Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is also known as the home of the Impalas, the park is located on the Kampala – Masaka highway en route to the Albertine rift that also leads to other parks in western Uganda like Bwindi Forest National Park,Queen Elizabeth National Park among others. It is 228km from Kampala making it convenient and accessible. The park is 370km2  in size of which 20% is occupied by wetland habitats. Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest savannah park with 13 other lakes in the same area, the park forms part of a 50km-long wetland system linked by a swamp. Five of these lakes lie within the park’s borders and attract hippos and crocodiles.  The park also has beautiful accommodations ranging from budget to luxurious lodges or camps. These include; Mihingo lodge, Arcadia cottages, Mburo lodge,  Rwakobo rock, Rwonyo campsite to mention but a few.

As you approach the park from Kampala, you will notice how the land elevates from being flat to fascinating rolling hills. In the western part of the park, the savanna is strewn with rocky ridges and forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp and narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes. The park also has a lot of woodland because there are no elephants to tame the vegetation. It is also the only park in Uganda with Impalas. The park provides refuge to 22 species of Afro-tropical and Palaeacratic migrant birds like the African finfoot during adverse conditions within the wooded savannah with Acacia thickets and grasslands.  The animals here include one lion, 15 giraffes 4 being male, 350 species of birds, impalas, leopards, zebras, oribi, hyena, topi, reedbuck, waterbuck, eland, baboon, monkey, kob, bushbuck, warthog and a lot more. The park also intends to introduce more lions and rhinos for more adventure.

The park has tropical climate found on the Ankole – Southern climatic zone. It lies in a rain shadow area between Lake Victoria and Rwenzori mountains. It also has two seasons, that is the dry and rainy season and receives bi-modal low rainfall. The flora is acacia hockii which is one of the dominant tree species. Five species of wetland dependant plants belonging to five genera have been recorded in the Lake Mburo area. The park can be visited anytime throughout the year.

There are various activities done in the park, even before you reach the park. On your way, get to cross the equator and experience the gravity and magnetic forces, how water is drained in different hemispheres. Within the park, you will enjoy a game drive towards the Nshaara gate. The shy zebras, warthogs and topis will welcome you. You will also encounter some of the community’s herds of long honned cattle and a few sheep and goats. There are boat rides that take about 1 – 2hours, here you will see more of the birds of the park, some of the animals that come to chill at the shores, the salt lick for the animals, as you are told the tales of the Lake. Other activities are hiking on the hills, local fishing, bird watching both in the forest and at the boat launch, game walk, swimming, to name but a few.

The park is fascinating right from the vegetation to the animals and birds. It is surely an adventure for lifetime memories.