Lake Mburo National Park
The savanna park closest to Kampala, where zebras, impalas and hippos gather along the lakeshore, with walking and horseback safaris.
Lake Mburo National Park is in Kiruhura District in southwestern Uganda, about 230 km from the capital, Kampala, south of the Kampala-Mbarara highway. Covering about 370 square km, it is Uganda's savanna park closest to the capital and the most common overnight stop on the way to Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park consists of rolling acacia grassland, lakes, wetlands and woodland. Lake Mburo is the largest of its five lakes.
The climate is mild, with daytime temperatures of about 25-28°C year-round. June to August and December to February are the dry seasons, when animals gather and dirt roads are easier to drive. March to May and September to November are the rainy seasons, when vegetation is lush but some roads become muddy.
Main activities: game drives on the eastern grassland tracks to see zebras, elands, impalas and giraffes; boat trips on Lake Mburo to see hippos and crocodiles; guided walking and horseback safaris led by ranger guides (the park has no resident lions, so these two activities are its specialties); birdwatching in Rubanga Forest; and night drives to look for leopards.
Getting there: it's about 4-5 hours' drive from Kampala. Enter through the Nshara or Sanga gate on the highway. There is no public transport, so you need to hire a car or join a tour. Plan 1-2 nights.
Notes: the entrance fee is about US$40 per person per day, plus vehicle and activity fees. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required, and take mosquito precautions in malaria areas. Tsetse flies are common, so wear light-colored long sleeves.
Top sights
- Lake Mburo Boat Trip – Take a boat trip on Lake Mburo from the Rwonyo landing to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, African fish eagles, shoebills and other waterbirds…
- Zebra & Impala Game Drive Tracks – Game-drive tracks through savannah and acacia woodland, where zebras, greater kudus, impalas and giraffes are the park's highlights.
- Walking Safari – Walks across grassland and salt flats led by an armed ranger, offering close views of zebras, buffaloes and herds of antelope.
- Horseback Safari – Set out from Mihingo Lodge on the park's eastern edge and ride across the grasslands alongside zebras and elands, an experience found nowhe…
- Rwonyo Rest Camp – The park headquarters, where you can book walking safaris, boat trips and guided drives; warthogs and antelopes often wander through the ca…
- Kazuma Lookout – A viewpoint on a small hill in the north of the park, overlooking the Lake Mburo chain of lakes and the rolling savanna.
- Rubanga Forest – A small enclosed forest on the western shore of Lake Mburo, with a tall canopy and forest birds; it is a birdwatching hotspot in the park.
- Lake Kacheera – A large lake on the park's northeastern edge, surrounded by Ankole longhorn cattle ranches and fishing villages, offering a glimpse of rura…
- Igongo Cultural Centre – An Ankole cultural museum near Mbarara, showcasing the history of the Ankole Kingdom, longhorn cattle culture and traditional huts.
Where to eat
- Rwakobo Rock Lodge Restaurant – A family-run eco-lodge restaurant on a rocky hill just outside the park's north gate, overlooking a waterhole where you…