The closest national park to Entebbe town and Kampala city is Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah national park. Lake Mburo National Park is 4 hours’ drive from Kampala via the Masaka Road. This park is 30 kilometres east of Mbarara city on a safari vehicle and is situated in the Kiruhura area in western Uganda. There are 350 different types of birds and 68 different mammal species living within the 370 km2 park.
Alternatively, you can take a ranger-led walking tour around Lake Mburo National Park instead of having to take a safari vehicle excursion. Zebras, warthogs, impala, roan giraffes, elands, topi, buffaloes, water bucks, reed bucks, and hippos can all be seen up close. Although they are not common, leopards do exist. The terrain consists of marshes, open meadows, and acacia grasslands. The majority of the park is covered with acacia forest, with thicker riverine woodland surrounding the lake.
The history of the two biological brothers, Mburo and Kigarama, who lived in the low-lying region where Lake Mburo is now and where the Bahima Pastoralists once let their cattle graze, is the source of the park’s name. Mburo’s brother Kigarama once had a dream that a lot of rain was going to fall and that it would drain and flood their long-term home, destroying both their life and their possessions. In order to evacuate to the closest hill and preserve their lives and belongings, Kigarama told his brother Mburo what he had dreamed about during the previous night when it arrived in the morning. Regretfully, his brother Mburo refuted it; nonetheless, at that time, African customs recognised and valued aspirations. Kigarama made the decision to leave his brother behind and move to the nearby hill. When the dream was realised, the entire area flooded, including the homes of Brother Mburo in the lake created by the valley’s floods, and the spot where he drowned.
Overall, the hill across from the lake was named Kigarama in honour of the two brothers, and the lake was dubbed Lake Mburo, which cost Mburo his life and his lands. The two elements, together with a number of tour activities derived from this tale, such as boat cruises on Lake Mburo, game drives, nature walks, horseback safaris, and the cultural history of the Ankole people, can be experienced on your safari in Uganda to Lake Mburo National Park.
As a result, the moving tale of the two fabled brothers who formerly called this vast savannah national park home inspired the name Lake Mburo National Park.
Tourism Activities in Lake Mburo National Park
Game Drives at Lake Mburo savannah
Visitors to Lake Mburo National Park can see a variety of wildlife species during wildlife game drives. For safety reasons and to get a well-rounded experience, game drives are best done in the presence of an experienced guide. The park is home to a variety of animals, including porcupines, zebras, hyenas, road antelopes, jackals, leopards, and lions.
Nature Walks
In Lake Mburo National Park, nature walks are also recommended as long as they are accompanied by a qualified ranger guide for safety and instruction. These tours typically include a stop at a salt lick, where guests can watch a variety of wild animals licking the salt residue. Hikers can witness a variety of bird species, mammals, a breathtaking view of the entire flora and fauna, numerous lakes, and, of course, wild wildlife as they continue into the woodlands. It’s undoubtedly a unique experience.
Spot Fishing on Lake Mburo
While fishing is permitted in all thirteen of the lakes inside and surrounding Lake Mburo National Park, the largest lake, Lake Mburo, draws the greatest number of anglers. If visitors want to participate in the sport, they must obtain a fishing permit from the Uganda Wild Life Authority and bring their own fishing equipment. There are six primary species of fish in Lake Mburo, including mudfish, lungfish, haplochromes, and tilapia.
Bicycle Tours
Bicycle trips are permitted and encouraged at Lake Mburo National Park as an additional exciting way to discover the park and its surroundings. It should be noted that these tours are always led by a tour guide who is there to answer any questions and ensure that the tourists stay safe. Expect to encounter buffaloes, antelopes, and zebras among other animals along the bike routes.
Bird Watching
Another worthwhile pastime to enjoy at the park is bird viewing. Approximately 350 species can be found in this park, including the African Grey Hornbill, Nubian woodpecker, uncommon white-winged warbler, crested francolin, and trilling Cisticola, among many more. Views of the endangered shoebill, harrier hawk, green pigeon, double-toothed barbet, crested crane, and saddle bill storks are available to travellers on Uganda birding trips.
Boat Cruise at Lake Mburo
There are boat cruises available in the park in a few of the five lakes. When the lake is dry, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and buffaloes may all be seen trying to rehydrate. During this voyage, visitors can also take in the varied flora and fauna that can be seen along the lake’s banks. From here, one may also see a variety of bird species.
Horseback Riding
The first national park in the nation to offer horseback riding as a tourism activity is Lake Mburo National Park, where visitors may experience the area’s breathtaking scenery while mounted on a horse. One of the main attractions of visiting Lake Mburo National Park is horseback riding. Be aware that this is frequently a contract with some of the on-site lodges (like Mihingo Lodge) that have stables.
Cultural Experience
About thirteen local community organisations were identified by the park officials, who taught them in eco-tourism and biodiversity and gave them the authority to profit from the many initiatives they work on. In Uganda, cultural tourism is very interesting. Visitors to this park frequently get the chance to engage with the locals and discover more about their cultural customs. The Rwenjeru campsite, the Ankole cultural community group, the Igongo cultural centre, the Rwabarata drama group, which provides local dance, drama, and entertainment the Rwamuhukajans craft makers who market their goods to tourists, the Shara community tourism group, the Rubale fishing community, which provides fishing experiences and the Masha community wildlife forum are a few examples of these communities.