9 Best done activities in Lake Mburo National Park

The 9 best-done activities in Lake Mburo National Park will provide you with the most engaged activities when tourists visit Lake Mburo for a tour. Activities carried out in Lake Mburo National Park are hallmark activities that one wouldn’t miss on safari in Uganda and since it is a safari destination that takes a short driving time of 3 to 4 hours from the capital city of Uganda, Kampala, you can have a game drive viewing safari on a fantastic unique quad bike or horseback ride around the park and this safari experience can only be done from here, not forgetting the 4×4 safari vehicle. And the time is now to book your tour package itinerary at Lake Mburo National Park and encounter the wildlife safari on a rare means of transport, ending up with an everlasting memorable experience in the pearl of Africa. 

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Lake Mburo National Park is located in the western region of Uganda in Kiruhura District, close to the beautiful town of Mbarara. The park is the smallest national park in Uganda, estimating 370 square kilometers.

To note, Lake Mburo National Park is home to over 350 bird species and 68 species of mammals. However, touring Lake Mburo National Park is very possible either on foot or by vehicle, but travelers are advised to be accompanied by a ranger guide rather than exploring the park in their own vehicle without a guide and it is quite possible and safe to get to the park’s wildlife species such as warthogs, zebras, impalas, Rothschild giraffes, topis, elands, buffaloes, waterbucks, hyenas, and reed bucks, among others, but leopards are not commonly seen in the park.

These species all inhabit open landscapes, acacia grasslands, marshes, and wetlands. The park is surrounded with thicker riverine woodland, while much of the rest of the park is acacia woodland. Above all, zebras are the most commonly seen animals in Lake Mburo National Park.

To note, Lake Mburo National Park sounds like one of the popular touristic destinations with lots of amazing memorable tourist activities, which include

Wildlife Game drive viewing

This is the best-done activity at Lake Mburo National Park, which can be conducted on several means of transport, including safari vehicles, all-terrain safari vehicle ‘’quad bike ,horseback riding and one to enjoy this stunning activity of game drive viewing. You can use one of the above-mentioned means.

The wild game drive carried out at lake Mburo national park offers a great chance to tourist to view different wildlife species .Note that ,game drives is best  enjoyed in company of an experienced guide for safety purposes an and to have a successful experience in the wilderness .

Mammals you expect to see while on a game drive at Lake Mburo National Park include zebras, topis, roan antelopes, leopards, lions, hyenas, bush babies, porcupines, and buffaloes. All these species can be spotted during a game drive in Lake Mburo National Park.

Sport Fishing

Sport fishing at Lake Mburo National Park can be conducted in all the thirteen lakes in and around the park but mostly at “Lake Mburo,” being the largest, which attracts the number of fishermen. Travelers are required to acquire a fishing permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and to also carry their fishing equipment if they are to enjoy the sport activity. Lake Mburo has six major fish types that include tilapia, lungfish, mudfish, and haplochromes and many more.

Guided nature walk

Lake Mburo’s guided nature walk offers participants escorts who are professional ranger guides an extent of educational measures. The guided walks carried out in the park cover several interesting trails within the park, like the salt lick, where travelers can be able to sightsee a wide range of wild game that are licking on the salty residues.

You can as well hike further through the woodlands where you can be able to view different bird species, mammals, the spectacular view of all flora and fauna and many lakes inside the park and outside the park as well as the wild game. This is definitely an experience like no other experience.

Bicycle Tours

The bicycle tour is also another adventurous experience used to explore the park and its surrounding areas. Please note that such tours are always guided by a tour ranger who is experienced enough and able to answer any questions one might have and keep the travelers out of harm’s way. Along the bicycle trails, one should expect to view a wide range of antelopes, buffaloes, zebras and many more.

Birding 

Birding at Lake Mburo National Park is another thrilling activity to experience in a lifetime since the park hosts over 350 bird species, including green pigeon, double-toothed barbet, crested crane, saddle-billed stork, harrier hawk, rare shoebill, African grey hornbill, Nubian woodpecker, and rare white-winged warbler and crested francolin. Travelers who are interested in birding visit Uganda birding tours and come up with great sightseeing of beautiful bird species in the Pearl of Africa.

Horseback Riding

Lake Mburo National Park is the only park in the country where you can encounter the park in its full beauty while riding on a horse, something that looks like a unique and rare experience. The horseback riding in Lake Mburo National Park is one of the hallmarks of why visitors are increasing in this park each year. All the arrangements for horseback riding are made at Mihingo Lodge.

9 Best done activities in Lake Mburo National Park
9 Best done activities in Lake Mburo National Park

Boat cruises

Lake Mburo National Park is home to five lakes that are located within the park and boat cruises can be carried out in some of the five lakes. Probably Lake Mburo itself, where you can enjoy your cruise and get a chance to enjoy flora and fauna as well as the different animals along the water banks of the lake, most especially during the dry season when hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and antelopes can be clearly viewed while trying to rehydrate in the water. Come along, water birds, which can be seen from this point.

 Forest walks

Lake Mburo National Park authorities can also organize forest walks through Rabongo Forest. Such walks are marvelous for birders and nature lovers. The Rubanga forest boasts 40 bird species and lots of species of trees that include palm, platycaluz, acacia, fig trees and Markhamia, among others. Rubanga Forest also harbors the prehistoric shoebill stock, grey-backed cameraphobia, green pigeon, and many more. Travelers who want to be able to hike in this forest must first acquire special permission from the warden. 

Cultural Experience

The park is surrounded with 13 local community groups whom they trained in eco-tourism and biodiversity and authorized to make a living out of the different projects they are involved in. Note that cultural tourism in Uganda is part of the most exciting experience, where visitors who usually visit the park often have a high chance to interact with the local communities and learn about their cultural experience, which is a beautiful and awesome encounter. Such communities where cultural experiences can be conducted include the Ankole cultural community group, Rwenjeru campsite, the Igongo cultural institute, and the Rwabarata drama group; they all entertain through local dance ,drama and entertainment. Rwamuhuka Jans is good for craft materials, where they sell their products to tourists, the Shara community tourism group, the Masha community wildlife forum, as well as the Rubale fishing community, which offers sport fishing adventures, among many others.

Where to stay in Lake Mburo National Park.

Lake Mburo National Park has many comfortable accommodation facilities that are liked by the visitors on their Mburo safaris. Such lodges include Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Eagles Nest, Arcadia Cottages, Montana Tented Camp, Mburo Safari Lodge, among others.

Getting to Lake Mburo National park

Lake Mburo National Park can be easily reached from the west of Kampala as the main starting point while using Mbarara Road. Note that the park has two major gates, which are Nshara Gate and Sanga Gate. Of those travelers coming from Kampala passing the Lyantonde trading center, they will use the Nshara gate, which takes 3:30 hours. Sanga Gate: Coming from Kampala, the main city, you have to turn off left at the Sanga trading center, which is about 35 kilometers before Mbarara and the journey can last for 4 hours.

Amazingly, Lake Mburo National Park boasts quite a number of adventurous activities where one can book his/her tour packages now and be interested in rewarding and memorable Ugandan safaris on the Pearl of Africa.

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