Lake Mburo National Park is a diverse habitat of open savannah located in the western part of Uganda covering an area of approximately 260 square kilometers,20 percent of the land area is covered water bodies including the Lake Mburo that has been named after it, its well situated between the capital city of Uganda and the parks of west and south western Uganda making it a perfect stopover for a night towards a Ugandan tour, the national park stands out at an elevation of 1220m-1828m above sea level, It is the only conservation area that is close to Kampala.
The parks’ habitat includes rock out crops, acacia woodlands, bush, thickets, forest, swamps and rivers harboring 69 mammal species including burchell’s zebras, Rothschild’s giraffes, elands, topi, impala, warthogs, and ounce in a while lions and leopards can be spotted, the water and its banks keep shy species like the sitatunga along the swampy area and hippos in the water, it boasts with over 300 species of birds including the critically endangered famous shoebill, and the African fin foot, other species include papyrus yellow warbler, brown chested wattle plover, piapiac, to mention a few it’s the only park to find the burchell’s zebras and topi in only lake Mburo national park and queen Elizabeth national park. Primates like the olive baboons and the vervet monkeys are present within the gazette area.
The 260 square kilometer national park has six swamps that interconnect the lakes hosting both macro and micro –organisms the park lies in the rain shadow of Lake Victoria the largest lake in Uganda traditionally known as Lake Nalubale receiving an average of 880mm of rainfall annually, the recorded temperature for the national park rises to 27º C although it keeps varying depending on the time of the year. It can be visited all year round.
Lake Mburo National Park can be explored on a boat cruise, or game drives, its well distributed with game tracks to follow in order to see the animals, it’s the only national park where it is safe to do horseback riding it is done at the Mihingo lodge visiting the animals on a horse is much more comfortable than vehicle the lodge ensures a ride even if you’re a beginner experienced guides are always there to help. Besides the horse back, lake Mburo offers other means of viewing game like mountain biking, and boat safaris.
The lake Mburo area is surrounded by Banyankole and Bahima cattle cultivators, they live on large farms of land and are sparsely populated they are bantu speaking race of people in the western part of Uganda, journeys can be adjoined to visit their local traditional centers for example the Igongo cultural center and the Nshenyi village, it is best visited in the dry seasons of the year December –February and June- mid September , it should be noted that the dry seasons are not totally dry as the country is a tropical rainforest so it rains any time even during these two seasons.
Lake Mburo National Park receives an annual rainfall of up to 800mm, the deep valleys support forest and often time the floor is dry despite the park having many water bodies, presenting an opportunity to have successful game drives along the different distributed tracts, the lake drains its water to the Lake Victoria including the wetlands within, the parks base is composed of metamorphic rocks dating back to 500 million years ago, clay loam soil topped up the rocks at the surface. There is available accommodation within and outside the national park ranging from luxury to the best budget for example Mihingo Lodge, eagles nest, or in the nearest town in Mbarara.
TOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Lake Mburo National Park is situated in the western part of Uganda closest of all the conservation areas in the western park of Uganda, connecting through via the equator it’s a perfect stop over to and from the other parks for a night or two as it is endowed with a variety of attractions, lake Mburo national park is covered by water bodies despite it having dry grounds as a result of clay and loam soil the park is elevated at an altitude of 1220m-1828m above sea level, it is a diverse habitat of savannah covering an area space of 260 square kilometers. The attractions are many in number with great angelic views.
Lake Mburo is within the ecosystem from which the park acquires its name, many animals, water birds gather around the banks of the water body for greener pastures and water for example antelopes, waterbucks, hippos, crocodiles, elands, topi to mention a few, birds like the African fish eagle, pia piac, the swampy areas on a lucky day may give you a change of seeing the famous shoebill stock and sitatunga.
Rubango forest is a closed forest canopy on the western side of lake Mburo, it is a small forest but presents an opportunity to view wildlife, it is a habitat of animal and bird species of the national park including primates like the olive baboons and the vervet monkeys, common birds that can be sighted include the green pigeon, African fish eagles, king fisher, spur fowl, harrier hawk to mention a few.
The flora and fauna of the national park its vegetative cover contains an extensive habitat of wetlands, rocky out crops, lakes and swamps that harbor over 68 mammal species, the 260 square kilometer national park includes the flat grasslands with bush thickets homes to bird species as well, it is the best place to see leopards specially during the night game drives. Animals present include buffaloes, hippos, elands, topi, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, zebras, giraffe’sbirds like pelicans, herons, Abyssinian ground horn bill, African fish eagle, black and yellow papyrus gonolek, herons do exist in the national park catching attention as a great birding destination.
