Lake Mburo National Park | Uganda Safaris
Lake mburo national park is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda and is the only nearest park from Kampala capital city, it is located western Uganda in kiruhura district covering the total area of about 260square kilometers. It was gazetted in 1983; the park is a spectacular offering quiet number of Uganda safari activities to travelers. Lake mburo national park is a home to over 350 bird species recorded making the park birders haven. Also, on a Uganda wildlife safari to lake mburo national park one can spot encounter animals such impalas, zebras, warthogs, hippos, oribi, water bucks, elands to mention but a few. But later in 1985 Obote’s government collapsed then banyankore and bahima occupied the parks land to the extent that the park staff were expelled and the infrastructure were spoilt then they started poaching, so half of the park was re gazette by national resistance movement in 1986. The name lake mburo national park comes from the story of the two brothers mburo and kigarama who lived where lake mburo national park is now which was allow lying area where Bahima pastoralists used to graze their cattle. So, one-night kigarama the brother mburo he dreamt that there was to come heavy rainfall which could drain and flood the place and when it came to morning kigarama shared the story with his brother mburo what he dreamt at night so he wanted them to leave and find the new place, but mburo denied and yet during that time dreams were so much respected. Kigarama decided to move leaving his brother behind, and later on the dream came true and all the area flooded where brother mburo drs0owned and his property in lake mburo and it was named lake mburo, and the opposite hill was named kigarama for the remembrance of the two brothers. So that is lake mburo national park was gotten from the touching story of the two legendary brothers who once lived in the mighty savannah national park
Sections of lake mburo national park
The different sections of lake mburo national park
Lake mburo though it is small in size, but it is divided into distinct sections each with sections each with unique blend of habitats and some of these sections include
The lake district. This is at the heart of the park and there are five big lakes in lake mburo national park, lake kigambira and lake Kazuma where you can spot number of birds like pelicans, fish eagle, shoebill stork and others.
Savannah plains. It covers the largest part of the park and this section of the park is a home to large herds of herbivores like zebras, impalas, elands and on good days you may spot the leopards, hyenas and jackals.
The ranches. These are the Ankore grazing areas surrounding lake mburo national park where you will be able to see indigenous Ankore cattle with their long horns these were the first cows which bahima owned so they are so much important.
Woodland areas. On the fringes of savannah plains are the woodland areas characterized by denser vegetation with a lot of Acadia and other tree species, and these woodlands offer shelter to small mammals like bushbucks, warthogs, and birds making it a must for bird watchers to visit this part of the park.
The Rubanga forest. It is located in the western part of the park, the rubaganga forest provides a contesting eco system, and it is bird watchers paradise with over 40 different bird species recorded in the park and it is a home to some primates like the vervet monkeys and baboons.
The salt lick. It is close to the Rwonyo where the park headquarters are and it is nice spot place to watch animals like zebra’s elands, warthogs because they always come to lick the salty soils so visitors should not miss out on visiting the salt lick because you be so close to animals.
Those are some of the sections each offering comprehensive and immersive wildlife experience, and each section has distinct personality contributing to the diverse wildlife encounters and rich cultural interactions which makes a visit to mburo national park unforgettable.
Get To Know Lake Mburo National Park
The park covers an area of about 370 square kilometers. The park is a spectacular offering quiet number of Uganda safari activities to travelers. Also, on Uganda wildlife safari to lake mburo national park one can encounter animals like travelers to mention but a few.
Safaris to Lake Mburo National Park
Uganda, famously referred to as the “Pearl of Africa,” is a lush, vibrant country bursting with breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and exceptional wildlife encounters.
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7 Days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo safari
Activities to Do In Lake Mburo National Park
Lake mburo national park offers a variety of exciting activities that highlight its unique landscapes, diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage. As one of Uganda’s smaller parks it provides an intimate and tranquil environment for exploration, and each activity promises unforgettable experience in this beautiful savanna wilderness. And here are some of the activities carried out in lake mburo national park.
