Lake Mburo National Park is located in western Uganda, conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to Mbarara and other popular national parks in the west and southern Uganda. It is situated approximately 240 km from Kampala, making it the closest national park to Kampala city and Entebbe airport. The park is easily accessible by road, about a 3-4 hour drive. The entry fee is $40 per person per day. The park offers a range of budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation options.
It is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda, covering a total area of 370 sq. km, yet it contains up to 5 lakes within its boundaries. The park is underlined by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks dating back more than 500 million years, upon which most luxurious lodges are perched, offering stunning views to their esteemed residents.
Lake Mburo National Park is home to over 350 bird species, 6 fish species, and over 70 mammal species, including Impalas, which are only found in this park.
The park was initially declared a controlled hunting area in 1933 but was later upgraded to a game reserve in 1963 with the aim of conserving a vast array of wildlife. It was further gazetted into a fully-fledged national park in 1983 by the Obote government to push away Bahima pastoralists who were encroaching on the park’s land for grazing.
This action coincided with the Operation Bonanza massacre of 300,000 people. Since the evicted pastoralists were neither compensated for lost grazing land nor assisted with resettling, many remained hostile to the upgrade. The rangeland outside the park was later divided into small plots and given to squatters for subsistence farming.
In 1985, when Obote’s regime collapsed, the Bahima reclaimed their land, resulting in chaos; they expelled park staff, destroyed infrastructure, and decimated wildlife. Eventually, only half of the park’s land was re-gazetted by the NRM government in 1986.
Safaris to Lake Mburo
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Bird Watching
Lake Mburo National Park provides the best birding spots, such as the swamp valleys of Warukiri and Miriti, and the roadsides between Rwonyo and Lake Mburo jetty. There are also ideally situated viewing platforms at the salt lick and in Rubaga forest. Species observed in this park include Rufous-bellied Heron, Grey Crowned Crane, Black Bellied Bustard, Red-headed Lovebird, Ross’s Turaco, and many more.
Launch Trips
Explore the wildlife-rich eastern banks of Lake Mburo during a tranquil 2-hour boat cruise. You will view crocodiles, herds of buffaloes, schools of hippos, as well as bird species such as magnificent fish eagles, hammerkops, colorful kingfishers, among others. The boat departs from Rwonyo jetty every two hours, starting at 8:00 am.
Game Drives
Game drives come in three types: morning, evening, and night drives, each lasting 2-3 hours. The night game drive offers a chance to view animals rarely seen during the day, such as Bush babies, Pottos, and leopards. During a game drive in this park, one is assured of spotting impalas, zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, elands, topis, etc. Recently introduced giraffes can also be encountered.
Hiking & Nature Walks
The entire park is open to avid ramblers and hikers, as long as they are accompanied by a ranger guide. At Rwonyo, a guided walk leads to a salt lick where many animals are attracted to salt rocks. Nature walks in Lake Mburo National Park take 2 hours and may encounter hyenas returning to their dens. Hikes through the woodlands provide an opportunity to sight forest birds and mammals, while a walk to the hilltop rewards visitors with a spectacular view of 9 out of 14 lakes in the region.
Horseback Riding Safaris
Horseback riding offers a chance to view wildlife, including elands and buffaloes. Also commonly sighted are warthogs, topi, impala, bushbucks, waterbucks, zebras, among others. This activity takes four hours and gives visitors an option for an exclusive bush breakfast or sundowner.
Sport Fishing
Lake Mburo contains 6 species of fish, with tilapia being the most common. The designated sport fishing site is at Mazinga; visitors should bring their fishing equipment and obtain a fishing permit from UWA.
Accommodation in Lake Mburo
Accommodation ranges from luxury to budget and includes Mihingo Safari Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, Mburo Safari Lodge, Arcadia Cottages, Rwakobo Rock, and Eagles Nest, among others.
Getting There
The park is located in the western part of the country, 240 km from Kampala city, accessible within 3-4 hours. You can embark on a fully guided tour or a self-drive trip to reach the park. There are several routes to access the park through respective gates, all branching off from the Kampala-Mbarara highway. These include Sanga gate, 37 km east of Mbarara town, and Nshara gate, 50 km from Mbarara town.
Alternatively, you can use public executive buses from Kampala, such as Global Coaches, which depart from Bakuri on Namirembe Road. Disembark at Sanga town and then take a private taxi or boda boda to Lake Mburo National Park.
