Introduction
Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest savannah National Park situated in the western region 240 kilometers from the capital Kampala. It is underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks that date back for more than 500 million years. This park is therefore the closest national park to Kampala city. It is often used as a break for wildlife experience for visitors traveling to the gorilla highlands in southwestern Uganda and also Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is also a perfect destination for those who prefer a 1-day trip from the city center.
Lake Mburo National Park is 1,220-1,828 meters above sea level bursting with fascinating natural serenity. Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 50-kilometer-long wetland system linked by a swamp that is fed by River Rwizi on the western side. Five lakes are situated within the park and Lake Mburo is the largest and a host for the boat cruise within the park. This unique ecosystem therefore supports a large biodiversity of mammal species, birds, plant species, fish types, insects, and many more. These are perfect attractions for a variety of Uganda’s visitors.
Briefly, the formation of Lake Mburo was a result of a hailstorm and flooding of the valley where two brothers known as Kigarama and Mburo used to live. One night, Kigarama dreamt of a calamity that was about to befall their homestead. He alerted his brother Mburo about it expecting them to relocate their homestead to another location. Mburo hesitated and did not shift whereas his brother Kigarama took the dream seriously and shifted to the nearby hill. He survived with his family to narrate the ordeal.
Unfortunately, the dream came to pass and Mburo’s home was therefore engulfed by floods and died. The flooded valley was named Mburo whereas the hills where Kigarama shifted to survive the floods were also named after him. Such historical tales are never missed out on one’s visit to Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo therefore attracts several mammals along its shores for example buffaloes, waterbucks, impalas, bushbucks, and many more.
This tranquil lake is a haven for aquatic life such as crocodiles, hippos, otters, monitor lizards, and many more. It also harbors several bird species, for example, the African fish eagle, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, papyrus Gonolek, African wattled lapwing, African fin foot, blue-breasted kingfisher, saddle-billed stork, yellow-billed stork, pink-backed pelican, great cormorant, African darters, goliath heron, hammerkops, black-headed Gonolek, black stork, long-toed lapwing, grey-headed kingfisher, swamp nightjar to mention but a few. A boat cruise on Lake Mburo is therefore one of the park’s major activities. It exposes one to wildlife that thrives within Lake Mburo waters and along its shores.
Lake Mburo boat cruise experience
A boat cruise on Lake Mburo is a 2 hours’ activity that regularly launches from Rwonyo jetty to the eastern banks of Lake Mburo charming with vast wildlife species that are worth capturing. This tranquil boat voyage is operated thrice a day starting at 10 am to 12 pm, 1-4 pm, and 5 pm with the guidance of experienced and knowledgeable guides. During your boat cruise, keep your eyes out for schools of hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and waterbucks. There are also numerous bird species to encounter like the African fish eagle, malachite kingfisher, giant kingfisher, African fin foot, pied kingfisher, Egyptian goose, saddle-billed stork, and papyrus yellow warbler to mention but a few.
The cost of a boat cruise in Lake Mburo National Park
A boat cruise in Lake Mburo National Park costs USD 30 per person for foreign non-residents, USD 25 for foreign residents, and UGX 30,000 for East African community citizens. These charges are exclusive of park entrance and other activity charges.
Best time for a boat cruise in Lake Mburo National Park
A boat cruise on Lake Mburo can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in June to September and December to February. During this period, there is less rainfall in the park implying that waterholes often dry up forcing animals to gather along the shores to quench their thirst. This fosters clear and great views of various wildlife species. For those who prefer capturing beautiful sceneries and bird enthusiasts, the wet season is the best time for a boat cruise. This is because the lake is flocked with numerous colorful bird species since it is their breeding season.
Other activities to add to your boat cruise
On top of a boat cruise on Lake Mburo, visitors can supplement this fabulous activity with several other activities such as game drives. These can be done in the morning, evening, and night. During game drives, visitors should look out for several animals such as giraffes, leopards, impalas, elands, and zebras to mention but a few. Other activities include walking safaris, birdwatching, guided nature walks, horseback riding, cycling, and cultural and community tours among others.
How to get to Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park can be accessed by road from the city center via Kampala-Masaka and Masaka-Mbarara. Then connect to the park through the park’s entrance gates of Nshara and Sanga. This drive takes about 3-4 hours. The park can also be accessed by air transportation. One can book a domestic flight through a reliable tour operator who will pick you up from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Nyakisharara Airstrip in Mbarara. Thereafter you connect to the park by road.