Explore Lake Mburo National Park

Covering an area of 370 sq kilometres, Lake Mburo is one of the largest five lakes that are nearby wetlands. The park is situated between the towns of Masaka and Mbarara in Uganda.

 

Lake Mburo National Park is the only place in Uganda where impalas, antelopes, as well as elands can be spotted. Other wildlife in the park include zebras, hippopotami, warthogs, elands, buffaloes, jackals and leopards.

 

The park boasts over 300 bird species. They include Abyssinian ground hornbill, African finfoot, African scops owl, Bare-faced go-away bird,  Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Blue-headed Coucal, Brown-chested Lapwing, Carruther’s Cisticola,  Greater painted snipe, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Mosque swallow, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus yellow warbler, Red-faced Barbet (NE), Shoebill, Tabora Cisticola, White-winged Warbler, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird e.t.c

 

Lake Mburo was originally gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting area and upgraded to a game reserve in 1963. In 2009, the Uganda Wildlife Authority announced plans to introduce balloon tourism in the park. It was not until 1983 that the reserve was upgraded into a national park.

Things to do

Game viewing

With about 69 species of mammals found in Lake Mburo National Park, holidaymakers stand a good chance to spot antelopes, elands, burchell zebras, Rothschild giraffes, lions, buffaloes, defassa waterbucks, reedbucks, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles and hippos.

Igongo Cultural Centre

The centre is about 4 kilometres from Sanga gate – just outside the park. It acts as a historical showplace for the Banyakitara, who inhabit western Uganda. Additional tribes include Banyoro, Bakiga, Batooro and Bayankole.

Rumour has it that with the Bayankole, the Ankole Cow was both king and queen and, was therefore considered the cow of kings in both Western Uganda and Rwanda. The cultural centre still has several traditional huts on display in addition to a museum, where more can be learnt about the traditions of the place.

Bird Watching

Boasting over 350 bird species, Lake Mburo National Park is definitely a bird lover’s paradise. Common birds in the park include Blue-napped and Speckled Mousebird, Lilac-breasted and Broad-billed Roller, and Green Wood-hoopoe, common scimitarbill, African Grey Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Yellow-Breasted Apalis, Northern Black Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Greater Blue-eared starling and Marico sunbird.

Boat Riding

There has never been a better way to commemorate Lake Mburo’s National Park holiday experience than a quiet glide on the park’s lake, enjoying the breath-taking views of flora and fauna, the best the lake has to offer and of cause not missing an opportune moment to take a glimpse at a cackle of hyenas or a pride of lions going about their businesses to make their next meal in the nearby.