Game Drives:
Game drives in lake mburo national are one of the most thrilling activities to do while in mburo for wildlife safari, since the park is a home to different mammal species so those tourists who go for game drives will be able to spot animals like zebras, impalas, zebras, hippos, elands and others. Lake mburo national park is blessed with animals that are not in any other national park like the elands and zebras apart from kidepo valley national park.
Boat Crusie:
Lake mburo, queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls those are the only parks in Uganda that offer the boat cruise services. And taking a boat at lake mburo national park, it gives intimate encounter with the aquatic and semi aquatic species stunning landscapes and it takes 2 hours, you will also be able to see hippos that you missed during game drives, and the boat cruise is done in shifts either in the morning or afternoon, but the best is during the morning hours.
Horseback Rides:
This is an exciting activity to do in Lake Mburo National Park, and it is the only park in Uganda offers this which opportunity for horse riding and it takes place at mihinga lodge. Horse riding offers unique fabulous based adventure in the savanna plains and it takes 2 to 4 hours.
Cycling safaris:
Cycling safaris are stand out feature of lake mburo national park and it a unique for tourists to immerse themselves in its natural beauty and they are always led by professional guides to take through the villages. A cycling safari in mburo takes you to explore its diverse habitats passing through open savannahs woodlands and ranches and others it is a fitness activity because as you cycle your carrying out exercise.
Bird watching:
This is another activity do while in lake mburo national park, there are over 350 bird species recorded in the park and during birding executions you will be able to spot birds like hadada ibis, African fish eagle, papyrus gonolek, white backed night heron and among others.
Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake mburo national park is a good safari destination to visit because it is surrounded with beautiful nature which consists various plant species, and touring in lake mburo national park
Animals:
Lake mburo national park is a home to over 68 mammal species, and it supports Uganda’s only substantial population of impalas and zebras besides these common ones there are other animals like bushbucks, warthogs, oribi, hippos, bush pigs and large herds of elands which are only found in kidepo and lake mburo national park those are some of the animals that can be spotted in lake mburo national park.
Birds:
Lake mburo national park is one of the finest destinations for bird watching safaris in Uganda ,especially acacia associated birds Rwonyo rest camp is the perfect place to see birds like black-billed bustard, bare -faced go-away bird and other birds include African scops owl, brown-chested lapwing, African fish eagle, and they can best be spotted on lake mburo,rubanga forest where you will see green pigeons,, those are some of the best places where you can spot those different birds.
How to get to Lake Mburo National Park
There are two ways on how you access mgahinga national park
By road
Lake mburo national park can be accessed from Kampala via masaka, Lyantonde, there are two gates one can use the Nshara gate and Sanga gate before you proceed to Mbarara town and takes 3 to 4 hours only.
By air
Flights are available from Entebbe or kajansi airstrip up to Nyakisharara airstrip which is in Mbarara town and it is just one hour then the driver guide will pick you and take you to lake mburo national park or to where you are going to sleep.
Best Time Visit to Lake Mburo National Park
Lake mburo national park offers a rich wildlife experience throughout the year because the park is one at any time of the year and the best time to visit Uganda depends on your preferences, but dry season is considered the best season because during this season the vegetation is less lush making it easier to spot wildlife as animals congregate around water bodies to drink water so the chances of spotting these animals is high. And also, the dry season is better for visitors who wishes to engage in large range of activities like game drives, horse back riding safaris, so generally dry season has less rains which makes activities more enjoyable and rewarding
Though tourists to visit in rainy season it is still Ouk but it is very hard to access the park since roads are slippery, but it is the best season for birders because birds bleed during dry season and you will be able to spot different rare bird species.
Where to stay
Where to stay when you are in lake mburo national Park
There is a variety of accommodation facilities from luxury to budget range and these include
Luxury lodges
Kigambira safari lodge, mihingo lodge, emburara farm lodge, kigambira lodge and Mantana tented camp.
Mid-range
Rwakobo rock lodge, mburo safari lodge and arcadia cottages lake mburo.
Budget lodges
Eagle nest lake mburo, leopard rest lodge, Rwonyo rest camp.
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