Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest Savannah park in Uganda, covering about 370 sq km. It is surrounded by 13 lakes, 5 of which lie inside the park. Because of its close location to Kampala, it is the perfect weekend getaway from the city.
Uganda Wildlife Authority plans to introduce balloon safaris in the park in the coming years. Visitors can also enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Mburo to view hippos, crocodiles, and many water birds.
This Lake Mburo travel guide highlights recommended tour operators, park entry fees, history, location, best time to visit, accommodation, wildlife, culture, nature walks, and sport fishing.
List of Lake Mburo Tour Operators
Want a genuine list of Lake Mburo National Park tour operators? We present to you reliable travel agents and safari companies in this review.
See list of Mburo tour and travel operators here.
Park Entry Fees
- Adult foreign non-residents: USD 40
- Adult foreign residents: USD 30
- East African citizens: UGX 20,000
- Foreign non-resident children: USD 20
- Foreign resident children: USD 10
- East African children: UGX 5,000
- Students: UGX 3,000–5,000
- Wildlife clubs: UGX 2,000
Annual passes:
- Foreign non-resident individual: USD 500
- Foreign resident individual: USD 300
- East African resident individual: UGX 200,000
Vehicles & activities:
- Foreign motorcycles: USD 30; East Africans: UGX 10,000
- Foreign minibuses/omnibuses: USD 50; East Africans: UGX 30,000
- Foreign tour company vehicles: USD 120; East Africans: UGX 30,000
- Foreign pickups/4WDs: USD 50; East Africans: UGX 30,000
Game drives & activities:
- Day game drive: USD 20 (foreigners), UGX 20,000 (East Africans)
- Night game drive: USD 30 (foreigners), UGX 30,000 (East Africans)
- Boat ride: USD 30 (foreigners), UGX 30,000 (East Africans)
- Cycling: USD 30 (foreigners), UGX 30,000 (East Africans)
- Nature walk: USD 15 (foreigners), UGX 15,000 (East Africans)
History of Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo was first gazetted as a controlled hunting area in 1933, and later upgraded to a game reserve in 1963. The Banyankole and Bahima people continued grazing their cattle inside the reserve until 1983, when it was declared a national park.
It is said the government declared the park partly to weaken the Banyankole, who supported rebels against Obote’s government. The evicted people were not compensated or resettled.
In 1985, after the fall of President Obote, the residents returned, expelled park staff, destroyed infrastructure, and harmed wildlife. In 1986, the NRM government re-gazetted less than half of the original park area.
Tourist Activities in Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo is the only national park in Uganda where you can enjoy horseback riding safaris. This allows you to view zebras, elands, and other wildlife up close without a vehicle.
Fishing is done at designated spots on the lake, which has 6 fish species, the most common being tilapia.
The park sits at an altitude of 1,220 to 1,828 meters above sea level, with wetlands covering about 20% of the surface. Twenty percent of park revenue is used to fund community projects such as schools and hospitals.
Animals & Birding
Lake Mburo National Park is home to many animals and birds. On a game drive, you can see impalas (only found here in Uganda), giraffes, elands, zebras, and more. Night game drives give you a chance to see nocturnal animals like bush babies, porcupines, and hippos.
The park also has more than 300 bird species. Good birding spots include Rwonyo Rest Camp, the salt lick, Miriti Swamp, and Rubanga Forest. Common birds include the emerald-spotted wood dove, rufous-bellied heron, coqui francolin, Nubian woodpecker, white-headed barbet, red-shouldered cuckoo-shrike, Ross’s turaco, crowned crane, bare-faced go-away bird, and yellow-breasted apalis.
See recommended list of bird watching tour operators here.
Cultural Encounters
Lake Mburo is surrounded by 13 local communities that take part in tourism activities. These communities have been trained in guiding, planning, and cultural tourism.
You can join them in activities such as traditional cattle watering, grazing, food processing, milk churning, ghee making, and basket weaving. A visit to the Igongo Cultural Centre gives you a chance to explore a cultural museum and enjoy traditional performances.
Nature Walks
Nature walks in the park are safe, but must be done with a ranger guide. Walks often lead to the salt lick, where many animals gather, or to the lakeside early in the morning to view wildlife and birds. A walk up the hillside rewards you with views of 9 out of the 13 lakes in and around the park.
Fishing
Fishing is done at Mazinga, a designated area on Lake Mburo. The lake has six species of fish, with tilapia being the most common. Visitors must bring their own fishing gear and obtain a fishing permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Location of Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo National Park is located in Kiruhura District, about 228 km west of Kampala. The drive takes 3–4 hours by road. The park is also about 30 km east of Mbarara town.
Best Time to Visit
Lake Mburo National Park can be visited throughout the year, but the best time is during the dry months of June to September and December to February. During this period, vegetation is thinner, making it easier to spot wildlife. Most animals gather around water sources, so game viewing is very rewarding.
In the dry season, the roads are easier to drive on since they are not muddy. You can explore deeper into the park without worrying about getting stuck. The clear skies and bright sun also make wildlife viewing more enjoyable.
Accommodation
The park has a range of accommodation options, from budget to luxury. Some of the lodges and camps include Mihingo Lodge, Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Mburo Safari Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, Eagle’s Nest, Arcadia Cottages, and Rwonyo Rest Camp.
Booking a Safari to Lake Mburo
Choosing the right company online can be difficult. To make it easier, I have personally traveled with each of the companies I recommend. Based on this, I can strongly recommend them for your Lake Mburo safari.
See list of Mburo tour and travel operators here.
Book your Uganda tours with these recommended Uganda tour companies for a well planned safari. Use the Voucher: UTBlog for up to 25% Discounts on Trips.
