Lake Mburo National Park is situated in Mbarara district. It is about 3-4 hours’ drive from Kampala. This makes it the closest and nearest National Park perfect for shot wildlife safaris from Kampala the capital of Uganda. On the way to Lake Mburo, have a stop-over for a visit to the Equator that runs through Uganda and take photos underneath the Equator sign. There are souvenir shops that you can visit around the equator if interested you can buy one, there are good restaurants where you can have a snack to eat.
The park contains an extensive area of wetland and harbors several species of mammals not found anywhere else in Uganda, including Zebras and Impalas, the 315 bird species including the rare shoe bill stork and African Finfoot. It is the only savanna park in the western Uganda where giraffes and zebras live and only where you can hike throughout the park.
Attractions Not to Miss Out to see
When we talk about wildlife, there are many species of mammals found in the park including the Impala, Antelopes, Elands, Burchell Zebras and Rothschild Giraffes. Lake Mburo National Park is the best place in Uganda to see the Leopard especially during night game drives. However, there are no Elphants and Lions in the Park hence making it an ideal place for walking safaris. The park has many different bird species including the rare Shoebill, Paprus yellow warbler, Abyssinian ground hornbill and many more are attractive to tourists
After departing from the park for about 4 kilometers from Sanga gate, is Igongo Cultural center which is a historical show place for the Banyakitara who live in the western Uganda that is Banyankole, Bakiga and Banyoro. The cultural center has several traditional grass huts and guides can explain to you the way their life used to be. There is also a museum where you learn more of the ways of the local cultures plus enjoying local foods that you can eat in the nearby restaurant and some great roasted goat.
Activities carried out in the park
Game drives through the park allow you to see many animals and birds. It is only in this park that you can find Eland, Impala Antelopes, Burchell Zebras. You will have the opportunity of taking exceptional photographs of the fascinating creatures that live in this park. The night safari offers high chances of seeing leopards and walking safari to get close to the animals,
A Boat trip on lake Mburo gets you in touch with the flora and fauna and along the bank, you will see lots of animals coming for water especially during dry seasons. The boat is a very good platform to see birds, crocodiles and Hippos.
Lake Mburo is one of the best places for birding in Uganda with over 350 species. Bird watchers will find swampy valleys and the road sides for birding where one can easily spot the rare shoebill stork. The woody vegetation of Lake Mburo is dominated by Acacia species, Olea species and Boscia species. The swamps in the park also hide secretive papyrus specialists such as the Red, Black and Yellow papyrus gonalek you would not like to miss out.
As mentioned above, Lake Mburo is a unique Park from others is that, a nature walk can be taken anywhere within the park. On an early morning guided nature walk, you can find hyenas and hippos returning from grazing during the night and back to Lake Mburo to keep cool during the day and protect their sensitive skin from the sun. You will see Zebras, giraffes, Eland Topi and other Antelopes.
You may also take a guided walk with an armed ranger to the salt lick and observe animals licking the salty soils. There are 5 lakes within the park, Lake Mburo being the largest among them. Visitors can also carry out fishing whereby they can prepare to have it at their lodges where they stay since fishermen always come to Lake to carryout fishing
Accommodations
Lodges ranging from budge to luxury. Budget lodging is found at Eagle’s Nest which are tented lodges, Rwonyo rest camp owned by Uganda wild life authority. Under mid-range you find Mburo safari lodge which is strategically located for all the attractions in southwestern Uganda and luxury there is Mihingo safari lodge and Mantana tented Camp