Lake Mburo national park is a popular destination for a number of tourism activities, travelers have a great choice to make on a visit to the destination, organized of them include horseback riding, game drives, bicycle riding, boat cruises, birding, fishing safaris along the lake Mburo a combination of these factors makes it a perfect destination to visit.
The national park is a 4 hours’ drive from Kampala Uganda’s capital city, it is strategically located winning it a couple of visitors, the park is best visited during the dry season of December –February and June-mid-September the park receives an annual average rainfall of 880mm the wet seasons stretch from March-May, and September –November. There is available accommodation ranging from the best budget to midrange for example Mihingo lodge, Rwakobo rock, eagles nest, lake Mburo safari lodge. It is advisable to carry long sleeved shirts and trousers, boots for forest and nature walks, insect repellants, water proof covers for phones and cameras as Uganda is a tropical rain forest country implying that it can rain anytime.
TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Lake Mburo national park is located in the western part of Uganda, it was initially gazette in 1933 as a safe hunting area, it’s the closet of the country’s conservation areas to the capital city Kampala and a perfect stop over to and from the western parks including the queen Elizabeth national park, Semiliki national park and the famous Bwindi impenetrable national park, it is a wetland ecosystem comprised of the lake Mburo from which it is named, swamps and rivers. It is placed at an altitude of 1220m-1828m above sea level covering a total area of approximately 260 square kilometers.
Horseback ridingin lake Mburo national park is an initiative of Mihingoone of the best safari experiences it allows you get to the usual game tracks into the plains to the wild animals, whether a learner or experienced ridder, its enjoyable as your trained before engaging in the activity and accompanied by an experienced guide. Horseback riding is done in the morning hours a maximum of six participants is allowed to do the horseback riding, beginners are advised to take a walk, expert ridders can take 4-5 hours in the wilderness.
Game drives in the national park are conducted in the morning hours or night time in search of nocturnal species, it is well distributed with game tracks that present an opportunity to see animals like buffaloes, elands, topi, waterbucks, hippos, primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys, kilpsinger, giraffes to mention a few. Lake Mburo is the best place to see leopards on a night game drive.
The national park hosts over 315 species of birds a perfect destination for birding safarisvisible birds include the brown chested wattled plover, Carrutherscisticola, African fish eagle, African fin foot,blue headedweaver, malachite kingfishers, herons, in the fringe swamps it’s possible to see the rare shoebill stock it is advisable to carry a pair of binoculars to enjoy birding while in the national park
Boat cruise along lake Mburo will take you to the beautiful parts of the national park enabling you to have a face to face interaction with the floraand fauna animals gather around, the cruise normally takes place between 2-3 hours with the most angelic views of wildlife and aquatic animals like hippos, crocodiles, birds like king fisher, African fish eagles can be sighted during the boat cruise.
Bicycle riding in lake Mburo national park is an initiative of Rwakobo rock within the national park starting way back in 2013, the trend keeps picking as many people are getting interested in the biking safaris, it gets you closer to the wild life in the national park, rides are conducted and lead by an experienced guide trails last up to 1 hour for as long as one can ride. The trails are normally at the flat line valley bottom where there is abundance of wildlife.
Hiking and nature walks are done within the national park accompanied by an experienced guide from the Uganda wildlife authority there will be ancient stories to be told during the walk asking questions is recommendable as the guides are really knowledgeable it is an ideal place to go hiking due to absence of elephants and lions the best time to do walks is during the morning times as you will have a chance to encounter many animal species like zebras, elands, topi among others.
The park is located in the western part of Uganda approximately a 4 hours’ drive from Kampala the capital city, it can be visited all year round but best during the dry season of December –February, June –mid-September the parks temperature rises to 27º C although it keeps varying depending on the time of the year. There is available accommodation within the national park ranging from budget to luxury.
ACCOMMODATION IN LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Lake Mburo national park is located in the western part of Uganda, containing a grassy woody habitat, rocky escarpments, forest, bush and thickets, 20 % of the park is covered in water bodies including the Lake Mburo form which it gains its name,it is well situated close to the capital city of Uganda Kampala the national park is home to several animal and bird species including zebras, elands, topis, vervet monkeys, baboons, hippos to mention a few. It lies at an altitude of 1220m-1828m above sea level and is the best place to see leopards during a night game drive.it isunderlined by metamorphic rocks dated back to over 500 million years ago strategically located along the kampala-mbarara highway connecting to the parks in the western part of the country.
Many people might wonder where to stay while in the park, it should be noted that there is available accommodation ranging from best budget to luxury including the Mihingo lodge, arcadia cottages, Rwakobo rock, eagles nest, lake Mburo safari lodge and the neighboring mbarara town for more accommodation.
