In the middle of an extensive rich acacia woodlands lies one of Uganda’s most spectacular and breathtaking game parks in Uganda. Lake Mburo national park conveniently located close to the western high way that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. This beautiful jewel of a park is found en route to the Albertine Rift and offers the best place to see the impala, buffalo, topi, and the largest heard of zebra the country has to offer, together with a vast variety of bird life. Small enough to cover in a day and conveniently located close enough to Kampala city to make it the perfect getaway. The five lakes with in the park attract hippos and crocodiles while fringing swamps hide secretive papyrus specialists such as the sitatunga antelope and red, black and yellow papyrus gonalek. The park also has an impressive bird list with 332 species recorded including shoe bill, papyrus, yellow warbler, African fin foot, saddle billed stork, brown chested wattled plover, carrutter’s Cisticola, tabora Cisticola, Great snipe, Abyssinian ground horn bill and white winged warbler. Acacia woodland bird species are especially well represented.

Wildlife

Lake Mburo harbours several species not easily observed elsewhere in Uganda. It is the only park in the country to support a population of impala, the handsome antelope for which Kampala is named, and one of only three protected areas countrywide where Burchell’s zebra occurs, the other two being the far less accessible Kidepo and Pian Upe. Other antelope species likely to be seen by casual visitors are topi, bush buck, common duiker, Oribi Defassa water buck and Bohor reed buck, while the lake and lush fringing vegetation support healthy populations of buffalo, warthog, bush pig and hippopotamus. Some 315 species of bird have been recorded in Lake Mburo National park like black bellied bustard, bare- faced go away bird and Ruppell’s long tailed starling. A handful of birds recorded at Lake Mburo are essentially southern species at the very northern limit of their range, for instance the southern ground horn bill, black collared and black throated barbets and green capped eremomela. Of special interest to birders are the swamps, in which the six papyrus endemics are resident, including the brilliantly coloured papyrus gonalek, the striking blue- headed coucal, and the highly localized white- winged and papyrus yellow warblers the last recorded nowhere else in Uganda.

Size; 371 sq. km

Location: in the south, near Mbarara

Getting there:

Lake Mburo National Park lies between Masaka and Mbarara in western Uganda, 228km (3½ hours) from Kampala. Two gates enter the park from the Mbarara road: approaching from Kampala, the turning to Nshara Gate is 13kms past Lyantonde while the junction for Sanga Gate is at Sanga trading Centre, 27km past Lyantonde. Both junctions are clearly signposted. It is about a 20-minute drive from either gate to Rwonyo.

Safari activities and attractions

Rwonyo rest camp

Rwonyo is the centre of tourism activities in the park. The rest camp is the starting point for nature walks and game drives

Horseback safaris

Mihingo Lodge introduced horseback safaris in the east of the park, another first in a Ugandan protected area. The event is tailored to your experience and requirements. Kids can be led on good nature ponies while at the other extreme experienced riders can help a couple of ex- racehorses burn off some calories.

Game drives

The part of the national park to the east of Lake Mburo is traversed by a network of game tracks. The quality of game viewing in particular locations is influenced by the season as well as long term vegetation changes. To the west of Rwonyo, starting near Sanga gate, the Rwizi track leads through an area of light acacia Savannah. Impala, eland and Burchell’s zebra are common in this area and the western shore of Lake Mburo is visible at times. In the south of the park, the lakeside track passes through dense woodland that is home to bush buck and bush duiker, to Kigarama hill which provides a panoramic view of Lake Mburo.

Guided walks – Rubanga Forest

One of the major attractions of Lake Mburo is that you are permitted to walk anywhere in the park in the company of an armed ranger. Of particular interest to walkers and birders is the Rubanga forest, which lies off the Rwizi track and can only be visited with the permission of the warden, who will provide you with an armed ranger.
Boat trips
The Lake is rich with a diversity of animal and plant species which can only be viewed clearly if you take a boat trip the crocodiles, Hippopotamuses and birds like Pelicans, Black Crake, Heron, Cormorant, Fish Eagle. Watch out for crocodiles and hippopotamus during the two hour Voyage. Lake Mburo is possibly the easiest place in Uganda to see the elusive African fin foot, which is generally associated with still water below overhanging branches. The duration of each boat cruise is negotiable with the park management.

Nature trail
Offers the visitor a chance to admire nature they have opportunity to walk in the circuit at their pace in company of an armed guide.

Fishing
About six species of fish are found on Lake Mburo the common one being Tilapia (Oreoclcroomisleacosti) but others include lung fish, mud fish, Haplochromes. Using hooks visitors can spend some time catching fish, a shade is provided at the campsite to ensure maximum relaxation for visitors while at the lake.

Conservation Education Centre

The park has conservation Education Center, 1km west of Sanga gate. This provides accommodation and an education half for school groups, visitors, seminars and workshops.

Where to stay

The park has accommodation facilities there are tents at Rwonyo park headquarters, there are also three public campsites. A more luxury accommodation is provided at the

• Montana Luxury Tented,
• Arcadia cottages,
• Eagle’s Nest Camp,
• Lake Mburo campsite,
• Lake Mburo safari lodge,
• Rwakobo rock,
• Rwonyo rest camp and an upmarket place to stay is Mihingo Lodge.