What animals can I see in Lake Mburo National Park?

Lake Mburo is home to 69 mammal species and 332 bird species, including zebras, giraffes, elands, buffaloes and several antelope species. It is the only park in Uganda with impalas, and the only one in western Uganda with Burchell's zebra and eland. Leopards and hyenas are present, and lions have recently been sighted again after years of absence.

How do I get to Lake Mburo National Park from Kampala?

Lake Mburo is about 228 km (roughly 3.5 hours by road) west of Kampala, on the main road toward Bwindi and the Rwandan border. The park has three entrance gates: Nshara Gate, Sanga Gate, and Kyanyanshara Gate.

Is Lake Mburo National Park worth visiting?

Yes. It is one of the few places in Uganda where you can safari on horseback or by boat, not just by vehicle, and its smaller size means closer, more intimate wildlife encounters than in larger parks.

What is the best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park?

The dry months (June-August and December-February) offer the best wildlife viewing, as animals gather near water sources. The wetter months (March-May and September-November) are better for birdwatching and come with discounted lodge rates.

Can I combine Lake Mburo with gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

Yes. Lake Mburo is commonly combined with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, or with Queen Elizabeth National Park for a longer wildlife circuit.

Is Lake Mburo National Park safe for tourists?

Yes. All game drives, nature walks, and forest walks are led by an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger, and walking alone in the park is not permitted for safety reasons.

What activities are available in Lake Mburo National Park?

Game drives, boat cruises, guided nature walks, birdwatching, cultural visits with the local Banyankole community, and, through partner lodges, horseback safaris and mountain biking.

5 Days Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari

Walking safari in lake mburo National park

5 Days Uganda Safari to Lake Mburo & Queen Elizabeth | Uganda Wildlife Tours.

This 5 days Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari is an exciting safari that will take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is the second largest conservation area, and Lake Mburo National Park. During this Uganda safari, you will be able to engage in amazing activities like boat cruises, game drives, walking safaris and chimpanzee trekking, where you will get an opportunity to spend time with the chimpanzees and also spot different animals like lions, leopards, hyenas, warthogs, giraffes, topis, zebras, oribis, impalas, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, elephants, reedbucks, hippos, and Nile crocodiles, among others.

Safari Highlights

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – walking safari

Day 2: Morning game drive and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking experience

Day 5: Departure to Kampala/Entebbe

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Walking safari

You will be welcomed by our driver guide, have a briefing about the safari and then transfer to Lake Mburo National Park in western Uganda. The journey takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive with a stopover at the Equator, where you will take photos and buy craft souvenirs and art paintings and then proceed to Lake Mburo National Park.

Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for lunch, after which you will go for an amazing guided nature walk in the park where you will get up close and personal with different animals like giraffes, waterbucks, impalas, and zebras; spot and listen to bird species singing in trees; and view reptiles, colourful butterflies, and others. After the walking safari, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Morning game drive and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge after breakfast to transfer to the park for a morning game drive, where you will be rewarded with views of animals like buffaloes, elands, waterbucks, oribi, topis, giraffes, impalas, Uganda kobs, zebras, warthogs, reedbucks, and bush pigs, among others.

After the game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and later check out to start the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will enjoy views of the beautiful scenery, crater lakes, plantations, and more. Upon arrival, connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Morning game drive/lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise

After an early breakfast, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive or lion-tracking experience in the Kasenyi plains, where you will enjoy a wide range of animals like Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, and warthogs, among others, in the open savannah plains; view predators like leopards, lions, and hyenas, among others, looking for a morning hunt; and spot some bird species, including the Croaking Cisticola, African White-backed Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Flappet Lark, and Crowned Plover, among others. Later, return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will go for an interesting boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, which starts at around 2:00 pm and takes about 2 to 3 hours. During the launch cruise, you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in the water and view elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes along the water banks and aquatic bird species like hornbills, kingfishers, and cormorants, among others. You will also be able to see the fishermen on the shores preparing their fishing nets for night fishing. After the boat cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking experience

You will have an early breakfast and later meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced park guide in search of the habituated chimpanzees, which takes about 2 to 5 hours depending on their location. During trekking you will enjoy views of other primates, bird species, butterflies, plants and tree species, among others, and once the chimpanzees are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them, which gives you a chance to take photos, record videos, and watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding young ones, playing, resting, and fighting, among others. After the face-to-face interaction with the chimpanzees, you will return to the lodge for lunch and later spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Departure to Kampala/Entebbe

You will have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kampala. You will have a stopover for en route lunch on the way and then proceed to Kampala, arriving early evening, and upon arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or drop you off at any place of advice, hence bringing your 5 days Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari to an end.

The tour includes

Park entrance fee/game drives
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Boat cruise
Walking safari
Full board accommodation
Meals at the lodge and en route (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Full-time English-speaking driver guide
4WD safari Vehicle and fuel
Pick up and drop off in Kampala/Entebbe
Bottled drinking water during the safari

The tour excludes

Air flight tickets (International)
Visas
Travel insurance
Personal expenses like buying alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, souvenirs, crafts, telephone calls, laundry services, and hiring a porter, among others.
Tipping and gratuities