Lake Mburo national park covers an area of 260km sq and lies at an altitude of 1220m-1828m above sea level having low rainfall falling at 800m only. But also contradicting is that 20% of the park’s surface area consists of wetland habitants including the lake Mburo itself. There are 4 more other lakes but Mburo is the largest of them all.
Background: The name Mburo is derived from an old tradition event that occurred long ago and goes as saying that there lived two brothers called Kigarama and Mburo. Kigarama happened to have a bad nightmare one day and he saw their land being flooded so he decided to act fast and resettle elsewhere after having warned his younger brother. Mburo was adamant about his brother’s warning and it wasn’t long before the valley was submerged washing away everything including Mburo. So the lake was named after Mburo.
Location: Lake Mburo national park is found along the borders of Kiruhura and Isingiro districts which are west of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Also it is surrounded by other lakes namely Kachera, Kijanebalola and Nakivali.
Vegetation: it is filled up with open grasslands and savanna, acacia woodland. There are different acacia trees such as acacia hockii, acacia gerradii among others. There are rocky ridges; the savanna is interspersed with forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp narrow bands of lush riparian wood land line the various lakes. The lake is dominated by an eponymous lake with its forest fringed shores hemmed in by rolling green hills. lake mburo
Highlights: the most distinct feature is the impalas which are not easily spotted else where in the country, Butchell’s zebra, topi, bushbuck, common duiker, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, bush pig, hippos, roan antelope, eland, warthog, diurnal primates like vervet monkeys, olive baboons. There are about 315 acacia associated bird species like mosque swallow, black bellied bustard, bare-footed go away bird, Rupell’s long-tailed starling and the southern ground hornbill.
How to get there: there are 2 roads which can connect you to Lake Mburo. The park is found along between Masaka and Mbarara. Branch it’s a 4hr ride from Kampala. You turn left at 13km past lyantonde up to sanga gate, continue for 5km from the main road to Nshara gate which is 20 mins Rwonyo headquarters.
Tour Activities: the most popular activity is the boat trip (motor boat trip) which takes you around the lake and you areBird in Lake Mburo able to view hippos, waterbuck, crocodiles and three different types of otters. There are lots of water birds like African fish eagle, marabou stork, and pied king fisher, egrets, herons and Ross’ turacos. Game drives are the best way to explore the park as you will spot the impalas and the zebras, buffalo topi among others. You will spot these on the road which connects to Sanga gate and Nshara gates. In the dry season you can spot warthog, Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, elands, Butchell’s zebra and common duiker. You can also spot the park’s lakes, the Rwizi rive and fringing swamps. A salt lick, it’s a walk to a nearby point where you can observe animals licking salt from the salty soil without distracting them.
Guided nature walks can be arranged to go anywhere in the park though the most common place is the Rubanga forest associated with birders. The park has about 315 bird species and therefore serves as a good place for birding.
