3 Days Lake Mburo safari takes you to Uganda’s smallest savanna park for an amazing encounter with some of Africa’s famous wildlife. This particular package is excellent for family and friends who want to spend a weekend away from the noisy capital or from visitors who have come for a conference in Entebbe/Kampala. Lake Mburo National Park is found about 240 km away from Kampala, along the Masaka – Mbarara Road. When coming from Kampala, the park can easily be accessed through the Nshara gate after driving 15 kilometers away from the main road.
Lake Mburo National Park covers an area of about 260 square kilometers consisting of rolling hills, savanna grassland, rocky outcrops, valleys, acacia woodlands, swamps and lakes. Lake Mburo National park is thought to be an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti plains. Though the smallest national park in Uganda, Lake Mburo has incredible biodiversity and landscape that is different from other parks in Uganda. Fourteen lakes are found within the park and each is surrounded by vast wetlands allowing over 300 species of birds to thrive.
Lake Mburo is a key attraction in the park. According to the local legend, two brothers (Kigarama and Mburo) once lived in a large valley in the park. Kigarama had a dream in which he saw a great flood filling the valley. He warned his brother that they needed to move away from the valley and into the hills. Kigarama left the valley for the hills while his brother (Mburo) ignored his advice. Kigarama’s dream came to pass and a great flood filled up the valley drowning his brother. The flood left behind a large water body which is now known as Lake Mburo.
Lake Mburo National Park is home to various species of antelopes we will find out later. They thrive in the park because there are less predators. Tourists should also prepare to see hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, bush pigs, hyenas, waterbucks, Eland, Topis, reedbucks, sitatunga, zebras, vervet monkeys, side-striped jackals, white-tailed mongoose, otters, baboons and an amazing collection of birds. Lake Mburo is the best park for spotting leopards. The main activities in the park are birding, boat cruise, cycling, game drives, horse riding, nature walks, quad biking and fishing. Talking about fishing, Lake Mburo National Park is one of the best places for sport fishing in Uganda. Lake Mburo is home to 6 species of fish including the more common Tilapia and lung fish.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Pickup – City Tour and Afternoon game drive.
Day 2: Morning game drive – Afternoon boat cruise – Night game drive.
Day 3: Activity of your choice (Biking safari, Quad biking safari, Quad biking safari, Village Walk, Nature walk, horseback safari).
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup from Kampala/Entebbe – City Tour – Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and go for a Game drive
Our Guide/Driver will pick you up from your hotel or residence after taking your breakfast in the morning and go for a brief city tour of Kampala – After the city tour, you will start the 4-hour journey to the Southern part of Uganda and to what is known as Lake Mburo National Park. The road is well paved and passes through several stretches of papyrus swamps, rain forests and several farms of the Ankole cattle. Lunch will be taken in Mbarara town. On reaching the park, you will be taken to your hotel for check-in and refreshment. After check-in and relaxation, the Driver will take you for the first game drive to see giraffes, Buffaloes, bush babies, zebras, Elands, antelopes and many of the park animals along the Kigambira loop trail. This could be in the evening or afternoon.
Dinner and overnight will be at Mantana Tented Camp (Budget), Rwakobo Rock (Mid-range) or Mihingo lodge (Luxury).
Day 2: Morning Game drive – Afternoon Boat cruise – Night Game drive
Wake up early enough to take your tea as you prepare for an early morning game drive along the Kazuma track. The Kazuma track offers amazing views of the park including the rolling hills and all the five lakes. The game drive will involve exploring the deeper parts of the park for encounters with Zebras, Eland, water bucks, bush bucks, warthogs, impalas, Klipspringer and many other mammals. This morning game drive will allow you to sport the night creatures and predators like hyenas, leopards and jackals.
After completing the morning game drive, you will go back to your lodge for lunch, refreshments and relaxation. The Driver will take you for an afternoon boat ride close to the shores of Lake Mburo. Birders will be able to spot countless birds on the shores of the lake including the African fin foot, African grey hornbill, Brown Parrot, Common Scimitar bill, Crested Francolin, fish eagles, herons, Nubian Woodpecker, papyrus bush strike, pelicans, shoe bill stork, weaver birds, white winged warbler and Yellow breasted Apalis.
Dinner and overnight will be at Eagles Nest (Budget), Rwakobo Rock (Mid-range) or Mihingo lodge (Luxury).
Day 3: Nature walk, village walk, quad biking safari, horseback safari and transfer to Kampala with a stop at the equator.
