Lake Mburo National Park, which is over 260 square kilometres is the closest national park to the Ankole kingdom in Uganda. It is dominated by the 13 square kilometre Lake Mburo, which is covered with extensive papyrus regions and peripheral woods. Of the five lakes discovered inside the park’s limits, the lake is the biggest. The national park was initially disregarded on African safaris because of the scarcity of predators and large mammals, such as elephants and lions. However, over time, it has improved with an incredible number of activities, such as horseback riding, perfect trails for biking safaris, and the introduction of the Roth child’s giraffes, making it a frequent stopover en route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park’s elevation ranges from 1,220 to 1,828 metres, and it receives little precipitation throughout the year. Most of the park’s surface is covered by swamps and water bodies, with the remaining space sustaining savannah and forests made primarily of thorny acacia trees. These areas serve as homes to a variety of wildlife species, including the last remaining population of impalas and other creatures that are difficult to spot in Uganda’s national parks.
Burchell’s zebras may be seen in considerable numbers in one of the two national parks there, along with other creatures such topis, Defassa waterbucks, buffaloes, sitatungas in swampy regions, elands, and giraffes. Vervet monkeys and olive baboons are the only two living primates in the area right now. The national park is the finest area to watch acacia-associated birds, such the mosque swallow, and is home to 315 different bird species.
Lake Mburo National Park highlights
Game Drives are among the activities that stand out in the national park. The trails are strategically placed to facilitate wildlife viewing; for example, the impala and warukiri tracks typically host a good number of zebra, water bucks, buffalo, and topi. The dry season is best for seeing animals because they congregate in swampy areas in search of water. Night game drives are also conducted in search of predators like leopards, whose numbers have been rising over the past few decades.
Boat Rides on Lake Mburo offer an exhilarating water experience, a chance to see hippos, crocodiles, and buffaloes, as well as a variety of water birds like the African fish eagle and kingfishers. On a lucky day, it may also be possible to see the endangered shoe bill stock. Boat rides typically last two hours.
Mihingo Lodge’s introduction to horseback riding is located east of the national park; it’s a great way to get up close to animals like zebras and elands, which are much more at ease around horses than they are around cars. Rides are adjusted to the rider’s skill level. Beginners and experts alike are accompanied by an experienced guide for fruitful exploration. In the national park, guests are welcome to join armed game rangers on guided nature hikes.
How to get to Lake Mburo National Park.
The park is located between the cities of Masaka and Mbarara and is easily accessible by road, requiring around 228 kilometres and three and a half hours to travel. Lake Mburo National Park links Kampala to the parks of western Uganda.