-eaters, kingfishers, fish eagles and many others.
Nature walks
Nature walks in Lake Mburo national park are done with the company of a park guide and an armed park ranger for security purposes. The best time to enjoy a nature walk is in either in the morning or evening through Rubanga forest, Rwoyo and other places. While on the drive, you will take in refreshing views of different wildlife and bird species.
Bird watching
Lake Mburo national park has over 350 bird species like water birds and forest birds. Birding in lake Mburo is best enjoyed early in the morning in numerous locations like the salt lick, Rubanga forest, and swampy valleys of Miriti and Rwonyo camp. The birds one can spot in this area include African wattled lapwing, papyrus gonolek, hairy breasted barbet, blue headed coucal, red faced barbet, white winged swamp warbler, yellow rumped tinkerbird, tabora cisticola, elusive shoebill stork, Nubian wood pecker, rufous bellied heron, African fish eagle, black bellied bustard, red shouldered tit, white parrot, yellow breasted apalis, long tailed cisticola, ross’s turaco, white headed barbet, grey crowned crane, brown parrot, African finfoot and others.
Horseback riding
The horseback riding experience is a one of a kind experience that is organized in only one park; Lake Mburo national park. The activity is conducted by Mihingo safari lodge and gives one an experience to enjoy the view of various wildlife like buffaloes, impalas, zebras, warthogs, topi, oribi, waterbucks, duikers and leopards.
Spot fishing
This is quite a thrilling and competitive activity in the park conducted at lake Mburo and Mazinga with an estimate of 6 fish namely; mud fish, cat fish, barbell, lung fish and Angara fish. To conduct the activity you should obtain a permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Best time to visit Lake Mburo national park
Visiting and tourist activities can be done throughout the year however the best time to visit the national park is the dry season. The dry season in Uganda occurs in July, June, August, September, December, January and February. The dry season is the best time because the vegetation is thin thereby providing a perfect view of the wildlife and the tracks and paths for nature walks and game drives are easily penetrable.
The wet season however is the best time for bird watching. The wet season in Uganda happens in the months of March, May and October.
Getting to the park
You can get to the park either by road or air. It is located in western Uganda on the Masaka Mbarara highway. It is a 4 hour journey from Entebbe international Airport by road.
By air; To travel by air, you have to book a flight either at Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield. The flight from there goes up to Mbarara airstrip where you connect to the park by road.
Accommodation
Accommodation should never be a worry while at the park because there are numerous facilities tailored to fit everyone for example Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Leopard Rest Camp, Rwonyo Rest Camp, Acadia Lodge, Lake Mburo Safari lodge, Mantana tented camp and many others.
