Lake Mburo Nat'l Park
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While this small park in southern Uganda is famous for its zebra herds, its acacia woodlands also provide the best place in Uganda to see the huge eland antelope, topi, impala, common duiker and reedbuck. The rare sitatunga, a water-adapted antelope, is found in the interior swamps alongside papyrus gonalek and some 300 bird species. Lake Mburo is the largest of the five lakes in this park, which together attract hippo, crocodile and a variety of water birds.
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The Safari Experience
Lake Mburo is the smallest of Uganda's national parks that comprise savanna, at just 100 square miles. It showcases a multitude of habitats from savanna and acacia forest to craggy hills, sweeping valleys and extensive wetlands. A short stay, typically included en route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, is usually plenty of time to experience the park. Activities center around wildlife drives by 4x4 vehicle, guided walks through the diverse landscapes, horseback safaris, and boat expeditions on Lake Mburo, the largest lake in the park with plenty of hippo, crocodile and water birds. Return to camp each day to enjoy an afternoon swim, massage, or watch for impala and zebra that come to drink from the nearby waterhole.
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Wildlife
The wildlife in this small park is extensive. While the park is famed for its herds of Burchell's zebra, it is also home to the rare sitatunga, a water-loving antelope. A number of other antelope species are also present, including bushbuck, eland, impala, topi, klipspringer, reedbuck, duiker and many more, which can often be seen from camp. Buffalo, hippo, warthog and crocodile are commonly seen. Predators and cats include leopard, spotted hyena, honey badger, side-striped jackal, civit, serval and jenet, all nocturnal species that hunt at night. Porcupine and aardvark are other interesting nighttime finds. Two types of nocturnal bush babies are found here - the thick-tailed galago and black galago. Other primates include vervet monkeys and olive baboons. A number of water birds can be spotted here, notably fish eagles and the rare shoebill stork. There are approximately 300 bird species in the park.
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How to Include Lake Mburo in Your Safari Itinerary
Recommended Number of Nights
Nature Travelers: 1 night
Photographers: 1 night
Families: 1-2 night
Active Travelers: 1 nights
Other Regions to Include
Lake Mburo is often included as an overnight stop en route to see the gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It would not likely be included on a safari that includes flying directly to Bwindi and other regions of Uganda. However, if you are doing a full circuit, you may begin at Murchison Falls on the Victoria Nile; see 13 primate species in Kibale Forest, including chimpanzees; view elephant, hippo and buffalo grazing along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park; and track gorillas in the thick forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Then, en route to Kampala stop at Lake Mburo for a final wildlife experience before heading home.