3 Days Lake Mburo National Park Wildlife Safari

Safari highlights

• Guided walking safari among zebras, impala, elands and topi
• Boat trip on Lake Mburo to see hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles
• Game drives through acacia savannah with giraffes and buffalo
• Optional night drive for hyenas, genets and other nocturnal animals
• Equator stop and easy access from Kampala

Itinerary route map

1. Kampala
2. Masaka
3. Lake Mburo National Park

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 01
   Day 1 Kampala / Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park

   Leave Kampala or Entebbe in the early morning and drive west through Mpigi and Masaka. Lake Mburo is the closest savannah park to the capital, so the journey is shorter than most safaris, taking about four to five hours. On the way you stop at the Equator crossing at Kayabwe for photographs.

   You enter the park around midday and check in at your lodge for lunch. The park is known for its rolling hills, acacia woodland and wetlands, and the setting is peaceful. After lunch, you may take a short rest to enjoy views across the plains before heading out for the afternoon.

   In the afternoon you set out on a game drive, looking for zebras, impalas, elands, topis, warthogs and buffalo, as well as giraffes in the woodland. Lake Mburo has no lions or elephants, which makes it ideal for walking safaris. You return for dinner at sunset, and the night air often carries the calls of hyenas.

2. 02
   Day 2 Walking safari, boat trip and optional night drive

   After breakfast you join a ranger for a walking safari, an activity that is rarely possible in Uganda's bigger parks. Walking allows you to approach zebras, impalas and elands quietly and to notice details such as animal tracks, plants and insects. The rangers carry rifles for safety and explain the ecology as you walk.

   In the afternoon, you take a boat trip on Lake Mburo, which lasts about two hours. The shoreline is a great place to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffalo and a wide range of birds, including African fish eagles, pelicans, malachite kingfishers and the rare shoebill that occasionally visits the papyrus swamps.

   After dinner, you can join an optional night drive in search of nocturnal animals such as spotted hyenas, genets, bushbabies, civets and porcupines. A spotlight is used to pick out eyeshine in the dark. The activity is booked in addition to your package, and it is a good way to see another side of the park.

3. 03
   Day 3 Lake Mburo to Kampala / Entebbe

   Rise early for a final morning game drive, when animals are most active and the light is soft and golden. This is a good chance to look for any species you may have missed, such as the leopard tortoise, bushbucks or topi. You then return to the lodge for breakfast.

   After checking out, you begin the drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, retracing the route via Masaka. The journey takes about four to five hours, and you can stop for lunch in Masaka or at a roadside restaurant. If you wish, your guide can stop at the Equator again for souvenirs.

   You arrive in the afternoon or early evening and are dropped at your hotel or the airport. The shorter driving times make this an easy and flexible safari for travellers who want to see wildlife without spending long on the road. Your guide confirms any onward transfers before saying goodbye.