AN ELEGANT EXCURSION TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

AN ELEGANT EXCURSION TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

Lake Mburo national park is located in Kiruhura district in western Uganda. It is found about 30 kilometers by road, east of Mbarara, the largest city in the sub –region, It is a 3.5 hour drive from Kampala the capital city of Uganda. The park is a compact gem presenting stunning wildlife safaris in Uganda, and conveniently positioned close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda.

It is the smallest of all the savannah national parks in Uganda encircling a 50km-long wetland system, numerous lakes and woodland as there are no elephants to tame the vegetation where the park was once covered by savanna. The savanna is now found in the western part of the park interspersed with rocky ridges and forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp and narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes all offering breathe taking walking safaris in Lake Mburo national park.

All parts of the park are alive with a variety, spectacular, interesting and colorful kind of nature. The attractive 158 square miles acacia dotted savanna of Olea and Boscia is a home to 68 mammal species. The park has antelopes like the topi, bushbuck, the common duiker, oribi, Defasa waterbuck and Bofor reedbuck that cannot be missed on a game drive in Lake Mburo national park.

The park has very many species which are not observed elsewhere while on a Uganda safari. It’s the only place which supports a large population of the Impalas from which Kampala city derives its name; also among the three parks where the Burchell’s zebra can be found. However note that this park can be best explored by road.

The about 313 different bird species including the rare Shoebill stork and White-winged Warbler,  Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away bird, Red necked Spur, common Quails, Black-billed Barbet, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller, African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola a drive towards Rwonyo camp may reveal;.Coqui Francolin, Rednecked spurfowl, Black Bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, African-wattled Plover Rufous napped and Flappet larks make Lake Mburo one of the best destinations for birding in Uganda.

A boat trip on Lake Mburo furnishes opportunities to view the crocodiles, hippopotamuses as well as the sea birds like heron, Cormorant, Fish Eagle, Pelicans, and Black Crake.

The fringing vegetation supports a large population of buffalos, warthogs, hippos, zebras plus other wildlife species. Large herds of the eland keep roaming in the park with Sitatungas confining in the swampy areas of the park.

Curious travelers looking for spotted hyenas, leopards, side striped jackal and some smaller predators, don’t go past Lake Mburo national park, they are all present but the most visible ones are the white –tailed mongoose.

Exercise some fishing for either fun or any other reason and sight the various fish types found in the lake including the common Tilapia, mud and lung fish. Also visit the local communities around the park to explore their way of lives, learn how they prepare food and still taste the local delicacies here. Be entertained by the local people through their traditional music and dance performances. Just feel free to join them for a more authentic experience.

A trip to Lake Mburo national park is a one day or mini safari that a traveler can have in the same day and still have lifetime experiences full of interesting wildlife and green nature. The adventure here simply explains the real meaning of pearl of Africa.

Undeniably, what is a wildlife tour in Uganda if it’s not in Lake Mburo national park? No other place offers outstanding wildlife encounters like this park. It’s a must try for all adventurous travelers.