Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest national park and the nearest park to both Entebbe and Kampala. Tourists planning a wildlife safari in Uganda or a game viewing safari, lake mburo national park should be one of your safari destinations. Lake mburo is located approximately 240 kilometres from Kampala and only 30 kilometres from Mbarara, which is the largest town in western Uganda. From Entebbe airport to lake mburo national park, its approximately kilometres. Lake mburo national park is surrounded by 4 districts and these include Mbarara town, Lyantonde, Isingiro north and kiruhura.

Lake mburo national park was first gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting place and later improved to a game reserve in 1963. The national park area was occupied by the banyankore pastoralists known as the bahima who continued to herd their cattle as well as other livestock until it was given the status of a national park by the Obote regime in 1983.

Lake mburo has a wide ecosystem and nature, which prevails in the western region. The park has rocky ridges and forested gorges, narrow bands of lush riparian woodland, and much more. The lake has been an addition to the formation of beautiful scenery, thus attracting various tourists to come on a Uganda safari to see the hidden jewel of the national park.

The national park is home to 68 mammal species, though it doesn’t have lions and elephants. Since there are no lions in the park, this gives tourists the opportunity to freely move close to the animals and have a close encounter with them. The national park has a number of birds and some of the birds spotted include a rare shoebill stork, African finfoot, pelican and heron, among others.

The origin of lake mburo

Lake Mburo National Park is deeply rooted in local traditions, particularly among the people of Ankole. According to them, there once lived two brothers that is kigarama and mburo. One time, kigarama had a dream that warned him of a great flood that would destroy their home. He later told the younger brother, Mburo, to go to higher ground, but mburo ignored the warning.

After the heavy rains came, the whole place was flooded, and it formed a lake that was named mburo. Mburo and his livestock drowned, as kigarama survived by listening to the warning.

Up to date, local communities tend to believe that the lake was holy, and some traditions discourage fishing or troubling its waters in certain areas. Therefore, this myth adds a cultural depth to the African safari which connects tourists to the history and beliefs of the people who stayed alongside the lake for years.

ACTIVITIES IN LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

Visiting lake mburo national park provides a number of activities, which make it one of the most extraordinary safari destinations for a Uganda safari. Famous for its calm environment, rich wildlife and captivating landscapes, the national park offers experiences that go beyond the traditional safari.

Game drives

Zebras

Game drives within lake mburo national park are the most famous and the major highlight of any wildlife safari. The national park has open savannah and acacia woodlands, which makes it easy to see animals. Game drives are carried out in the morning and afternoon in a safari vehicle. While on a game drive, tourists can have an encounter with zebras, impalas, elands, buffaloes, warthogs and giraffes.

Walking safaris

Lake mburo is one of the parks that allow walking safaris. Escorted by armed rangers, tourists can explore the wilderness on foot. While on a walking safari, tourists have a close encounter with wildlife species, a deeper understanding of animal tracks and plants and a more intimate connection with nature. Therefore, walking safaris are captivating and unique addition to the Uganda safari which sets them apart from other african safari destinations.

Boat cruise

Boat cruise safaris are another amazing and interesting activity that one can’t miss while on a safari in lake mburo national park. the boat cruise is carried out in two different schedules: the morning game drive, which starts at 9am and the afternoon boat cruise, which starts at around 2pm.

While on a boat cruise safari, tourists take 2 to 3 hours and will have great views of the beautiful scenery and animals like hippos and crocodiles within the water, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs tsking water along the shores, and aquatic bird species such as cormorants, kingfishers, herons, pelicans, African fish eagles, the elusive shoebill stork, and the African finfoot among others. Therefore, the activity is ideal for a wildlife safari and birding safari, hence providing excellent opportunities.

Birdwatching

Lake mburo national park is home to over 350 recorded bird species, including endemic species, migratory birds, waterbirds, forested birds and savannah birds which makes it a birders’ haven.

Bird-watching safaris in lake mburo national park is carried out in different places such as rubanga forest, swampy valleys of miriti and warukiri, roadsides between rwonyo camps among others. While on the birding safari, tourists can spot the prehistoric shoebill stork, saddle billed stork, African wattled lapwing, African finfoot, papyrus gonolek, red-faced barbet, brown chested lapwing, blue headed coucal and many more.

Cycling safaris

Cycling safaris are an adventurous activity where tourists explore the national park on bicycles. The rides within the national park are guided by game rangers to protect tourists from dangerous animals.

While on the cycling activity, tourists follow well designated areas that go through open plains of savannah grasslands, swampy valleys and forested hills where you will get a close encounter with animals such as zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, warthogs, and impalas, as well as different bird species, vegetation types and many more.

Horseback safaris

Another adventurous activity in lake mburo national park offers tourists an opportunity to view and interact with different animals on a horse. While on the horseback safari, tourists get the opportunity to ride across the savannah plains, where they can observe animals such as buffaloes, zebras, Topis, warthogs, elands, duikers, waterbucks, and a number of bird species, among others.

Nature walks

Tourists on a Uganda safari in lake mburo national park can enjoy nature walks around the park’s breathtaking landscapes. These walks offer opportunities to discover the rolling hills, acacia trees and open plains. The views surrounding lake mburo national park are amazing especially during sunrise and sunset, thus enhancing your African safari.