Lake Mburo National Park
Your Lake Mburo National Park Safari With Us
Lake Mburo National Park is smallest savannah game park in Uganda. Yet it undeniably deserves a spot on your list. It is not your typical savanna game park where you just drive around and spot animals from a distance. Lake Mburo National Park offers a much more active experience. You can horseback ride, mountain bike, and walk inside the park. You will get amazingly close to the wildlife. You won’t find that in virtually any other national park.
6 things you need to know about Lake Mburo National Park
Before we dig into the details and tell you all about the landscape, the animals, and the activities you can do in Lake Mburo National Park, here are six facts for you:
- Lake Mburo National Park is 260 km2 in size – making it the smallest savannah park in Uganda.
- You can do all kinds of active safaris in Lake Mburo National Park that you can’t do anywhere else: nature walks, mountain biking, and horse riding.
- Lake Mburo National Park has a very large population of leopards
- It is the only protected area in Uganda with impala and Burchell’s zebra
- There are 13 lakes in the park, the largest being Lake Mburo.
- The park is close to the capital, Kampala. It’s only a 3–4-hour drive.
What Does the Landscape of Lake Mburo National Park Look Like?
Lake Mburo National Park lies close to the border with Tanzania. In fact, a small part of the park even reaches into Tanzania. Because it is so close to Kampala and Entebbe, it is usually at the beginning or end of your Uganda safari tour. So, it is either a great start or a wonderful end.
The landscape of Lake Mburo National Park very much reflects the stereotypical image of Africa safari destinations. It is bushy, green, and abundant with acacia trees and rocky outcrops. One of the national park’s beauty aspects is the closeness to the community and daily life. Around the national park are many farms where they raise Ankole cattle—cows with very large horns.
Zebras, Leopards, and giraffes
Like every national park in Uganda, Lake Mburo has its own unique wildlife. The park has no lions or elephants. But there is still plenty to see. Lake Mburo is famous for its zebras, giraffes, and leopards. It is also one of the few parks in Uganda where you can enjoy a night safari. This is a special chance to look for leopards after dark, when they are most active.
The park is also home to the eland antelope, the largest antelope in the world. These animals are rare and impressive to see. At the center of the park lies Lake Mburo itself. The lake is home to many hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. In short, Lake Mburo has plenty of wildlife to see.
Activities you can't do in any other park
Lake Mburo National Park is known for its unique safari experiences. Here, you can leave the vehicle and explore the park on foot or by bicycle. It is one of the few parks where you can enjoy an active safari. This makes it a popular choice for family trips in Uganda. After all, what could be more exciting than cycling and hiking together through a national park in the heart of Africa?
1. Walking Safari
Lake Mburo National Park is one of the few parks in Uganda where you can enjoy a walking safari. You first drive into the park, and then continue the journey on foot with a guide. Walking through the savanna is a special experience. You may see zebras and antelopes grazing nearby. Sometimes you can even approach a family of giraffes, standing only a few dozen meters away.
2. Night Game Drive
The main goal of a night game drive is to look for predators, especially leopards. Leopards are often hard to see during the day. The park is green and bushy, and these cats usually rest during daylight hours. At night, you head into the park with a ranger and driver. A strong searchlight is used to scan the bushes and trees. Most animals’ eyes shine green in the light. But the eyes of big cats shine bright red. So, when you see two glowing red spots in the dark, a leopard may be nearby. If you are lucky, you might even watch a leopard hunting or feeding on its prey.
3. Mountain bike safari
You can enjoy a mountain bike safari both inside the park and around it. Cycling around the park is more challenging and better for those who enjoy a real sporting ride. If you cycle inside the park, a ranger will ride with you. The pace is slower, but the experience is very special.
You can get surprisingly close to giraffes and other wildlife while riding through the savanna. Both options are beautiful and exciting. The real question is simple. Do you want a sporty cycling challenge, or do you prefer to see animals up close while riding?
4. Horseback riding
At Lake Mburo National Park, you go horseback riding through the park. Spend several hours exploring, surrounded by zebras, giraffes, buffalo, and antelope. Horses are no enemy to these animals, so you can get closer to than you would ever have before. It is a unique way to experience the park up close and feel truly part of the African wilderness.
