Lake Mburo National park is the only game park that lies nearer to Kampala city compared to other national parks in the country. When we are talking of Lake Mburo National Park, we are talking about well-grown acacia woodland, a home to over 313 bird species most of which are savannah species. Lake Mburo National Park is the best park in Uganda that harbors and offers excellent experiences to encounter savannah bird species. Some of these include the red-faced Barbet, secretive African fin-foot, to mention but a few.
Lake Mburo National Park consists over three hundred and thirteen (313) species of birds; eight (8) of which form part of the twelve (12) Lake Victoria basin biome dwelling in Uganda, like the white-winged warbler and shoebill stork. In addition to these are; crested and red-winged Francolins, , blue-spotted wood dove, Coqui, Bare-faced Go-away bird brown parrot, Blue Quails, black-winged bishop, Blue-napped Mouse bird, blue-bellied Bustard, brown-eared and grey woodpeckers, blue-breasted and shinning-blue kingfishers, Buff-spotted, trilling and wing-snapping kingfishers, lesser and great swamp warblers, green wood Hoopoe, African grey hornbill, yellow-throated long claw, lilac-breasted roller, stout, red-necked spur fowl and a multitude of others.
The spectacular papyrus gonolek and blue-headed coucal are other swamp dwellers that are visible in the park. In addition to these are the black-collared barbet and bare-faced go-away bird which form part of the southern species.
Lake Mburo national park also hosts migratory birds which are common during months of April and November.
Birding safaris in Lake Mburo National park.
The best way to turn moments at Lake Mburo into memories is by taking part in a boat trip on the lake and watch the park’s rich bird biodiversity. Residents in this park vary from land dwellers to aquatic species. These include but not limited to the following; hippopotamuses, buffalos and elephants.
Birds that can be spotted on a boat trip include common Squacco, black crake, goliath, African fish eagle, great white species, shoebill stork, black-headed herons, etc.
Rubanga forest birding experience.
Coqui Francolin, Red-headed Lovebird, Brown-chested Lapwing, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Common Scimitar bill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Ross’s Turaco, Red-faced Barbet, Green Wood-hoopoe, Cuckoo-shrike, Nubian Woodpecker, White-headed Barbet, Red-shouldered, Brown Parrot and Grey Crowned Crane, White-winged Tit, etc. are some of the birds that can make your birding dreams come true in Rubanga forest.
Access to this flat birding area can be made possible by either using a vehicle or on foot. Passionate birders are advised to get in touch with park rangers before they start the activity in order to be well guided. These professional guides will help you answer the many questions that the birds are likely to pose to you thus making birding trip a story worth telling.
Other activities to engage in while at Lake Mburo National Park.
- Game drives.
Do you want to see Africa’s largest antelope (eland)? Pay a visit to Lake Mburo National Park. In addition to these are common duiker, Impalas, buffaloes, Klipspringer, Giraffes, Waterbuck, Oribi, Topi, zebras, Sitatunga, etc. It is only in this park with rolling hills, open grassy valleys and interspersed thickets that you find the biggest number of Elands in the entire country.
- Guided nature walks.
Lake Mburo national park welcomes all categories of visitors including those that are passionate about guided nature walks. These walks become better under the guidance of park guides. The walks start from park headquarters, at Rwonyo taking you the presumably meeting point of animals – at the “salt lick”. It is here that animals gather to enjoy the tasty licks made of water and soil.
The other walk starts 7:00am and lasts for about two hours happening on the western wing of the park. It is also a sure way of animal encounter. You meet hippopotamuses as they come out the lake as well as hyenas making a return to their dens.
The third walk is that which passes through the forest as you watch a number of birds in addition to those walks through woodlands. This is a great opportunity to view as many mammals as possible not forgetting the 14 lakes that make up this park.
- Boat cruises.
It is in this adventurous activity that you bless your eyes with a number of flora and animals most of which are aquatic such as hippopotamuses and crocodiles and birds like African fish eagles, king fishers, pelicans, rare shoe bill stocks, cormorants, herons and hammerkops.
Boat cruise becomes more beautiful during the dry season since almost all animals converge at the lake in search of what to drink. This activity is just like killing two birds with one stone.
