Lake Mburo National Park might be Uganda’s smallest savannah national park, but it packs a delightfully compact punch. Located between the two towns of Masaka and Mbarara adjacent to the highway that connects the capital of Kampala to the parks of western Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park is quite accessible and worthy of a visit during any of our Uganda luxury safaris.

Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda is named for the beautiful Lake Mburo, which together with 13 other lakes in and around the park forms part of an extensive wetland and swamp system. Once covered with open savannah, Lake Mburo now boasts much woodland, whether acacia and euphorbia trees dotting the entire rocky savannah or the lush riparian vegetation lining the vast papyrus swamps and lakes surrounding Lake Mburo. These bodies of water act as a natural magnet for over 350 bird species, including the rufous-bellied heron, bateleur, coqui francolin, grey crowned crane, black-bellied bustard, and brown-chested lapwing, thus making Lake Mburo a birder’s paradise.

Lake Mburo National Park also hosts a wide range of herbivorous and carnivorous animals. Large herds of eland, bushbucks, buffaloes, zebras, topi, and impala—the only impala population in Uganda—can often be seen wandering and grazing the grasslands and remain one of the main attractions of the region. It is also impossible to miss the hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and other semi-aquatic animals that make their home on the shores of Lake Mburo, such as warthogs, mongoose, otters, weasels, and African civet. More prominent omnivores include jackals, spotted hyenas, leopards, servals, and African wild cats.

Visitors to Lake Mburo National Park enjoy a wide range of activities, from game drives and horseback safaris to boat voyages on the banks of Lake Mburo. Also unique to Lake Mburo National Park is the opportunity for walking safaris, which lead guests to the viewing platform near the salt lick at Rwonyo, through the Rubanga Forest, and to the tops of the hills for gorgeous lake and savannah views.

Contact Ker & Downey to incorporate Lake Mburo National Park into your next Uganda safari adventure.