Lake Mburo Park Wildlife Game Drive – Boat Safari – Hikes
Experiential 3 day Lake Mburo Park Wildlife Hiking Safari
This Experiential 3 day Lake Mburo Park Wildlife Hiking Safari takes place in the closest Wildlife Park to Kampala. The whole park is open for nature walks and hikes accompanied by a Uganda Wildlife Ranger. You can see Zebras, Buffaloes, Eland, Topi and other antelopes, Giraffes, Warthogs, countless of birds, hippos, crocodiles and more.
Out of the Vehicle and Hit the Trails around Lake Mburo with its Savanna and Rolling Hills where you see Wildlife and Birds while Hiking here. This Experiential Hiking Safari can be Budget – Moderately or Upmarket in Price. There are no long drive times to get here from Kampala, the hiking Safari can also be joined with another Safari such as Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Lake Mburo National Park is the only Savanna Park where you can hike throughout with Uganda Wildlife Rangers as your guides.
Day 1 – Lake Mburo Park:
Your 3 day Lake Mburo Park Wildlife Hiking Safari begins as we pick you up at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe and head for Lake Mburo which is a 3 Hour drive from Kampala.
Our first stop is Mabamba Swamp which is the best spot for Shoebill Stork and other water-bird, swamp specialists sightings in Uganda. Mambamba Swamp is located along Lake Victoria is a RAMSAR site.
A fishing boat with expert birding guide will take you into the swamp along narrow channels in order to spot the Shoebill Stork.
The Shoebill Stork – Africa’s most sought after bird can be spotted in the early mornings as he stands still in the swamp looking for lung fish and other prey, his beak swooping down devouring the fish.
You often get close and can get some great photos of the Shoebill Storks.
After Mabamba Swamp we continue to nearby Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo Park is the smallest Savanna Park in Uganda and the only park that you can hike from one end to the other with Uganda Wildlife Ranger Escort leading you.
Check into the Lodge that you chose for your time here, you have a choice of Budget, Moderate and Upmarket lodges. The favorite and preferred Lodge of Choice being the Luxury Mihingo Lodge – budget wise there is the economical choice of Eagle’s Nest – Tented Cottages with bath.
Lunch
Afternoon Boat Launch Safari on Lake Mburo – the boat is limited to 16 passengers, life-vests are available and there is lots to see on this 1 1/2 hour or longer Boat Safari such as Hippos, Crocodiles basking in the sun, 3 kinds of otters, including some that are quite large.
Water Birds overhead, fishermen coming to fish for Tilapia or 5 other species of fish found here, mammals coming to cool themselves off by the lake.
Besides birds, wildlife there is scenery that are very much Lake Mburo and make it a special place to visit.
After the Boat Launch Safari there is a game drive for you to take, we have a pop-up roof in the vehicle for best wildlife viewing and a Uganda Wildlife Ranger on board.
You will see Rothschild Giraffes, Cape Buffaloes, Burchell Zebras, Topi and the large Eland Giraffes, and numerous other wildlife along the game drive, at times Leopards, Hyenas and the cry of a distant lion,
The game drive is about 3 hours in length and will take place toward the sunset when you can see leopards starting their evening and night prowl in the park.
Dinner
Lodging: Eagle’s Nest-Budget – Mburo Safari Lodge – Moderate – Mihingo Safari Lodge – Luxury
Meal Plan: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2 – Hiking Safari in Lake Mburo:
Breakfast and a day of Hiking in Lake Mburo Park with a Ugandan Wildlife Authority Ranger. You will need to have the right clothes, equipment and a packed lunch with you during time of hiking in Lake Mburo Park.
A daypack comes in most handy, two liters of drinking water, a picnic lunch that you can have while sitting on a ridge with a view of the park.
When it comes to clothing, you see people in the picture wearing shorts, T-Shirts, not a smart idea. Look at the ranger that you are with. Wellies or boots, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt. Clothing for hiking in the Bush is for protection – protection against thorns, brush, even against snake bites, Savanna Tsetse Flies (which created Lake Mburo Park by infecting people with sleeping sickness – today they are there but carry no disease, only leave a painful bite), mosquitoes, flies, ants. Hiking Boots are necessary, they give you ankle support and protection.
The African Wild is no place for flip-flops or Sandals but proper hiking boots. You will also need a light rain-jacket for the day.
Begin the day with a guided hike to the Salt-Lick – Hike up to a top of hill where you can see 9 of the regions lakes as you have lunch including birds and mammals both on the hill and on the hike up to it.
A hike in the Rubanga Forest for which special permission must be had from the warden, a forest that is of interest to birders in particular.
A day filled with great wildlife-hikes, birding, in the only park in Uganda where this can be done – a great day.
Dinner
Lodging: Eagle’s Nest-Budget – Mburo Safari LodgeLas – Moderate – Mhingo Safari Lodge – Luxury
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner – Hike up to a top of hill where you can see 9 of the regions lakes as you have lunch
Day – 3 – Return to Kampala:
Breakfast
Last game drive in Lake Mburo Park taking a lost look at the wildlife.
Stop at Igongo Cultural Center for Lunch and taking a look at the exhibits in the Museum
Stop at the Equator and see some water flow demonstrations north and south of the equator. The water flow demonstration is not real since it takes a lot more water to demonstrate the north – south – clockwise and counter clockwise flow of water. Sorry – in various places in Uganda – run water in the sink and see how it flows.
Stop at the Royal Drum Makers and see their work which has been taken place in this community for over 300 years.
This is the best place in Uganda to buy original drums. The Djembe like drums are not a Ugandan original but the design came from West Africa, but they are made here for Tourists to buy, buy an original Ugandan Drum.
Reach Kampala or Entebbe in the late afternoon
Lodging Choices at Lake Mburo Park for this Safari:
Mihingo Safari Lodge-Upmarket – Luxury:
This is one of the best lodge choices for the last night on Safari in Uganda. Mihingo Lodge is a celebratory kind of lodge with spacious tented cottages, nicely furnished, even the bathrooms have a view of the park
Meals are simply great here and the service here stands a standard in Uganda. The lodge offers activities that no other lodge in the park offers such as Horseback Riding Safaris, Biking Safaris, a pool, massage therapy and more.
Mburo Safari Lodge – Moderate:
Mburo Safari Lodge is a moderately priced lodge in Lake Mburo Park with nice cottages, including a Family Cottage where a family of four will find it just right for them.
There is a small swimming pool for you to use, nice views of the mark, good meals and service.
Each evening a campfire is lit here for your enjoyment of Mburo National Park at night.
This a tented cottage camp – each tented cottage is set on a ridge high over the park with a great view. Bathrooms are in the back of each tent.
Meals are hearty and the evening meal is cooked over a campfire in an African Potjie which makes a great meal.
Eagle’s Nest provides one of the better budget lodging options in Uganda.
other Lodging Choices
3 day Lake Mburo Park Wildlife Hiking Safari – if you are interested in this Experiential Hiking Safari – Please Contact us.