Wildlife you can expect
Lake Mburo has a mix of species found nowhere else on the standard Uganda circuit:
- Plains zebra in large herds, the reason many visitors come.
- Impala, which in Uganda are found only here.
- Eland, Africa’s largest antelope, along with topi, defassa waterbuck, oribi and bushbuck.
- Rothschild’s giraffe, introduced from Murchison Falls in 2015 and now well established.
- Buffalo, warthog and hippo, with crocodiles in the lake.
- Leopards, which are best searched for at night.
See zebra, eland and impala at Lake Mburo for where and when to find them.
Ways to explore
Game drives
The tracks around the lakes and over the ridges are short and productive. Early morning and late afternoon drives give the best light and the most activity, and the park is small enough that you can cover most of it in a few hours.
Walking safaris
A walking safari with an armed ranger lets you approach zebra and eland on foot, read tracks and learn about the plants of the savannah. Lake Mburo is one of the best parks in Uganda for this because it has no resident lions or elephants.
Horseback safaris
A horseback safari from the eastern boundary takes you quietly among grazing zebra, which treat horses as just another animal. Rides suit beginners as well as experienced riders.
Night game drives
After dark, a ranger with a spotlight searches for leopards, hyenas, bushbabies and nightjars. Read more about night game drives.
Boat trips
A two-hour boat trip on Lake Mburo passes hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds. It is one of the most reliable places in Uganda for the African finfoot, a secretive bird of overhanging vegetation.
Birding
More than 330 species have been recorded, with acacia and swamp specialists in the same small area. Highlights include the papyrus gonolek, red-faced barbet, African finfoot, white-winged warbler, and occasionally the shoebill. The Warukiri and Miriti swamps and the Rwonyo salt lick are the best birding spots.
Where it fits in your trip
Lake Mburo is about four hours from Kampala and five hours from Bwindi or Queen Elizabeth, so it is the natural first or last night of a western Uganda safari. Our 8-day gorilla, wildlife and primates safari spends its first night here after the morning shoebill trip at Mabamba, at Rwakobo Rock on the park boundary. For more on combining parks, see our Uganda destination guide.
