Overview – Lake Mburo NP

Ariadne van Zandbergen
Expert
By Ariadne van Zandbergen

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Uganda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Uganda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Uganda.

Ariadne and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Uganda.

This scenic little park, close to Kampala, is home to several wildlife species not easily seen elsewhere in Uganda. These include Burchell's zebra and impala. Although elephant are absent from the park, there is plenty of other wildlife to see, including Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo and Defassa waterbuck.

 
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Best Time to Go June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Size 370km² / 143mi²
Altitude 1,239-1,607m / 4,065-5,272ft
+16 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Boat trips available
  • Good accommodation options
  • Guided walks and horseback riding available
  • Accessible stopover between Kampala and Bwindi
  • No elephant or rhino
  • The park has a limited wildlife-viewing circuit

Lake Mburo NP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

Many typical safari animals are resident, but not elephant or rhino, while lion are very sporadic visitors. Leopard are sometimes spotted on night drives. Highlights in the park include impala (not found in any other Ugandan park), eland, the endangered Rothschild's giraffe and Burchell's zebra (which is only found here and in Kidepo Valley). Other animals regularly seen are oribi and warthog. Hundreds of hippo are found in the lake.

Scenery

The main feature of the park is Lake Mburo and four other lakes, which form part of a 50km-long wetland area. They are best viewed from the impressive Kazuma Lookout. The main vegetation is open savannah, but the park is becoming increasingly covered by woodland due to the absence of elephant. The savannah is interspersed with patches of forest and rocky outcrops. Papyrus swamp and woodland surround the lakes.

Weather & Climate

Two Wet seasons give Lake Mburo a good soaking from March to May and September to November. The rainfall tends to peak in April and lessen in the second half of the year. The drier periods of the year (June to August and December to February) barely qualify as Dry seasons – they’re just less wet.

Best Time to Visit

The mid-year dry period (June to August/September) brings the best weather. However, it also brings more visitors keen on exploring Uganda, and high-season prices. Don’t discount a visit during one of the two Wet seasons (March to May and September to November), when the park’s valleys turn green and the air loses its dry-weather haziness. Just be prepared for slippery hiking and unrelenting drizzle.

Want to Visit Lake Mburo NP?

Lake Mburo NP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Philip Briggs  –  
South Africa ZA

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

Hilly gateway to the western safari circuit
3/5

Lake Mburo’s billing as the last Ugandan stronghold for the impala – an abundant antelope elsewhere in southern Africa – smacks slightly of desperation. But while, this low-key national park doesn’t really bear comparison to the...

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Latest User Review
Barbara Osmundson  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Aug 13, 2019
5/5

Only place we saw zebras. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is that this park is missing 2 apex predators because of neighboring cattle ranches. I don't know what the solution is. The guide here was excellent.

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