Insight into Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is among the few savannah protected areas in Uganda that offer unmatched adventures. With over 10 national parks designated by Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest savannah national park. This is because it covers an estimated area of about 260 square kilometers. With such a small size, the park has been rendered without some of the giant wildlife species.
However, what Lake Mburo National Park lacks in size, it makes up for in exciting adventure experiences. Lake Mburo has some of the most unique and exciting adventures that are probably unique to it. Lake Mburo National Park is located in the Kiruhura district in the western region of the country. It is arguably the closest national park or protected area to the capital, Kampala.
Brief history of the park
Before the park was established as a national park, it was known as a controlled hunting area since 1933. It was a delicacy for the white colonialists who treated themselves to game hunting. This was more because of the park’s proximity to the capital. This hunting game saw an immediate stop in 1963 when the park was gazetted as a game reserve. This was shortly after the gaining of independence in 1962, which was the exit of the colonial government.
The park is located in an area popular for the Banyankole-Bahima people, who are traditional pastoralists. These people grazed their cattle in the areas of the park since the park was not fenced. The government and other conservationists saw these pastoralists as invaders and intruders on the land designated for the national park.
By 1981, these pastoralists were banned from the park by the then-government. This move was, however, as political since these pastoralists were from the same tribe as the then-rebel leader Yoweri Museveni, who was fighting the government. The government had seen these pastoralists as sympathizers of the anti-government rebel group.
From 1985-86, the formal government of President Obote fell to the then-rebel leader Museveni. The Banyankole-Bahima pastoralists resettled on the land of the national park, thus reducing it. Most of the wildlife species, like lions and hyenas, fell victim as many were killed for fear of attacking their livestock.
What to see in Lake Mburo National Park?
Although Lake Mburo National Park lacks some of the wildlife species in other savannah parks, it offers other insightful attractions. These include the following.
Wildlife
Lake Mburo National Park harbors a large number of wildlife species that are scattered across its territory. These wildlife species are visibly spotted roaming freely across this small savannah, announcing their presence. This national park has some of the most unique animals that are rare in most of the other national parks. This park signifies that it is not all about the size but rather what you actually offer that makes an impactful difference. Some of the wildlife species in Lake Mburo National Park include topis, leopards, hyenas, elands, impalas, zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, and giraffes, among others.
Birdlife
This incredible national park has a sizeable number of about 350 bird species nesting across its vast area. These bird species are made up of two species or types, i.e., the migratory and resident bird species. The migratory bird species are species that come into the park as guests from other areas across the region. The resident bird species are those that are constant residents or endemics of the park.
Some of the bird species in the park include African finfoot, white-winged swamp warbler, black-billed bastard, African fish eagle, pelicans, brown-chested lapwing, shoebill stork, papyrus yellow warbler, and tabora cisticola, among others. The diverse ecosystems of this area harbor these bird species.
Lakes
The park is also famous for hosting over 5 lakes that are both permanent lakes and seasonal lakes. These lands are a lifeline for the many wildlife and bird species in the park. Permanent lakes are permanent, like their name suggests, as they are not affected by any season. The seasonal lakes, however, depend on the wet season, and in the dry season, they are often dry.
This region, where the park is, has a semi-arid climate type, meaning they receive intense dry season periods. This explains why these lakes dry up during this season. The large lake in the park is Lake Mburo, and it is where the park gets its name. This lake harbors the park’s aquatic life, from hippos and crocodiles to fish species.
Vegetation
The vegetation in this park is also very fashionable with different areas having distinct ecosystems from each other. The park has diverse vegetation covers from the riverine vegetation found on the shores of most lakes in the park to the constant savannah grassland and woodland. This vegetation is quite amazing, offering perfect scenic beauty for photographic tours.
Cultural tours
The park is located in the Banyankole people, commonly known as the Bahima people. These people have a unique tradition and culture. During cultural tours, visitors have a chance to spot and interact with the people of this tribe and learn several traditions. These people mainly practise cattle keeping and thus offer amazing herding practises.
What to do in Lake Mburo National Park?
The many attractions in this park call for a decisive percentage of exploration, and these activities below offer just that.
Game drives
For savannah parks like Lake Mburo, game drives are the ultimate entertainment that bring visitors closest to the wildlife. Game drives position visitors in a safe and comfortable spot in a safari vehicle, where they explore the park unconditionally. The park harbors dangerous animals like buffaloes and leopards. This game drive experience offers the best way to encounter these animals.
Walking safaris
Walking safaris are mainly offered in this park, given that it lacks some apex predators like lions and other dangerous animals like elephants, which would not be good to come across. Walking safaris in Lake Mburo focus on the less dangerous game like zebras, impalas, giraffes, topis, and elands, among others. This activity offers a much imitate experience to the visitors.
Birding
Over 350 recorded birding species are harbored in this park, making Lake Mburo National Park a complex zone of excitement for the birders. The well-designated birding spots marked invisibly by the rangers get you the visitors in close calls with unique birds. Lake Mburo National Park is a true birders’ paradise and a famous important area for birding.
Boat cruise
Boat cruise is a common tourist activity in Lake Mburo National Park. This activity takes place in the largest lake in the park, Lake Mburo. A boat cruise here offers a timely encounter with some of the water-loving wildlife species, including hippos and crocodiles. The lake also brings together other animals like buffaloes, impala, and zebra, among others. The water birds also make their presence known and are easily spotted.
How to get to the park?
There are two types of transportation methods to the park, one is by road and the other by air. Lake Mburo National Park is located close to Mbarara City in the southern part of the park. This city has an airstrip called Nyakisharara. This is located over 40 minutes away from the park gate of Sanga. This means visitors like to fly to this airstrip from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airport in less than an hour and connect to the park by road.
There is also an option of driving by road from the capital Kampala through the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway. This journey takes about 4-5 hours and offers unique views of the equator and the daily lives of the natives.