National Park · Southwestern Uganda
Lake Mburo National Park
The smallest of Uganda's savanna parks and the closest to Kampala, making it an easy add-on rather than a detour.
How to get there
By road from Kampala via the Masaka-Mbarara highway, roughly midway between Kampala and Bwindi.
What to find
Zebra, eland and impala, walking and cycling safaris (unusual for a Ugandan park), and boat trips on the lake itself.
Overview
Lake Mburo National Park covers about 370 km² of rolling acacia savanna, rocky ridges and wetlands, with five of the area's lakes inside its boundaries. It's Uganda's closest savanna park to Kampala.
It's unusual for Uganda because there are no elephants and few large predators, which means you can explore on foot, by bike and on horseback. It's also the best place in Uganda to see zebra, impala and eland, and one of the few places to see them all together.
Highlights
- Walking safaris among zebra, impala and eland
- Horseback safaris, a rare experience in East Africa
- A boat trip on Lake Mburo with hippos, crocodiles and the elusive African finfoot
- Night game drives for leopard, hyena and bushbabies
- An easy stop that breaks the long drive between Kampala and Bwindi
Things to do
Walking safaris
Ranger-guided walks, especially beautiful at dawn.
Horseback and cycling safaris
Ride among the herds, organised through nearby operators.
Boat trip
Lake Mburo cruises for hippos, crocodiles and water birds.
Game and night drives
Look for leopard, hyena, topi, buffalo and giraffe, which were reintroduced here.
Best time to visit
All year. It's driest from June to August and December to February, which is ideal for walking and riding.
Getting there
About 3.5 to 4 hours by road from Kampala, just off the Masaka–Mbarara highway, and roughly halfway to Bwindi.
Where to stay
Several lodges and tented camps sit inside the park and along its edges, many with lovely views over the savanna and lake.
Lake Mburo National Park
A selection of well-known options, not a complete list. See all accommodation in Uganda →
Good to know
- Stay a night rather than just driving through. The walking safaris are the highlight.
- Stop at the Equator crossing at Kayabwe on the way.
- Look for the African finfoot on the lake boat trip.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.