Lake Mburo National Park, Best Time to Visit, Things To Do
The western part of Uganda is home to Lake Mburo National Park found in Kiruhura district, which is next to the district of Mbarara. And it covers an area of 260 square kilometers, which makes it Uganda’s smallest Savannah park. In the park, Lake Mburo is where most of the fun is, but there are 11 other lakes nearby. Ankole people have a story that two brothers named Kigarama and Mburo used to live in a big valley near the park. Kigarama had a vision in his dream that showed them a danger that would happen if they stayed in the valley. Mburo didn’t believe him when he told him about his dream. Kigarama ran away from the valley and into the hills to stay safe. There was a flood in the valley one day, and Mburo drowned. The lake was named Mburo, and the hills close were named Kigarama. Despite its size the park offers beautiful scenery with flat grasslands, rolling hills, woods, bush thickets, rocky outcrops, lakes, and swamps.
The park is home to home to rare animal such as zebras, the Eland, the Klipspringer, the Impala, and huge bush rats, leopards among other species. The park perfectly situated next to a highway that connects Kampala, to other popular tourist destinations and national parks in the west of Uganda, such as Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Bunyonyi. Hence making it’s a popular place for tourists to stop on their long drives to see gorillas in Bwindi or chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park.
Bird watching in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo is one of the best places in Uganda to see birds. The swamps of Warukiri and Miriti are the best places to see birds in Lake Mburo. The African grey hornbill, barefaced go-way bird, Nubian woodpecker, black-billed barbet, trilling cisticola, blue-napped mousebird, brown parrot, common quails, crested francolin, Lilac-breasted roller, the emerald-spotted wood dove, greenwood hoopoe, Red necked Spur, white-winged warbler, and Shoebill stork are some of the species. While at the Rwonyo camp, birders can also spot the red-necked spur fowl African-wattled plover Rufous, Flappet larks, southern Red Bishop, Black Bellied Bustard, Coqui francolin, Rufuos chested Swallow, yellow-throated long claw and Temminck’s courser. Lake Mburo is the best place to spot the rare African finfoot and white backed heron
Day and Night Game Drives
Game drives in Lake Mburo National park allow you to spot most of the animals and birds that call the park home. The game drives are led by an armed ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) who helps to identify the different species of animal and birds.
In the early morning or during the night tour, many people go to “leopard rock” to see leopards. But there aren’t as many hyenas in the park as there are in some of Uganda’s other big game parks. Gecko, leopards, bush pigs, mongooses, and white-tailed mongooses can all be seen on the two-hour night game drives.
Boat Cruise in Lake Mburo Nati0nal Park
A trip on a boat on Lake Mburo will help you see all the beautiful parts of the Park. This is best done during the dry season when most of the animals come for a drink on the lake. During the boat cruise visitors can spot zebras, buffaloes, hippos, antelopes, crocodiles, and otters.
The commonest birds during the boat cruise include African Fish Eagles, Blue-headed Weavers, Malachite Kingfishers, Cormorants, Rufous Long-tailed Starlings, Green-necked Doves, Herons, Hammerkops, Pelicans, Pied Kingfishers, and Shoebill Storks.
Guided Nature Walks in Lake Mburo National Park
You can go on nature walks anywhere in this park as long as you have an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority guard lead you unlike in the other parks. While on the nature walk you will get a chance to see the various antelopes, buffaloes, Zebras, and giraffes grazing. During your nature walk watch out for the butterflies and birds. In the morning walks, you might even encounter hyenas going to their dens after the nights hunt or hippos heading to the water after grazing on land.
The Lakeside Track
Related to the nature walk is the walk through the established Lakeside Track in the southern part of Lake Mburo. This track allows visitors to spot bush duiker and marvel at the dense woodland. The path goes up to the top of Kigarama, from which you can see Lake Mburo and the national park as a whole.
Fishing at Mazinga
The numerous lakes and spots like Mazinga offer opportunities for fishing species like the Tilapia, Haplochromes, mud fish, and lung fish. Mazinga fishing spot is located in a safe section of Lake Mburo with no crocodiles or hippos where visitors can take part in sport fishing. After fishing you will enjoy your fish at your lodge. There are shades near the fishing pints that ensure relaxation in-between fishing session. In order to engage in fishing you must have a fishing licenses from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)
Rubanga Forest Walk
The forest walk is usually arranged by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in advance and starts from the Western shores of Lake Mburo. Rubanga forest is the best place for birding since it home to over 42 species and all can be spotted during the forest walk.
Some of the tree species to look out for while in Rubanga forest are Acacia, Markhamia, Fig Trees, Palm among others. The bird species include double-toothed barbet, harrier hawk green pigeon, Grey-backed cameroptera, and the rare Shoebill Stork.
The Salt Lick
You can go on a guided walk with an armed guard to the Salt Lick, where animals lick the salty ground in the area. Observation points have been identified by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to allow visitors to view all the different species of animals that come to lick the salt like zebras and antelopes. The thing to do usually starts in the morning and doesn’t last longer than two hours.
Riding a horse
One of the two parks in Uganda where people can ride horses and watch animals is Lake Mburo. In Uganda, you can also go on horseback safaris in the Kabwoya wildlife area, which is near Lake Albert. People who go on horseback tours can get very close to the animals. The horses look like they know the zebras and even the shy eland. They stay away from them, but they don’t run away like they do when tour cars are around.
Getting To the Igongo Cultural Center: Lake Mburo National Park
It takes 4 kilometers to get to the Igongo Cultural Center from the Sanga gate. The Banyakitara use the Center to show off their traditions and culture history. The Bakiga, Banyoro, Batooro, and Banyankole are all Banyakitara tribes. There is a small museum that keeps local arts and crafts and things that are important to their old culture. With the help of guides, tourists can learn about the tribes’ past and how they live. Grass huts and food from the area are on display, along with many other things. As a gift, tourists can buy things like crafts and other works of art made in the area.
A quad bike ride to find game: Lake Mburo National Park
Because there aren’t many big cats in Lake Mburo National Park, riding a bike is one of the best ways to see wildlife there. The quad bike rides take you through areas where zebras feed and where you can see the long-horned Ankole cattle that are owned by the Banyankole tribe. Quad biking safaris are unique because they let you get closer to wildlife. People going on a quad bike safari should bring water and snacks in case they get thirsty or tired.
What is the best time to visit lake Mburo
The dry seasons (June-August and December-February) are ideal for wildlife viewing since animals concentrate around water sources. The wet seasons (March-May and September-November) offer lush landscapes and wonderful birdwatching, especially for migratory birds, although road navigation can be hard.
Accommodation in Lake Mburo National Park
Mantana tented camp
The Arcadia Cottages
Rwonyo Rest Camp
Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Eagle’s Nest Lodge
Mihingo Lodge
Rwakobo Rock