Lake Mburo National Park is located in the western region of Uganda, just 228km from Kampala which gives travelers a range of 3-5 hours to reach the park depending on the number of stopovers made. This time is much shorter than the 7-10 hours that travelers are engaged in while heading to parks that are far from Kampala like Bwindi national park and Kidepo National Park found in southern and northern regions respectively.
History of Lake Mburo National Park.
Lake Mburo National Park wouldn’t exist without Lake Mburo, one of the biggest lakes in the park. History of the existence of this life-giving lake begun to be written the day Kigarama migrated and left his brother Mburo who drowned in the waters that flooded downhill valley. From that day, the collected waters were named Lake Mburo and surrounding hills were named after his brother Kigarama.
Theory about the formation of lake Mburo offer an exciting over view about the national park but the Bahima are the original owners of these current tantalizing lands. The area was gazetted for controlled hunting in 1933 until the land was elevated to a national park in 1981 during Obote government to punish them and weaken them since they were against his reign.
The downfall of Obote collapsed the national park’s progress in 1985 as the park stuff were sent out and the areas were re-occupied by its original owners. The rise of the National Resistance movement in 1986 came along with the re-establishment of the park where initially half of the park’s original land was restored but later the park was widened and tourists get to spot the traditional locations that are still significant till date.
Uniqueness of Lake Mburo National Park.
It is the only park in the country where horse – back riding is done. Watching wild animals is a wondrous and joyous activity that needs to be undertaken by visitors comfortably hence the park offers horse rides to tourists and they are over joyed by the beauty of gazing at the beauty of animals while on top of another animal.
It is among the few national parks in the country that offer night game drives. The night game drive seems scary and yet enjoyed by the tourists who engage in it as their eyes are fascinated by the rare animals of the park like porcupines, leopards, hyenas among others.
It is among the few parks with Burchell zebras. There are only three nationals with this rare species of zebras and lake Mburo happens to be one of them. The beauty of the black and white meeting up on the lush green grass is exceptional and only appreciated by tourists that visit the park.
Attractions in Lake Mburo National Park.
- Lake Mburo
The banks of Lake Mburo are always joyed by the dry period as they can’t wait to collect herds and herds of animals as a family to feed on the fresh waters that it provides. Visitors are amazed by enormous numbers of animals that surround the park that include crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, impalas among others.
- Wildlife
Being home to about 68 mammals, visitors can’t miss incredible sights from herds of buffaloes grazing, hippopotamuses swimming in the waters as though they barely have weight, crocodiles resting put in the water as if they are dead to catch on their prey, the white and black zebras grace the savannahs with their beauty, impala among others. The night also blesses night lovers with the chance of spotting on crazy night lovers like porcupines, hyenas among others.
- Birds
The existence of about 350 bird species in the park assures tourists that they have to glimpse on different birds while they are in the precious areas of the park. With some birds being endemic to the park and the Albertine Rift, African fish eagles, pelicans, king fishers, herons, cormorant are some of the glories that bless the nature in Lake Mburo.
- Rubanga forest
The life a tourist feels while in this forest is incomparable because the beautiful lush green trees side with the fresh air provided by the forest to provide a kind of aliveness that tourists get lost into. The forest is beautified by the charms from the true African trees with miraculous canopies. The forest guards’ lives of a variety of species that include grey backed camaroptera, harrier hawk, green pigeon among others.
Activities in Lake Mburo National Park.
- Game drives
A drive through the prestigious routes of the park that lead tourists to the eloquent and majestic sights of the beautiful animals in the park offers tourists with an opportunity to steal shots from about 68 mammals that are found in the park. Other beautiful makers of the park including birds, there are 350 bird species and tourists can get amazed by the views of the samples of the birds that their eyes get hold of.
- Night game drives
This sounds like an exceptional activity from a game drive but it’s the same just that the activity is interestingly carried out during the dark hours of the day. Tourists get a chance of appreciating the nocturnal that their eyes might have missed due to their shyness during day. Tourists get to spot porcupines, leopards, hyenas, buffaloes among others.
- Horseback hiding
Watching and appreciating the beauty of Lake Mburo while on the back of a horse and enjoying the massage of its fur is only met in this park. The ride takes around 1-3 hours to explore the beauty underclocked in the park and it is entirely done under the guidance of a trained personnel.
- Sport fishing trip on lake Mburo
There are six fish species in the park, therefore if a visitor misses on trapping the known fished tilapia, a cat, tiger, Angara, lung or barbell fish cannot escape the trap. Mazinga offers the best fishing grounds in the park and all the tourists need is their fishing equipment ready.
- Community walks
These walks go through Rubanga forest and the guides always equip the walk with an interesting history about the Bahima who were the original owners of the premises. Tourists get to learn about milking, making ghee and a lot more as they interact with the locals in the areas.
- Boat cruise on Lake Mburo
This is a must do activity for all the tourists that tour the park. While there is beauty in the lush green trees and the savannah thickets in the park, tourists get to be dazzled by the beauty of the park and its surrounding while they are enjoying the fresh air on the waters at the comfort of the deck.
Animals like crocodiles, hippos and birds like king fishers, herons among others cannot miss to be spotted and appreciated by the tourists.
- Biking safaris
The flat and hilly confines of the park are not only scenic but also offer spacious environments for biker enthusiasts to fulfil their passions. The bike tours also equip tourists with exquisite sights from the surrounding while tourist spot both the animals and the neighboring area.
- Birding
Whether on a boat cruise, bike, a walk or comfort of the car, tourists cannot miss to spot on these flowers of the forest as they are over 350 species found in the park. African fish eagles, pelican, king fishers, herons and other birds contribute to the undying nature felt and seen by tourists while in the park.
How to get to the park?
This is the only park close to Kampala, therefore most visitors can enjoy it as a stopover while heading to other destinations. Visitors in love with unleashing the beauty of this park to their eyes can hop on public transport to Sanga town then get a private taxi or boda-boda to the park gate.
When to visit Lake Mburo National Park?
Visitors should come to the park in the dry season to share their joy with Lake Mburo as most of the animals surround the lake to drink water since other water points tend to dry up during the dry months of June to September and December and February.
