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.

7 Days birdwatching Uganda safari

7 Days Uganda Birdwatching and Wildlife Safari | Uganda Tours.

This 7 Days birdwatching Uganda safari offers a magical birdwatching experience through Uganda’s best birding sites, which are Mabamba Swamps, home to the unique shoebill stork; Mabira Forest; Lake Mburo National Park; the shore of Lake Victoria, among others. Uganda hosts the highest concentration of birdlife in Africa; during your Uganda safari, you will be able to travel with one of the best naturalist birding guides in the country. The trip starts and ends in Kampala or at Entebbe Airport.

Safari Trip highlights

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Birding

Day 2: Birding along the Heritage Trail

Day 3: Birding in Mabamba Swamp

Day 4: Mabira Forest Birding

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP

Day 6: Walking safari and birding – Lake Mburo

Day 7: Birding along Lake Side Track Return to Kampala or Entebbe

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Birding

On your arrival at Entebbe Airport, you will be picked up by our driver guide, who will drive you to the zoo. It is the home of over 200 bird species and 10 species of birds, including the golden-backed, northern masked weaver, African paradise, baglafect northern brown-throated, black-necked, and northern brown-throated, among others. Other species are flycatchers like the red-bellied shrike flycatcher, crested shrike flycatcher, lead-coloured flycatcher, and swamp flycatcher. Expect to encounter raptors such as the Gabar Goshawk, the small banded snake eagle, the Shakira, the African Goshawk, the African Hobby, the African Fish Eagle, and many more. Then drive to the botanical gardens for another birding encounter. Connect to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Kampala City.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 2: Transfer to Heritage Trail for Birding

Wake up, have a morning breakfast, and then drive to the heritage trail, which is a 10-minute drive away. Expect to sight-see numerous bird species such as the Brown-crowned Tchargra, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Violet-backed Starlings, Black Cuckoo Shrike, Yellow Bill, Brown Twin-spot, Black Cuckoo Shrike, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Great Sparrowhawk, and Moustached Warbler, to name a few. Thereafter, drive to Lutembe, where you will have a picnic lunch. After, go board a boat in search of various grey-headed gulls, the papyrus canary, the white-winged black tern, the papyrus gonolek, and many more. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Mabamba Swamps – Birding

Wake up, have a morning breakfast, then transfer to Mabamba Swamp, one of the top birding sites that hosts a wide range of rare shoebills. Expecting to see other bird species, including the long-toed plover, African water rail, herons, yellow-billed duck, white-faced whistling duck, grey- and black-headed herons, moorhen, Allen’s gallinule, African jacana, sitatunga antelope, black crake, Goliath and purple herons, and pygmy goose, among others. Back to Kampala, along the way, you will stop at another swamp to spot other bird species such as the Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Wayne’s Weaver, and White-winged Warbler, to mention a few. Dinner and overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Mabira Forest – Birding

Enjoy an early-morning breakfast, then drive to Mabira Forest, which is a one-hour drive from Entebbe. You will be able to spot a variety of bird species, like the leaf love, toro greenbul, yellow-whiskered greenbul, grey-spotted woodpecker, white-spotted flufftail, forest robin, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, yellow-throated tinkerbird, blue-breasted kingfishers, shining blue woodland kingfishers, chin-spot bati, chestnut wattle-eye, yellow-mantled black-billed weavers, violet-backed starlings, red-headed malimbe, purple-headed starlings, and red-tailed ant thrush, among others. Have a picnic lunch and continue birding in the evening. Return to Kampala for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Wake up, have a delicious breakfast, then transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, which is a 4-hour drive from Kampala, including a stopover at the equator to take photos. Proceeding to the park and arriving in time for lunch and resting at the lodge.

In the evening, embark on game viewing along the zebra track where you will be able to sight some of the bird life and antelopes such as the black-bellied bustard, Coqui francolin, tamarack’s courser, African wattle plover, chest-ed swallow, rufous-napped rufous, and flappet lark. You will also look out for evasive leopards and other nocturnal species and many more. Dinner and Overnight stay

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Nature walk – Lake Mburo National Park

After morning breakfast, you will go for a guided nature walk around the wetland with much expectation of seeing various bird species such as the red-headed lovebird, black-collared barbet, localised red-faced barbet, green-capped eremomela, and lead-coloured flycatcher. Have lunch at the lodge.

Later on, you will drive to the park for an evening game drive to encounter more species within the park. Dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Game viewing – Birding along the Lakeside Track Return to Kampala

Enjoy a morning breakfast at your lodge, followed by driving you to the park for morning game viewing along the Lakeside track, where you will be able to spot aquatic species such as the Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged warbler, Lesser and Greater Swamp warblers, and Blue-headed coucal. You will still look out for the African Darter, African water rail, African finfoot, Spur-winged plovers, among others. After, you will depart back to Kampala or any convenient place. End of the 7 Days birdwatching Uganda safari.

Safari includes:

Park fees
Ground transport
Full Board Accommodation and all meals
Excellent sleeping driver guide
All activities/Birding fee
Pick up and drop off
Enough mineral water bottles

Safari Exclusive

International flight
Visas
Tip
Laundry service