Lake Mburo National Park – Lying at 1,220m-1,828m above sea level, this park in Western Uganda is one of Uganda’s Top 3 bird watching havens, it possesses 350 recorded species.
It has a wonderful combination of tranquil lakes, thriving papyrus jungles, endless grassland, and pristine woodland where giraffes crane their neck to eat leaves.
Lake Mburo National Park
Mburo has over 5,000 zebras. Watching them cross from one side of the park to the other is like witnessing a live migration. The energy, the sound, and the stampede they cause is such a national Geographic spectacle. You will love every minute of it!
The buffaloes here play a vital role in feeding the impala, eland, defassa waterbuck, oribi, and warthogs. They do this by grazing on tough parts of the grass and leaving the soft parts for the mentioned herbivores.
The nature walk here doesn’t always deliver quantities of lion sightings that one may experience in Masai Mara or Serengeti, but the quality is on a different level. You will encounter a dizzying range of enthusiastic zebras, bushbucks, buffaloes, and topi.
If you prefer game drives, our cars have a minibar that is stocked with cold drinks to refresh as you take in the sights and sounds of the park. You will get so close to animals without worrying about being attacked. Why? You will be in the company of an armed ranger-guide. His work is to defend you from wildlife by scaring them off.
Bird watching boat cruise
Mburo doesn’t have elephants anymore, but it has and millions of spectacular birds, some of which stay in its forests, others in its savannah, but most in its shoreline. In total, it has 350 recorded species inclusive of southern species at the northern limit of their range, like southern ground hornbill and Black-collared barbet and. Thanks to its thriving acacia woodland, it is the best place for acacia-dwelling birds.
The park’s lake system has six papyrus endemics, including the mighty blue-headed coucal and papyrus gonolek. Other notables include Shoebill, Red-faced Barbet, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, African finfoot, Greater painted-snipe, Hairy-breasted barbet, Papyrus yellow warbler, Tabora cisticola, Brown-chested lapwing…the list is endless.
Most of these birds can be seen as you pursue vitalizing boat cruises in the park’s freshwater environs. The boat is in excellent technical condition for the adventure and ensuite with bathrooms. It comprises of both a lower and upper deck where you can take pictures of hippos and crocodiles without any obstruction.
Alongside other nature lovers, you will enjoy the ride in the company of a guide with an encyclopedic knowledge about the geology and the myths surrounding the formation of the geographical features here. He will share the anecdotes with some humor and with, you will thoroughly enjoy.
Horseback ride
Exploring a national park by car is good as it allows you to explore so much distance in such a short distance. However, it has its downside. For starters, you miss out on seeing many timid animals (like elands) which shy away upon hearing the noisy engines of cars. That aside, cars are not allowed to drive off track due to the possibility of riding over elements that are vital to the normal functioning of the eco-system. In contrast, horseback rides and cycling experiences present an unforgettable way to see wildlife up-close without scaring them off.
During this guided tour, you will see almost all the mammals to which Mburo is home; warthog, zebra, topi, bushbuck, impala, duiker, waterbuck, and giraffes. The guys who ride with you, genuinely love and care for the horses. As such, they are always in perfect shape to trot or canter as first as you want.
They are also gracious and have a sense of humor. Most importantly, they understand the history of the park and know where to find wildlife at different times of the year. They will control the pace of the horses, allowing you to take pictures of whatsoever interests you along the way. It could be birds or even skeletons of dead animals.
Best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park
No matter the time of the year you visit Mburo, you are guaranteed of seeing over 60% of its wildlife species. However, if perfection is what you are after, the dry months of June to August/September present Lake Mburo in its most beautiful state. You will take clear pictures of wildlife and clear blue skies.
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