Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest savannah national park, located in western Uganda between Kampala and Mbarara. Despite its compact size, the park offers a rich variety of wildlife and scenic landscapes characterized by rolling hills, acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and tranquil lakes. The park is named after Lake Mburo, which lies at its heart and forms part of a larger wetland system.

The park is well known for hosting species rarely found in other Ugandan parks, including zebras, impalas, elands, topis, and buffaloes. It is also one of the best places in Uganda to see leopards, especially during early morning or evening game drives. Lake Mburo is a birdwatcher’s haven, with over 350 recorded bird species, including the African finfoot, papyrus gonolek, and fish eagle.

Lake Mburo National Park offers a variety of activities beyond traditional game drives. Visitors can enjoy boat safaris on Lake Mburo, guided nature walks, cycling safaris, and horseback riding, making it one of the few parks in Uganda where walking and biking safaris are allowed. The park’s peaceful atmosphere and accessibility make it an ideal stopover between Kampala and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Lake Mburo National Park can be visited throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February. During these months, wildlife gathers around water sources, and roads are easier to navigate. The wet seasons (March–May and October–November) bring lush landscapes and excellent birdwatching, though some tracks may become muddy.