Lake Mburo National Park
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Approximately 1000 mountain gorillas remaining in the world and only found in East African mountain rain forests in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in DR Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest protects a little more than half of the total number of mountain gorillas in the world.
To see the mountain gorillas, it’s mandatory that you acquire a gorilla permit which will cost you US$600 in Uganda and US$1500 in Rwanda from the governments.
Lake Mburo
The smallest of Uganda’s Savannah
Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks located in Kiruhura District in Western Uganda. It has a variety of animals such as zebra, hippopotamus, impala, warthog, common eland, African buffalo, jackal, African leopard and over three hundred (300) bird species. At 260 sq km (100 sq mi), The park has campgrounds and permanent tent facilities for visitors.
ACCESSIBILITY
ROADS
Lake Mburo National Park is located in Kiruhura District in the Western Region of Uganda. The park is about 30 kilometres, by road, east of Mbarara, the largest city in the sub-region. This location is approximately 240 kilometres, by road, west of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city. The coordinates of the park are 00 36S, 30 57E (Latitude:0.6000; Longitude:30.9500).
AIR TRAVEL
The Entebbe International Airport is also about 46km/29metres from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. This will probably be your entry point into Uganda. The local operator that you will choose will arrange your pick up from the airport or to the hotel and will carry out all your safari transportation.
ACTIVITIES
Game drives
Lake Mburo National Park has the better half of the park where most animals can be seen in the Eastern part of the park which can challenge tourists to undulating altitudes but rewards them with beautiful landscapes features like wetlands and the kopjes. The morning game drive can start at any tie of the day which is more rewarding if you start it at around 6:30 am where tourists get a better chance of seeing the night time fauna heading back to their hiding spots.
Nature walks
A more captivating way to meet the African wilderness is to leave the vehicles and travel on foot but it is highly wise to walk through the jungle with a fortified ranger guide just in case the animals ran wild. The nature walk normally starts in the morning and end at around 9-9: 30 am. The tourists can also decide to hike up to the Kazuma hill and can be rewarded with glorious views of the parks’ vegetation, animals below and wetlands.
Sport fishing
For sport fishing activity to be carried out at the park, tourists have to make a prior booking either through a tour operator or Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). It’s only UWA with rightful authorization to visitors to participate in this activity.
Boat cruise
The boat cruise sets off from the Rwonyo pier and takes tourists around the legendary Lake Mburo in which they can see animals like the crocodiles, hippos and animals which parade the lake shores for a drink of water such as waterbucks, zebras, kobs, buffalos and birds like pelicans, rare shoebill and the African Kingfisher. The boat cruise can last about 2 (two) hrs which can lead to an exciting experience.
Bird Watching
Lake Mburo National Park boasts of 300 bird species of which 40 of the park’s bird species can take place in the Rubanga forest walk or start at the Rwonyo rest camp. Tourist can prepare to see the Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, the African Finfoot, Brown-chested Lapwing, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, White-winged Warbler, Saddle-billed Stork and many others.