Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Lake Mburo National Park is located to the west of Kampala, covering an area of about 370 square kilometers, and is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks. The lake was originally designated as a controlled hunting area in 1933 and was upgraded to a game reserve in 1963. It was finally declared a national park in 1983. The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Lake Mburo National Park is one of the three parks with Burchell’s zebra and also the only park with Impala. It is also unique because it has only two species of monkeys, which include the vervet monkey and the wonderful baboons that are seen in the beautiful trees of the park having fun and enjoying the environment. The park harbors 68 different species of mammals, including the zebra, impala, eland, topi, and buffalo. Leopards, hyenas, and jackals are the predators that are present. The bird population includes 315 species of birds, including the rare Shoebill stork, papyrus yellow warbler, African fin foot, saddle-billed stork, brown-chested wattled plover, ground hornbill, and white-wing warbler. The beautiful landscape with grassy hills and idyllic lakeshore provides a varied mosaic of habitat, with gallery forests, rich acacia valleys, and seasonal and permanent swamps to support this wealth of wildlife. This article provides you with some of the amazing tourism activities in Lake Mburo National Park.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Game drives
Game drives at Lake Mburu National Park are a popular activity conducted in the park and offered to every visitor while on a Uganda safari in the park. Game drives in Lake Mburu National Park can either be done very early in the morning so as to view animals when they are most active or in the evening, where you will be able to view animals going back to their resting areas. During the game drive, which takes about 3–4 hours, you will follow the eastern hinterland game tracks, where you will be rewarded with great views of animals like buffaloes, zebras, elands, impalas, buffaloes, hippos’ warthogs, reedbucks, defaces, waterbucks, leopards, hyenas, and several antelopes, among others. Game drives at Lake Mburu National Park are normally conducted in two shifts: morning and evening game drives.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Bird watching
Bird watching is another activity you shouldn’t miss while on a Uganda safari in Lake Mburu National Park. Birding in Lake Mburu is mainly done along the swamps of Warukiri and Miriti. During the bird-watching tour, visitors can spot a variety of birdlife, such as the African grey hornbill, barefaced go-way bird, black-billed barbet, blue-napped mousebird, brown parrot, common quails, crested francolin, emerald-spotted wood dove, greenwood hoopoe, lilac-breasted roller, Nubian woodpecker, Redecked Spur, trilling cisticola, white-winged warbler, and the shoebill stork, among others.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Boat cruise along Lake Mburo
Boat cruises are another rewarding activity you shouldn’t miss out on when you’re on a Uganda safari in Lake Mburo National Park. The cruise on Lake Mburo offers visitors the opportunity to view amazing flora and fauna at the national park, as well as the chance to explore the hidden treasures of the park. During the boat cruise, visitors can spot zebras, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, otters, and buffaloes. The commonest birds during the boat cruise include African Fish Eagles, Blue-headed Weavers, Cormorants, Green-necked Doves, Hamerkops, Herons, Malachite Kingfishers, Pelicans, Pied Kingfishers, Rufous Long-tailed Starlings, and Shoebill Storks. The duration of the boat cruise is not fixed and is open to negotiation.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Horse ride
Lake Mburo National Park is one of the 10 national parks in Uganda, offering amazing horseback rides to its visitors. Horse rides in the park offer visitors the thrill of exploring the park on horseback. A guided horseback ride allows you to cover more ground than traditional walking safaris while providing a unique perspective of the wildlife. The activity is done at Mihingo Lodge under the guidance of trained staff in conjunction with the park rangers. The horseback ride in Lake Mburo can take 1-3 hours as you explore the beauty of the national park savannah, coupled with the view of the wild game.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Fishing trip on Lake Mburo
Fishing is another exhilarating tourism activity carried out at Lake Mburu. The lake is endowed with six fish species, with the most commonly caught species being tilapia. Other species include catfish, lungfish, tigerfish, Angara fish, and barbells. The most common fishing spot at Mburo is Mazinga. For those tourists interested in doing a fish safari, they have to carry their own equipment and access permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Nature walks and hikes
Nature walks in the park are an interesting activity to take part in while on a wildlife safari in the park. Nature walks and hikes offer an opportunity for a nature lover to explore the hidden gems of the park as well as connect with nature. Visitors on a birding safari in the park can embark on guided nature walks through the park’s diverse landscapes, including savannah, woodland, and wetlands. This is an excellent opportunity to get up close to smaller wildlife and learn about the park’s flora and fauna.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Bike rides
Bicycle tours around the park. It’s a unique way of exploring the park and its confines. The bicycle rides at the park take a maximum of 1 hour, and they guarantee you a view of zebras, elands, buffaloes, antelopes, bush bucks, and many more.
Uganda Safari in Lake Mburo National Park: Cultural encounter
Cultural encounters at Lake Mburo National Park offer a fascinating insight into the traditional ways of life of the indigenous people residing near the park. Cultural encounters in Lake Mburo involve visiting the nearby communities, where you can get a chance to interact with the local people, such as the elderly and residents. During a cultural event, visitors have the opportunity to watch colorful dance, music, and stories from the elders. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about the history and way of life of the tribes with the help of guides. The traditional huts made of grass and local food are all on display, among many other items. Visitors can buy souvenirs like locally made crafts and other art pieces.
Accommodations
Birders planning to go on birding safaris in the park shouldn’t worry about where to stay. The park has a variety of accommodations to cater to all levels of visitors, such as Arcadia Cottages, Mburo Safari Lodge, Eagle’s Nest Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo Lodge, Rwakobo Rock, and Rwonyo Rest Camp.
