Our 4 Days wildlife and birding tour takes you to Lake Mburo national park the Uganda’s smallest savannah national park found in western Uganda across the equator landmark. Lake Mburo national park is the closest park from Kampala and Entebbe international airport and one of the most remarkable wildlife destinations in Uganda for wildlife sighting activities, boat cruise safari, amazing culture, birding safari, horseback riding and guided nature tours. Lake Mburo national park is a real treasure to bird lovers with over 350 recorded bird species to date these include; the Red-faced Barbet which can only been seen in Lake Mburo plus some endemic species such as the rare Shoebill stork  and African Finfoot. Other key bird species in Lake Mburo national park are the Saddle-billed Stork, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, African-wattled Lapwing, Brown-chested Lapwing, Tabora (Long-tailed) Cisticola, Carruther’s Cisticola, African Scops Owl, White-winged Warbler and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill.

Lake Mburo national has a fabulous landscape for bird watching and wildlife sighting which is made of Acacia woodland, forest area like; Rubanga forest, wetlands, open savannah, several lakes including Lake Mburo and rolling hills providing the perfect habitat for a variety of birds and wildlife. Lake Mburo is a best habitat to 68 mammal species including the impalas which in Uganda are only found in this park plus Elands and Burchell’s zebra which are found only here and in Kidepo. Other mammal species in this park include; Caped buffalos, the common warthog, Defassa waterbuck, Oribi, Reedbuck, Spotted hyenas, Leopard, bush babies, Porcupines, Topis, Olive baboons, over 300 hippos, otters and crocodiles that are found in the lake.

Highlights 4 days wildlife and birding to Lake Mburo national park

Day 01: Pick up from hotel / residence or Entebbe airport – Drive to Lake Mburo National Park – Night game drive safari

Day 02: Full day birding watching

Day 03: Half day bird watching – Evening game drive

Day 04 Morning horseback riding safari – Drive back to Kampala

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala / Entebbe airport – Drive to Lake Mburo national park – Night wildlife sighting safari

You will be met by our safari guide at your hotel in Entebbe / Kampala or pick up from Entebbe international airport on arrival for meet and greet and brief you about this 4 days wildlife and birding, boat cruise and horseback riding safari to Lake Mburo national park and later start your drive to Lake Mburo National Park passing small towns along Kampala-Mbarara road with a stopover at the Equator crossing landmark at Kayabwe for water experiments that is done on each side of the planet with the ending results that will prove to you indeed this is the center of planet,  take some photos, visit craft galleries, have a cup of coffee to feel the taste of Ugandan made coffee from locally grown coffee berries.  Thereafter, drive to Igongo cultural center to relax, have lunch, and visit the museum which is one of the best heritage museums in Uganda popular for its wonderful Culture and traditional exhibitions that will take you many centuries back about the lifestyle of the Ankole people you should not miss while in a safari in Uganda. Later drive to the park to check in at your booked lodge and prepare for the night wildlife sighting safari one of the most memorable activities one can do here to encounter creatures of the night, such as Leopards, spotted hyenas, Bush Babies, African rock python, Porcupines, night jar bird and all the things that move at night plus exploring how other mammals like the beautiful Zebras, Impalas, Caped buffaloes among others spend their night in the jungle. Dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options; Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Rwakobo rock lodge (mid-range), Mpogo Safari Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan; Lunch / Dinner

Day 2: Full day birding Lake Mburo national park

Wake up every early in the morning to have simple breakfast, get your packed breakfast and lunch and drive to the park for the full day birding safari. Lake Mburo National Park is one of the best places for birding in Uganda with over 350 recorded bird species that can easily be spotted in different habitats of the park such as the swampy valleys of Miriti and Warukiri and the roadsides between Rwonyo camp, Rubanga Forest and several small lakes. Some of the key bird species to look out for include; the Shoebill stork, Bateleur, Rufous-bellied Heron, Grey Crowned Crane, Coqui Francolin, Brown-chested Lapwing, Black-bellied Bustard, Brown Parrot, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Ross’s Turaco, Red-headed Lovebird, Green Wood-hoopoe, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, White-headed Barbet, Common Scimitarbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-faced Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow-breasted Apalis, White-winged Tit and Finfoot, Brown Chested Plover, Tabora Cisticola, Lesser Blue Eared Starling, Buff Bellied Warbler, Red Headed Weaver, Black Shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Sulpher Breasted Bush-shrike, Green Capped Eremomela, Bare faced Go-away-bird. Have a short break to freshen yourself, have lunch and continue with birding safari to spot several species till evening. During birding safari, you will spot some mammals like the Zebras, Elands, Impalas, Buffaloes, Topis, Warthogs, and Giraffes among others. Drive back to your lodge to relax while reviewing your checklist dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options; Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Rwakobo rock lodge (mid-range), Mpogo Safari Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner

