LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK PARK AT A GLANCE WILDLIFE Lake Mburo covers an area of 370 km² between 1220m – At only 370km2, Lake Mburo National Park is small 1828m above sea level. compared to many East African parks but it is home to a surprising diversity of wildlife with 69 mammal species Wetland habitats comprise 20% of the park’s surface. Lake Mburo off ers some novel means of game viewing; in a vehicle; on a mountain bike, by boat, on foot, and on horseback.  is compact jewel of a park is ideally placed for an overnight break between Kampala and the protected areas of western Uganda. A mosaic of habitats includes rock outcrops, savanna, acacia woodland, bush, forest, swamp and lakes that support a wealth of wildlife including species that are rare or absent from other parks in Uganda. Birding is also rich with papyrus and acacia

LOCAL PEOPLE  e area around the park is sparsely settled, traditionally being cattle country that is ill suited to intensive cultivation.  e Banyankole, the dominant tribe, is divided between and 332 bird species. A number of the park’s herbivores Bairu cultivators and Bahima herders. are rarely, if at all, found elsewhere in Uganda. Lake Mburo is the only park that contains impalas and the only one in ACCESS western Uganda with Burchell’s zebra and eland. Topi are Lake Mburo National Park lies between the towns of only found elsewhere in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Masaka and Mbarara close to the main, south-westerly  e species list was expanded in 2015 when a number of road that links Kampala to Bwindi, Kabale and the Rothschild’s giraff e were relocated to Lake Mburo from Rwandan border.  e 228km drive from Kampala takes Murchison Falls National Park. Leopards and hyenas are 3.5 hours.  e park can also be reached from Kibale also present and, after years of absence, lions are once National Park, via Ibanda and Rushere, and from Queen more sighted. Hippos and crocodiles live in the park’s fi ve Elizabeth National Park, via Ishaka and Mbarara.  ree Hotel/Lodge UWA cottages lakes, while the fringing swamps hide secretive wetland gates enter the park. Kyanyanshara Gate, which lies close creatures such as the sitatunga antelope.  e birdlist to the upmarket Mihingo Lodge, is 18km south of Akagate species being particularly well represented. Visitors need contains more ‘swamp specials’ such as the papyrus Scenic highlight Birding trading centre, which is 14km west of Lyantonde.  e 9km not limit themselves to a game drive; the park can also be gonelek, papyrus yellow warbler, white-winged warbler dirt road leading to Nshara Gate turns south from the main explored using mountain bikes, by boat, on foot, and on and shoebill. Acacia woodland bird species are well road, 500m west of Akagate.  e 13km dirt road to Sanga horseback. Game Drive Main road(surfaced) represented around the rest camp at Rwonyo and in the Gate leaves the main road at Sanga trading centre, 13km lightly wooded grassland valleys east of Lake Mburo. Park gate Main road(unsurfaced) from Akagate and 27kms from Lyantonde. CLIMATE ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES Forest Walk BIRDING Lake Mburo National Park lies in a rain shadow between GAME VIEWING Prime areas for birding in Lake Mburo include the acacia Lake Victoria and the Rwenzori Mountains and receives an Lake Mburo boat trip woodland along the Acacia and Research tracks; the average of 800mm of rain a year. Being near the Equator,  e eastern shores of Lake Mburo can be explored by wooded shores of Lake Mburo as seen from the Rwonyo the rainfall pattern is bimodal with the long rains occurring boat, departing from a jetty at the lakeside campsite launch (ideal territory for the African fi nfoot) and the lake’s from February to June and the short rains from September near Rwonyo Rest Camp. Watch out for crocodiles and northern fringe of papyrus wetland. to December. Rainfall is rather erratic and unpredictable hippopotamus during the two-hour voyage. You can also OUTSIDE THE PARK but tends to be heaviest in April and November. sight a variety of birds including pelicans, herons and fi sh Village visits  e average recorded temperature is 27.50C with daily eagle and perhaps the rare fi nfoot and shoebill. Fishermen Most of the lodges in and around the park provide the variations ranging from 21.50C to 340C. July and August are with their own equipment may fi sh in the lake from the opportunity to visit a local homestead and learn about the hottest months. campsite by arrangement. traditional Banyankore life. WHEN TO VISIT TARIFF S & PAYMENT Any time of the year. For information on park entrance and activity fees, please refer to the UWA tariff sheet at www.ugandawildlife.org. ACCOMMODATION Payments can be made using Uganda shillings, US dollars, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) provides budget British pounds, Euros and Visa. Twenty percent of all accommodation, in the form of bandas and standing tents, park fees are shared with communities in park boundary at Rwonyo Rest Camp, and a campsite nearby on the shore parishes to share the benefi ts of ecotourism and generate of Lake Mburo. Mid range cottages are available at Arcadia local support for conservation. Cottages, 1km south of Rwonyo while 3km north, Lake Mburo Camp provides luxury tented accommodation.  e renowned Mihingo Lodge, which extends across a large, rock kopje just outside the park, is accessed through the easterly Kyanyanshara Gate.  e park also has a conservation education centre, 1km  is small tract of forest on the western side of Lake west of Sanga Gate.  is provides accommodation and Mburo is home to a variety of forest bird species. Rubanga an education hall for school groups, visitors, seminars and can be explored with a ranger guide. workshops. Horseback safaris  e grassy ridges in the eastern part of Lake Mburo can be explored on horseback.  is activity is operated by FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mihingo Lodge. Game drives Uganda Wildlife Authority A network of game tracks explores the eastern hinterland Mountain biking Plot 7 Kira Road, Kamwokya of Lake Mburo, providing the chance to see a variety of Rwakobo Rock and Leopard Tail Rest Camp both operate P.O. Box 3530 Kampala, Uganda savannah animals and birds. mountain biking trips into the national park at Nshara Gate. Tel: +256 (0)414 355000, Night drives VIEWPOINTS +256 (0)312 355000 Night drives with a ranger guide provide the chance to South of Rwonyo, the Lakeside Track climbs onto Fax: +256 (0)414 346291 see nocturnal animals such as bushbabys, pottos and Kigarama Hill which provides a panoramic view of Lake perhaps even a leopard. Mburo.  is lake and seven more can also be seen from Email: [email protected] Website: www.ugandawildlife.org Salt Lick Walk the equally dramatic Kazuma Lookout which lies at the top Guided walks explore the park around Rwonyo, culminating of a rather steep track accessed from the Ruroko Track in a visit to a natural salt lake where wildlife can be viewed near the Kazuma/Research Track junction. from a timber observation platform.