Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park and the closest to both Kampala and Entebbe. If you’re planning for wildlife safaris in Uganda, birding safaris, or want to enjoy game viewing, Lake Mburo should be on your itinerary. This park is a top destination for many Uganda safari tour operators, especially for guests interested in birding safaris.

Located approximately 240 km from Kampala and only 30 km from Mbarara (the biggest town in Western Uganda), the park is easily accessible. From Entebbe Airport, it’s approximately 290 km. It is bordered by districts such as Mbarara, Lyantonde, Isingiro North, and Kiruhura, which is also home to Uganda’s President.

From Lake Mburo, one can drive about 2 hours (99 km) to the President’s home in Nyabushozi-Kiruhura district. The park can be reached in around 3 hours from Kampala or Entebbe. It covers an area of 260 square kilometers, making it Uganda’s smallest savannah park, underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks.

Lake Mburo was first gazetted in 1933 as a controlled hunting area and later became a game reserve in 1963. It was largely occupied by the Banyankore pastoralists (commonly known as Bahima), who grazed their cattle in the area. In 1983, the Obote regime elevated the reserve to national park status—partly to punish the Banyankore for allegedly supporting anti-government rebels. Unfortunately, the pastoralists were evicted without compensation or resettlement aid.

According to local legend, the park’s name originates from two brothers: Mburo and Kigarama, who lived in a low-lying area called Kaaro Karungi. Kigarama once dreamt of a great flood, which he warned Mburo about. Mburo ignored the warning, and when the rains came, he and his property were swept away. The surviving brother, Kigarama, had relocated to higher ground. Today, the lake is named after Mburo, and the hills after Kigarama. This captivating story is often narrated during safaris to the park.

Despite its small size, Lake Mburo National Park boasts a diverse ecosystem, especially in its western region. The park is home to rocky ridges, forest gorges, riparian woodland, and narrow bands of wetland—which all contribute to the park’s scenic beauty and attract tourists.

The park is home to 68 mammal species, although it lacks elephants and lions. This unique absence allows visitors to move freely and safely near wildlife, offering a more intimate safari experience. Some notable bird species include:

• Rare shoebill stork
• African finfoot
• Pelican
• Heron

The park’s forests contribute to local rainfall and water catchment and help regulate the ecosystem. The grassy plains harbor different grass types that are fed on by wild animals and livestock around the park, making it both ecologically and economically significant.

Situated between Masaka and Mbarara in Western Uganda, it is the only park to contain an entire lake. Beautiful and tranquil Lake Mburo National Park is situated in rolling hills and open grassy valleys. This lovely landscape also consists of four other smaller lakes where you’ll see impala, eland, waterbuck, klipspringer, zebra and buffalo.

The Park has Aardvark, Hyrax, Porcupine, Hippopotamus, Zebra, Pangolin, Warthog, Hyena, Leopard, Buffalo, Civet, Genet, Topi, Eland, Klipspringer, Oribi, Sitatunga, Impala, eland and crocodile There is an excellent variety of water and acacia savannah bird species (357 bird species) like crested crane, the rare shoebill stork, marabou stork and bronze-tailed starling, bee eaters and even more exotic birds like Blue Naped Coucal, Bare-faced Go-Away Bird, Nubian Woodpecker and swamp flycatcher.

Hippos and crocodiles can be seen grazing on cool mornings. The surrounding papyrus swamps hide the beautiful sitatunga, a very special antelope with narrow, elongated hooves which allow them to move freely on marshy land.

Exotic sights you may enjoy are male impala characteristically looking over their territory from the top of a large anthill, an exquisite panoramic view of the lake land expanse from a hilltop vantage point, or the sight of locally ranched long-horned ankole cattle grazing with wild impala and zebra. Don’t forget to take a wooden Ssese canoe trip on the lake to see kingfishers, herons and other water birds, your guide will keep you a safe distance from the hippos and crocodiles!

The attractive acacia-dotted savannah (256 sq. km) is home to huge herds of impala, as well as uncommon topi, eland, klipspringer and other antelope. Zebra and buffalo also graze these peaceful acres.

The lake supports a wonderful diversity of birds. Because of the different habitats, the lakeshore and the broad savannah, the variety seems endless. Catch a glimpse of waterbirds diving for fish, the Marabou Stork, bee-eaters and the cheeky Bronze-tailed Starling, as well as the majestic Crowned Crane. Make sure you bring your binoculars. More on the wildlife of Lake Mburo.