Country Safaris
Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP)
Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP), the smallest Uganda's savannah national parks with an area of 370km, is located in Mbarara district and it is a 3 ½-hour drive from Kampala.
Rwonyo park head headquarters takes one 20 minutes to reach after turning left at Sanga. LMNP has several species of mammals which include zebras, impalas, elands, topi and buffaloes.
Birds include the atypical shoebill. Its sculptured scenery with rolling grassy hills and idyllic lakeshores has varied montage habitats: forest galleries, rich acacia tree valleys, seasonal, and permanent swamps. The park's swamps support an affluence of wildlife.
The park has strategically located accommodation facilities (6 tents at Rwonyo park headquarters) that aid and enhance scenic viewing and easy access to water. Meals are available from the park restaurants on order.
Interpretation Centre
LMNP has an interpretation centre located at Rwonyo hill. Literature concerning the park history, biodiversity and scenic beauty is available at the interpretation centre and also serves as a starting point for nature walks.
Flora and Fauna
With about 68 different species of animals and 315 different species of birds, LMNP is prominent for its opulence in biodiversity. Animals take account of zebras, impalas, buffaloes, topis, elands that are herbivores and leopards, hyenas and jackals that are predators.
Birds include: the atypical shoebill stork, papyrus yellow warbler, African fin foot, saddle billed stork, brown chested wattled plover, carruthre's cisticola, tabora cisticola, great snipe, Abyssinian ground hornbill and white winged warbler. Lake Mburo's woody vegetation is dominated by Acacia species, Olea species and Boscia species.
Game Drives
A number of tourist tracks that are used for game drives include: the Impala, Zebra, Kazuma, and Lakeside tracks.
Impala track exposes you to a diverse species of animals. Along this track, you are able to view impala (the commonest species viewed along this track), waterbucks, warthogs, topis and zebras.
Zebra track guides you to harems of burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli) with other species like bushbucks, oribi and reedbucks.
The zebra track leads to the junction of Roroko track, a drive through a wetland basin and thick acacia shrub and woodland, with olive trees and euphorbia species. Rock outcrops along Rukoro track, are a home to mysterious klipspringers to which the rock is the best habitat.
The Kazuma track passes through wooded grassland. You can see black-bellied bustards that often patrol the area. Climbing Kazuma hill which is high enough, gives you a real exposure of Lake Mburo National Park. The five lakes within the lake and the rolling hills become more visible and attractive. Kigambira loop takes you through a wooded wilderness with scattered thicket.
Here, you are able to see bushbucks and bush duikers.
The Lakeside track offers you an opportunity of viewing water plants and animals. The park has a diversity of water birds and woodland birds, which can be sighted along these tracks.
Boat Trips
The Lake Mburo is one major piece of good fortune. The lake has a rich diversity of animal and plant species, which can only be viewed clearly while on a boat trip. These include crocodiles, hippopotami and birds like pelicans, black crake, heron, cormorant, fish eagle and the atypical shoebill stork, all of which endow your visit with delight.
The trip takes a maximum of 2 hours.
Guided Walks
These include nature trail, salt lick and fishing. The nature trail offers you a chance to admire Uganda nature. You have the prospect to walk in the circuit at your pace in company of an armed guide.
If you enjoy sport fishing, Lake Mburo has about 6 species of fish, the common one being tilapia (Oreochromis leucostictus). This sport can be carried out at Mazinga.
The climax of it all is a walk to the nearby salt lick. A purposefully located wooden platform enables you to watch at least four different species of animals at any one time while they lick the salty soil without distracting them.
Rubanga Forest
The forest offers a variety of habitats, conducive for birds. This makes it a very attractive place for bird watchers. Rubanga forest has over 40 species of birds. Some common species are harrier hawk, green pigeon, narina trogn, grey-backed cameroptera and double-toothed barbet. Though the forest is small, it is high with a closed canopy. Markhamia platycalyx, sapium, erythriana, and acacia are some of the common tree species.
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