LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

Lake Mburo national park is the smallest park of all the National parks in Uganda. It is normally regarded as a stopover by the tourists on their way to more famous parks along the Rift valley. The park is dominated by open and wooded savannah comprising of grasses, shrubs, trees and the dry hillside. The park harbors Lake Mburo swamps, forests and thickets providing diverse ecosystems for animals including Zebras, Impalas and Water bucks, Sitatungas, Buffaloes, birds, reptiles and crocodiles.

Location and size; Lake Mburo National Park is situated in Mbarara district and is only 260 sq. km being the smallest of the Uganda’s savanna National Parks.
Tourism attractions and activities
There are very many tourism activities and attractions in Lake Mburo National park and these can be seen as below.
Bird watching in Lake Mburo NP
This activity is very common in the park and this is because the park has about 313 different bird species including the rare Shoebill stork and White-winged Warbler. other species to lookout for are; Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away bird, Red necked Spur, common Quails, Black-billed Barbet, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mouse bird, Lilac-breasted Roller, African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Rufuos chested Swallow ,Yellow-throated Long claw and Southern Red Bishop.
Boat trip
Lake Mburo national park is rich with a diversity of animal and plant species which can only be viewed clearly if you take a boat trip. The crocodiles, Hippopotamuses and birds like Pelicans, Black Crake, Heron, Cormorant, Fish Eagle but you may also see the rare shoebill stork. The duration of each boat cruise is negotiable with the park management.
Forest walk in Rubanga forest
Lake Mburo forest offers a variety of habitat for birds therefore a very attractive place for bird watchers with over 40 bird species recorded.
Some of the common species are the harrier hawk, green pigeon, narina trogn, Grey-backed coleopteran and double-toothed barbet.

Game drives in Lake Mburo national Park
There are different number of tracks that are used for game drives.
Impala track which exposes the visitor to a diverse species of animals like Impala waterbucks, warthogs, topis and zebras.
Zebra track leads to harems of burchell's zebra with other species like bushbucks, oribi and reedbucks.
The Kazuma track passes through wooded grassland where black-bellied buatards often patrol the area. For visitors to experience a real exposure of Lake Mburo National Park, they should climb Kazuma hill, which is high enough to enable them see what they could have missed. The five lakes within the park and the rolling hills become more visible and attractive therefore it is better seen than read.
Kigambira loop takes you through a wooded wilderness with scattered thicket.
The Lakeside track is specially designed to facilitate viewing of water plants and animals.
Other tourism activities include fishing, Lake Mburo has about 6 species of fish, the common one being tilapia
Visitors who plan to enjoy sport fishing on Lake Mburo should carry their own fishing gear and fish at the designated point at Mazinga.
Accommodation facilities at the park
The Park has accommodation facilities, which include the following;
· Six tents at Rwonyo park headquarters, three public Uganda safaris campsites, all strategically located to facilitate and enhance scenic viewing and easy access to water.
· Mihingo lodge
· Mantana Tented Camp, which is 3.5kms from Rwonyo Park headquarters, caters for up market tourists