LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

Lake Mburo National park is one of Uganda’s smallest parks. And it’s located in the southern part of Uganda in the present Kiruhura district. With area that covers 260 sq km. Was named after the famous Lake Mburo which is located inside the park. The park harbours several species which cannot easily be found elsewhere in Uganda. These include Zebras, common duikers, Impala, Bohor reedbuck, Buffaloes, and birds. Lake Mburo is known in the country as a where you can view the gigantic eland antelope, zebra, topi, impala etc. The sitatunga antelope is confined to swamp interiors and also the Klipspringer is occasionally observed in rocky areas. Only two diurnal primates occur at Lake Mburo that is to say Vervet monkey and olive baboon.
Birds
313 different bird species which include the rare Shoebill stork, White-winged Warblers, Black-billed Barbet, Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot, Red necked Spur, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Temminck’s Courser, common Quails, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mouse bird, Barefaced Go-away bird, African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Lilac-breasted Roller, Coqui Francolin, Red necked spur fowl, Black Bellied Bustard, African-wattled Plover Rufous napped, Flappet larks, Rufous chested Swallow , Southern Red Bishop and Yellow-throated Long claw etc. The fringing swamps in the park also hide secretive papyrus specialists such as the red, black and yellow papyrus gonalek.

Lake Mburo National Park.
The lakes which comprise other four lakes found within the park attract hippos, crocodiles and so many water birds. These lakes provide great opportunities for the development of different recreation activities such as swimming, boat riding, and sport fishing.

Accessibility.
The Park is easily accessed by both road transport and air transport from Kampala to Lake Mburo usually takes 3.5 hours on the Mbarara- Kampala highway.

Activities in the park
Game viewing.
This is the major tourist activity in the park. This enhances you to see the famous biodiversity of the park. The park has about 68 different species of mammals and among them are Zebras, Impalas, Buffaloes, Topis, and Elands, Roan antelopes, leopard, Hyenas and jackals among others.

Nature trails in the park.
There different nature trails which offer the visitors a chance to walk through different parts of the park while admiring nature and animals seen on foot. Foot safaris are guided by armed guides to enhance safety while on safari and visitors are allowed to move on their own pace.

Nature walks.
These are usually organized in Rubanga forest where a variety of trees and birds can be seen. In this forest, there are over 40 bird species that are recorded.

Boat rides.
Boat trips are also taken on Lake Mburo National park, while riding a variety of animals and plant species are in the vicinity of the visitors. And such may include crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and birds such as Cormorant, Black Crake, Heron, Pelicans, and Fish Eagle etc.

Fishing.
It should be noted however that due to the existence of five lakes in the park, there is a great opportunity for those who would like to carry out fishing during their holiday in the park. In Lake Mburo, about six species of fish can be easily caught. And these include Tilapia, lung fish, mud fish, Haplochromes etc.

Salt lick.
The most interesting economic activity on Lake Mburo National Park is salt lick. From large wooden platform visitors get a chance to view at least 4 different types of animals at any given time as they lick the salty soil. And most interesting part is that this is done without conveniencing the animals. Because this wooden platform acts as a hideaway.

Birding
Lake Mburo National park has got 313 bird species which vary from wetland birds, savanna birds and forest birds. Visitors are always enjoying the colorful birds found in the park. Rabongo forest a 5 species of bird, which are found only in the forest, while the fringing swamps, lakes and wetlands has over 60 water birds. Therefore visitors interested in bird watching should always move with their birding equipments.

Accommodation
Lake Mburo has facilities, which include 6 tents at Rwonyo head quarters and other three public sites which are strategically located to facilitate and enhance scenic viewing.
Lake Mburo restaurant located at the lake side provides meals to visitors on order.
Mantana tented camp which is about 3.5 kms from Rwonyo park headquarters for the up market tourists.