This will be your last day in Lake Mburo National Park. Wake up early and take your breakfast before heading for another exciting encounter with the wildlife in the park. You have a choice on what activity to take part in. You can choose to go for a walking safari, birding, fishing, cycling, quad biking or a safari on a horse back. Lake Mburo is the only park where one can take part in a horseback safari, a quad biking safari, a mountain bike or walking safari.
The best place to go for a guided nature walk is at the salt lick area. This is where Zebras, Impalas and other park animals go to lick salt. A hidden wooden platform has been constructed where visitors can go 
and watch as park animals visit the salt mine. If you are not interested in the nature walk, you can go and discover the park using a quad bike, mountain bike or on horseback. The horseback safari allows you to get very close to the park animals as they are less alerted in the company of horses. All these activities are led by a game ranger who knows where to find the animals. If you choose sport fishing at the Mazinga landing site, you need to have your own fishing equipment. The permit for fishing needs to be got from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Those who are interested in a rewarding cultural experience can opt for the village walk which goes up to the Enyemembwa center. Here you will encounter the local Banyankore herdsmen with their unique long horned Ankole cows. The Banyankore are cattle keepers with most of their customs and traditions centered around their cattle. You can visit one of the homes and learn how to milk a cow or go out grazing in the savanna.
After this final day of exploring the park, you will be taken back to the hotel for lunch before embarking on the Journey back to Kampala or the airport in Entebbe. There will be a stop at the equator crossing to take photos as you stand in different parts of the earths hemisphere. If time permits, the Driver can also stop at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers where large ceremonial drums used by the Kingdom of Buganda are made. We hope that you would have had a great time while at Lake Mburo. If you are interested in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls National Park, you can check out our 3 Days Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Tour and the 3 Days Murchison Falls Tour.
End of the Safari
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
The safari includes;
- Park Entry fees
- Game drives and Ranger fees
- Visiting the Equator
- A boat ride
- Transport in a standard tour van
- An English speaking and experienced Guide/Driver
- Accommodation and meals for 2 nights
- Meals and bottled water in-between journeys and when out of the hotel
- Optional activities on the third day like horseback riding safari, quad biking safari, cycling
The tour excludes
- Visas and Air tickets
- Anything that could be considered personal in nature including alcoholic drinks, cigars, laundry, tips, travel and medical insurance.
Accommodation
Mburo Eagle’s Nest: Eagle’s Nest is a budget lodge built on a hill close to the park. Each of the 10 safari tents is self-contained with twin beds, a bedside table, power sockets, a bathroom, a shower, toilet 
and a balcony that provides great views of the park. The tents are built with a grass thatched roof. Everything is designed and arranged to give residents that feeling of being out in the African wilderness. The nights are filled with beautiful wilderness sounds. You can hear the lions roaring, wild pigs grunting and crickets excited by the night. Dinner is prepared using wood fire and large African pots. Eagles’ Nest is excellent for the budget traveler or backpacker. If you planning to do game drives, nature walks and boat trips on a budget, this is the place to go.
Rwakobo Rock: This is an Eco-friendly mid-range lodge owned and managed by a family. It is located at the very edge of the park and near the Nshara Gate. The lodge also offers great views of the park and an amazing feeling of being out in the wild. The lodge has 8 spacious cottages built on top of the hill with many rocks. The rooms are powered by solar, have heated showers and flush toilets.
From your room balcony, you get amazing views of the park and surrounding cattle ranches of grazing long-horned Ankole cattle. Some of the park animals like bushbucks, warthogs and zebras graze close to the lodge or gather at the water hole close to the lodge’s dining area. Other facilities and amenities include a campfire which is set up every evening by hotel staff. Rwakobo Rock arranges mountain biking, walking safaris, nature walks, boat rides and game drives.
Mihingo Lodge: Mihingo is the best Luxury lodge in Lake Mburo National Park. It is also a family owned lodge which built close to the park and in a very rocky area. The lodge was designed with local material but with modern comfort. Everything blends with the environment in Mihingo Lodge. The rooms are self-contained with everything you should expect from a true luxury lodge. Mihingo Lodge has one of the most amazing pools in the country. The pool overlooks a valley where most of the park animals come to drink from. As you swim, you get beautiful views of the park animals like bushbucks, warthogs, impala, eland and buffalo drinking below. The lodge organizes night game drives and daytime safaris.
