Lake Mburo National Park

Location: Nyabushozi County, Kiruhura District, Uganda.

Lake Mburo was gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting area and in 1963 was upgraded to a game reserve covering an area of 370 km2. . The Park’s dangerous past has seen wildlife virtually eliminated often. In an attempt to rid the region of tsetse flies, make way for ranches, and finally the result of subsistence poaching. 20% of the park’s entrance fee is used to fund local community projects which included building clinics and schools.

The wetland habitats comprise of 20% of the park’s surface and is home to 350 bird species, hippos, hyaenas, topi and reedbuck. There are 13 other lakes in the park and Lake Mburo forms part of the 50km long wetland system linked by a swamp. 5 of the lakes lie within the park’s borders once covered by an open savanna which supports the healthy population of buffaloes, warthogs, bushpig and hippos.

The park now has more woodland as there are no elephants to tame the vegetation. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah parks and underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks dating back more than 500 million years. The western side of the park is savanna interspersed with rocky ridges and forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp and narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes.

Lake Mburo is probably the best place to view acacia-associated birds, Rwonyo is the best place to see the mosque swallow, black bellied bustard, bare-faced-go away bird and Ruppell’s starling. The lake is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks in western Uganda.

The Uniqueness of this location:  

• Lake Mburo is the largest amongst the lakes in the area
• Birdlife in the National Park
• Number of wildlife species especially the ungulates like the Impala

Accommodation Options: 

• Mihingo Lodge
• Arcadia Lodge Lake Mburo

Activities:  

• Boat Cruise
• Game Drive
• Night Game Drive
• Sports Fishing
• Cultural Tours – Ankole
• Hiking and Nature Walk
• Bird Watching
• Horseback riding
• Rwonyo Rest Camp
• Visit Rubanga Forest