​Overview – Lake Mburo NP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Uganda.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Uganda.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Uganda.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook 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.

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

Pros & Cons

  • Boat trips available
  • Good accommodation options
  • Guided walks and horseback riding available
  • Accessible stopover between Kampala and Bwindi Impenetrable NP
  • 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 features of the park are Lake Mburo and four other lakes, which form part of a 50km/31mi-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 midyear 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?

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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 a stronghold for the impala – a handsome antelope that’s otherwise absent from Uganda but abundant elsewhere in southern Africa – smacks slightly of desperation. But while this low-key national park has no...

Full Review

Latest User Review
Claudine  –  
Austria AT
Reviewed: Jan 10, 2024
5/5

We had a lot of time to observe the giraffes, saw a lot of zebras, buffalos, impalas, warthogs, baboons, birds,...

Full Review