Day 3: Half day birding – Afternoon boat cruise safari on Lake Mburo – Evening game drive

Rise up to be served breakfast and drive to the park for another birding safari to boost your opportunities to spot more bird species. Lake Mburo national park is the best park in Uganda to spot acacia-dwelling birds. Later drive back to your lodge to relax, have lunch and drive to Lake Mburo for your 2 hours’ afternoon boat cruise safari that will get you in touch with several flora and fauna of the lake along the bank, and others in the water. During the boat cruise safari on Lake Mburo, you will see numerous hippopotamuses, some crocodiles, and an incredible number of bird species such as Egyptian gooses, African fish eagles, African finfoot, White-backed heron, Hammerkops. Boat cruise is one of the most rewarding activity and highlight activities in Lake Mburo national park that shouldn’t be missed. After the boat cruise safari go for an evening wildlife sighting game drive through the park that will let you to see many animals and more birds. You will spot mammals like the African caped Buffaloes, grazing Hippos, Zebras, Waterbucks, Impala Topi, Elands, Warthogs which are so ubiquitous, Reedbuck, Oribi, Giraffes, spotted hyenas, Leopards, Bush pigs, Genets. Lake Mburo national park is popular for having the largest population of zebra in Uganda with an estimated number of over 5,000 individuals, the highest concentration of leopards that cannot be found anywhere in other Uganda’s national parks and it is the only park in Uganda where you can see the Impala, Eland the largest antelope and klipspringer. Most of these species can be spotted in the park’s open savannah and valleys. Drive back to your accommodation to relax, have dinner and an overnight.

Day 4; Lake Mburo National park – Horseback riding safari – Drive back to Kampala or Entebbe international airport

Wake up to have a simple breakfast and drive to the park for 2 hours’ horseback riding safari in the jungle. Lake Mburo National Park is the only park in Uganda where one can do a game drive / nature walk while on the back of a horse. Horseback riding safari offers a unique experience without any is the most peaceful way of exploring the park and make you feel part of the nature. During horseback riding safari you will an opportunity to get off the usual game drive trails used when doing a game drive using a vehicle that will offer you a chance to go far inside the park where you will spot the highest concentration of animals like Zebras, Impalas including the more shy one like Elands from a close range as they are so curious to see their close relatives without black and white stripes. After the game drive on horses, drive back to the lodge to have full breakfast, check out of your room and start your drive back to your residence in Kampala or Entebbe international airport to plan for your return flight with a stopover at Equator landmark to have lunch and continue with the journey straight to your hotel or residence in Kampala or Entebbe international airport. This will be the end of your 4 days wildlife and birding to Lake Mburo national park

4 days wildlife and birding to Lake Mburo national park includes;

Transportation using well modified safari van / Land-cruiser with pop up roof, air-conditioned and 4X4 WD for 4 days

English speaking safari guide for 4 days

Fuel for 4 days

Accommodation (Budget/Mid-range/Luxury) on full board meal plan (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Bottled mineral water throughout your tour

All en-route meals as indicated in the itinerary

All park entrance fees

All government taxes

A stopover at Kayabwe equator landmark

A visit to Igongo cultural center

Night game drive

Birding safari

Boat cruise

Evening game drive

Horseback riding safari

4 days wildlife and birding to Lake Mburo national park excludes;

Travel insurance

Entry visa

Domestic and international flights

Tips

Souvenirs and gift

Alcoholic and soft drinks (Sodas, beers, wines, special juice orders)

Tobacco, telephone, laundry