Mihingo lodge Mihingo lodge is a calm peaceful luxury facility in Lake Mburo national park smallest of Uganda’s national parks Mihingo lodge sits on the rugged terrain enhancing beautiful views of the nature of the park, uniquely setup to suit the calmness of the environment in which it is built consisting of 10 luxurious tented rooms designed with a major aim of creating comfort to the clients and satisfaction each positioned at a point where one can have a good view of the lake or the forest.The lodge was constructed using local material to blend and suite the environment, the tents are well furnished, large and having basic facilities to offer a comfortable stay they have flash toilets and en-suite bathrooms having both hot and cold water, the main dining room is unique and first of its kind in Uganda made out of dead olive wood trees that were found on the Mihingo land, decorated with African crafts, local and international cuisines are served together with a well-stocked bar offering a wide selection of wines, beers and spirits.
Mburo safari lodge is a luxury facility and eco-friendly lodge the luxurious cottages are raised on a wooden plat form and covered in grass thatched houses making it blend with nature and the environment within which it is located, all cottages have a private balcony fitted with an en-suite bathroom , there are resident zebras and troops of vervet monkeys around the safari lodge making it an ideal place to see wildlife in the national park, it has a high class restaurant, swimming pool and a well-stocked bar.
Rwakobo rock is a family run lodge with a true aspect of the wilderness offering private grass thatched cottages with a solar lighting and heating of water in the rooms a flush toilet en-suited and shower. The facilities are dotted all over the hill surrounding the wilderness. The lodge is placed 8km off the main road and 1km to the park entrance gate in the national park, it is a beautiful place to relax at the pool while viewing wildlife. The dining area offers amazing experiences as it overlooks the water bodies that catch animals like impalas.
Arcadia lodge is placed at the headquarters of lake Mburo National park, Rwonyo a perfect place to begin game drives, spot hippos and crocodiles it has eight cottages arranged around the central building of the lodge each of which has been built with a n en-suite bathroom the restaurant is an exciting place as you have the chance to relax around a camp fire in the evening hours.
Eagles nest is a property of nature lodges offering accommodation located on a hill bordering lake Mburo national park, the tented camp has an ultimate African canvas experience each safari tent having its own veranda overlooking the park. It has 10 African safari tents each of which has been furnished with twin beds.
BEST TIME TO VISIT LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Lake Mburo national park is one of Uganda’s smallest conservation areas placed near the capital city Kampala it is a perfect stop over while connecting to routes in the western part of Uganda it occupies an area of 260 square kilometers habitat to 68 animal species and several bird kinds. It was initially gazette in 1933 as a safe hunting area. Most of the park area is covered in water known for its numerous lakes, rivers and swampy areas including the lake Mburo from which the area attains its name elevated at an altitude of 1220m-1828m above sea level.
The best time to visit the national park is during the dry seasons of the year in December – Februaryand June-mid September during this time of the year, animals gather around water bodies to drink water and graze making it easy to track them, the trails are less slippery with ease to access the national park. The savannah is quite dry most species are notably seen. Despite the dryness, it should be noted that it is not dry as such, sometimes it rains Uganda is a tropical rain country so it expects it to rain anytime.
The wet seasons are wonderful to see the national park, this is the time it is at the peak of beauty as it blossoms, receiving 880mm of rainfall annually in the months of March-May and October to November, the park can be accessed how ever the game routes might be a little slippery and might call for a lot of patience to see the animals during this particular season.
The park can be accessed all year round as each season presents its own advantages, t is managed under the Uganda wildlife authority surrounded by a local community of bantu race of people the Bayankole and Bahima who were traditionally pastoralists and own huge pieces of land. It is advisable to wear long sleeved shirts and trousers, hats, insect repellants, boots, and any other personal material needed on an African safari.
The parks’ habitat includes rock out crops, acacia woodlands, bush, thickets, forest, swamps and rivers harboring 69 mammal species including burchell’s zebras, Rothschild’s giraffes, elands, topi, impala, warthogs, and ounce in a while lions and leopards can be spotted, the water and its banks keep shy species like the sitatunga along the swampy area and hippos in the water, it boasts with over 300 species of birds including the critically endangered famous shoebill, and the African fin foot, other species include papyrus yellow warbler, brown chested wattle plover, piapiac, to mention a few it’s the only park to find the burchell’s zebras and topi in only lake Mburo national park and queen Elizabeth national park. Primates like the olive baboons and the vervet monkeys are present within the gazette area.
Tourism activities popular in the national park include the horse back riding, boat cruises, game drives, birding safaris, bicycling to mention a few. There is available accommodation in the national park ranging from luxury to the best budget for example Mihingo lodge.