Lake Mburo National Park — Gorilla Trekking Safaris Africa

Lake Mburo National Park is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck.

Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 50km-long wetland system linked by a swamp. Five of these lakes lie within the park’s borders

Lake Mburo is a whisper of the African Wild just a short distance off one of the main roads in Uganda – this peaceful, tranquil park is easily accessed and yet provides a genuine taste of the African Wild. 20 % of Lake Mburo National Park is covered by lakes and wetlands swamps which is part of a greater wetland system that extends beyond the National Park – 13 lakes in all. Not only can you find lakes and wetlands but also savanna grasslands that are dotted with acacia trees, rocky ridges, forested ravines.

Wildlife has been on the rebound here in recent years with even Lions making a comeback and if you do not see them in the daytime, you can hear their roar at night. In 2015 Giraffes were brought here from Murchison Falls Park making Lake Mburo, even more, a choice destination. All reasons to visit Lake Mburo Park and enjoy the Top Things to Do and See in Lake Mburo Park.

Activities in Lake Mburo National Park include

Game drives in the rolling hills and open grasslands

The network of game tracks in the east of the park passes a variety of landscape features including acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rock outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors.

Boat trip along Lake Mburo, Nature walk, sport fishing

Unusually, the whole park is open to walkers as long as they are accompanied by a ranger guide. Locations include the salt lick at Rwonyo, the lake’s banks, Rubanga Forest and a hilltop with gorgeous lake views.

Lake Mburo contains around six species of fish, with tilapia being the most common. The designated fishing spot is at Mazinga.

Adventure activities like horseback riding and quad biking.

Horseback safaris are an exciting way to view wildlife including eland and buffalo. Also commonly sighted are warthog, topi, impala, duiker, bushbuck, waterbuck and zebra.

Visiting the Equator

On the Way to Lake Mburo or the return trip to Kampala or Entebbe, we stop and take in a visit to the Equator that runs through Uganda. Our Clients love to have their pictures taken underneath the Equator Sign.

There are so-called scientific experiments, most of them are manipulated illusions and not authentic, but fun to watch.

There are a couple of decent restaurants here, where you can have a snack or a bite to eat, a soda or bottled water to drink, also pretty good coffee or tea.

There are also Curio and Souvenir Shops that you can visit. A couple of them have their wares nicely displayed and make it easier to shop for crafts, including of course the Equator T-Shirt that is a must buy for many clients of ours and others.

Bicycling Safaris- Lake Mburo

Another fun way to explore and discover Lake Mburo and even the surrounding area. These are guided bike rides that are from hour to as long as you would like.

Ride among the antelopes, zebras, buffaloes in the flat areas of the park. There are many more challenging choices for the avid Mountain Biker because the terrain of Lake Mburo is rather varied.

This is a great way to get out of the safari vehicle into Nature. We can include Lake Mburo in your bike safari of Uganda where we bring bikes along for you enjoy wherever possible.

There is nothing like hitting the trails of Lake Mburo and surrounding areas on a bike.

Be sure to have a supply of water and snacks on hand.

Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park

Birds

Lake Mburo National Park is home today to over 350 species of birds such as the Red-faced Barbet, only seen in Lake Mburo, the endemic African Finfoot and the rare Shoebill also thePapyrus Yellow Warbler, Saddle-billed Stork, Brown-chested Lapwing, African-wattled Lapwing, Carruther’s Cisticola, Tabora (Long-tailed) Cisticola, African Scops Owl, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and White-winged Warbler. Lake Mburo National Park is a park that Birders delight in and other visitors delight in the variety of colorful species of birds found here.

Wildlife

There are about 69 species of mammals found here at Lake Mburo including the Impala Antelopes, Eland Antelopes, Burchell Zebras, Rothschild Giraffes.

You can spot Warthogs, Buffaloes, Defassa Waterbucks, Reedbucks, Leopards and a few Lions in recent years, Hyenas, Crocodiles and Hippos.

Lake Mburo can certainly give you a taste of the wild of Africa close to Kampala, just a three and a half hour drive making it accessible to those with limited time on their hand who want to see some African Wildlife before leaving the country.

Rubanga Forest

In order to explore Rubanga Forest with its closed canopy prior arrangements have to be made with Uganda Wildlife Authority Personnel at Lake Mburo – something we would do for you if you are interested in a forest – nature walk here.

Rubanga Forest is especially a great place for birders and over 40 species of birds have been recorded in the forest including 5 forest specialists.

Trees found in Rubanga Forest are Markhamia, Platycaluz, Acacia, Palm, Fig Trees among others.

This forest provides a variety of habitats, which are great for birds thereby making it a special forest for bird watchers. There are over 40 species of birds recorded in Rubanga, 5 of which are forest “specialists”.

Birds found here include the Shoebill Stork, harrier hawk, green pigeon, narina trogn, Grey-backed cameroptera and double-toothed barbet.

Salt Lick

You can take a guided walk with an armed ranger to the salt lick and observe animals licking the salty soil found there.

Uganda Wildlife Authority has erected wooden platform hideaway where visitor can stand and observe the animals below them without the animals being aware.

For visitors, this is a great opportunity to observe, antelopes, zebras and also presents great photo – opportunities.

This is an early morning nature walk and about 1 1/2 hours in length and there is nothing strenuous about it – simply a stroll in Lake Mburo Park.

Igongo Cultural Centre

Leaving the park, just about 4 kilometers from Sanga Gate is Igongo Cultural Center which is a historical showplace for the Banyakitara, who inhabit the Western Uganda and include Banyankole, Bakiga, Batooro and Banyoro.

With the Bayankole the Ankole Cow was king and queen and considered the cow of Kings both in Western Uganda and Rwanda,

The cultural center has several traditional grass huts on display and guides will explain to you the way life used to be and in some cases still is. There is also the museum where you learn more of the ways of the local cultures.

There is also local food that you can eat in the restaurant and some great roasted goat is offered here. This is a great stop-off for culture – history and yes, traditional lunch.

Photo Gallery

Getting There

There are 3 ways to get from Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park by car ferry, bus or car

Safari Lodges in Lake Mburo National Park

Luxury Lodges

Lake Mburo has quite a few lodging choices, some that were added in recent years.

Mihingo Safari Lodge

This set the standard for up-market, luxury tented lodges in Uganda

Mantana Tented Camp

This is also upmarket but not the same as Mihingo Safari Lodge.

In the moderate rankings, you find Mburo Safari Lodge.

Budget Lodging

Found at Eagle’s Nest which are tented cottages with en-suite bath. Shoestring lodging can be found in the Rwonyo Rest Cmp run by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

How much does a Gorilla permit cost?

The prices of Gorilla permits in Uganda are fixed at 600 USD for both the high and low season. In the past the price would be lowered in the off peak seasons of February, March and April to 450 USD but due to increased demand for the permits it’s no longer the case.

The increase in demand for the Uganda Gorilla permits is primarily due to the fact that the Gorilla permit in Rwanda was increased from 750 USD to 1500 USD per permit effective 6^th May 2017. That’s a 100 percent increment in the price of the permit.