Birding in Lake Mburo National Park

Are you looking for an excellent birding safari in Lake Mburo National Park Uganda? The park Lake Mburo National Park is one of the smallest national park and closest to the capital Kampala. It is covered by a series of Swamps which makes it a very good habitat for birds. The most notable ones being the secretive African fin foot and the red faced barbet. Well developed, the park is covered mostly with Acacia woodland. This vegetation is also good to harbor a great number of numbers of savannah bird species. This park is the ideal location for viewing typical savannah bird species.

Lake Mburo National Park is home to over 313 bird species. The Park Houses 8 of the 12 Lake Victoria biome endemics that stay in Uganda happens in Uganda. The Shoebill and the white winged warbler are some of the exciting species you will have to look out.

Some of the other species to look out for in Lake Mburo National Park are: The lesser and great swamp warblers, several numbers of cisticolas, black winged bishop, Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Northern Black Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Rufus Chested Swallow, Flapett Larks, African wattled, the gret wood pecker, the Nubian, the brown eared wood peckers, African grey Hornbill, Lilac breasted roller, Blue Napped Mouse Bird, Crested Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Arrow-marked Babler, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away-bird, Green Wood-hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, , Greater Blue-eared Starling and Marico sunbird.

The park also has a great terrain of hills and open Valleys covered with thickets, woodlands and swampy wetlands. It’s also the only park in Uganda with the Impala species of the antelope. This is also the largest type of antelope in Africa. Other species of antelopes to see here include the common Duiker, Oribi, Waterbucks and the reedbucks. Other special animals to see include the Burchell’s Zebra.

Best Time to Visit Lake Mburo National Park for birding

Lake Mburo National Park can be visited throughout the year, but the best time for viewing game is during the two dry seasons: from June to August and from December to February with most precipitation expected in April and November with passable tracks while in the rainy season the tracks are slippery, muddy and impassable.

How to Get to Lake Mburo National Park for birding

Lake Mburo National Park Located after Masaka district, In Kiruhura District a few Kilometers before Mbarara district. It can be accessed through the Sanga gate. It’s about 20km from Lyantonde District and almost 50km from Mbarara. It’s about 228 Km from Kampala and it takes about 3 to 4 hours drive.

Where to stay in Lake Mburo National Park.

For most people doing gorilla safari in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi National park, Lake Mburo national park is a good stopover between the journey. Like all national parks, lake Mburo National Park had options ranging from Budget, Mid Range and Luxury accommodation. Some of the options Include:

• Arcadia Cottages
• Mburo Safari Lodge
• Eagle’s Nest Lodge
• Mantana Tented Camp
• Mihingo Lodge
• Rwakobo Rock
• Rwonyo Rest Camp

Other Activities to do in Lake Mburo National Park after birding safari

FISHING: Lake Mburo National Park is home to 5 lakes and it’s frequented by several local fishermen. Organize with us and we can arrange a fishing safari for you.

HORSE BACK RIDING: It is only Lake Mburo National Park where you can do a game drive on a horse back. There is nothing that beats such an experience.

BICYCLE RIDING: Bicycle riding game drives can be organized with the park authorities. This is safe and you will have armed rangers to scare away animals in case they charge.

NATURE WALKS: Just like the horseback riding and bicycle riding, this has to be organized well ahead of time unlike the normal game drive.

BOAT CRUISE; Just like most parks in Uganda, you can also do a boat cruise in lake Mburo and view some water animals like crocodiles and water birds.

NIGHT GAME DRIVE: Night game drives are very rewarding and will give you a chance to see the rare bird species and animals.