Lake Mburo National Park at a glance
Lake Mburo National Park lies in southwest Uganda between Masaka and Mbarara. It covers 370 km² at 1,220 to 1,828 m above sea level in the Nyabushozi area of Kiruhura district, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) describes it as the country's smallest savanna national park. Five lakes lie inside the boundary. The park is small enough to explore in one or two days, which makes it a natural stop on the road between Kampala and the western parks.
The park lies south of the equator. The equator monument at Kayabwe is a roadside stop on the Kampala to Masaka road, not a line through the park. Kampala to the park is about 228 km, or roughly 3½ hours by road without stops, so a day trip means about seven hours of driving.
This guide covers game drives, the boat trip, horseback safaris, walking and cycling, the animals, Ankole cattle, Mbarara, Masaka, fees, weather, accommodation, the journey and the history of the park. Prices are in US dollars for foreign visitors and in Ugandan shillings (UGX) for Ugandan and East African visitors.
Our picks: Lake Mburo tours
With one day, the riding trip from Kampala is the simplest start. Two-day trips add a night drive, cycling or a stop at the equator, and the multi-park routes suit anyone who wants more than one park.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
5-day safari: Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale
- Kazinga boat and Mburo game drive
- Accommodation and meals
The trip visits Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks. Ask whether the chimpanzee permit and park fees are covered before you book; sightings cannot be promised.
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4-day Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo safari
- All park entry fees
- Boat trips at Kazinga and Mburo
- Full board and 4x4
The route covers Queen Elizabeth National Park first and Lake Mburo on days three and four, with a guide and game drives. International flights and visa are extra.
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3-day Lake Mburo safari with boat cruise and walk
- Park entry included
- Boat cruise
- Guided walking safari
Accommodation, meals on safari and a guide are included, along with all the listed activities. Flights and visa are extra.
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2-day Lake Mburo safari with equator stop and Igongo
- Equator stop at Kayabwe
- Game drive and boat cruise
- Igongo Cultural Centre visit
One night's accommodation, an early pick-up and the return to the city or airport are included. The walk is guided on foot, cycling is optional, and you should ask whether park fees are included.
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2-day Lake Mburo trip with night drive and cycling
- Night drive with armed ranger
- Ranger-led cycling safari
- Mburo park fees included
One night with full board, hotel pick-up and a driver-guide are included. A boat trip is not part of this one.
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Lake Mburo day trip with a horse riding safari
- Horse riding safari
- National park fees
- 4x4 with English-speaking guide
A long day trip by 4x4 with a safety briefing and a ride inside the park. Confirm weight limits and your date with the operator before you book.
Check availability →Lake Mburo safaris and tours
Day trips, overnight safaris and stopovers on the way west, with live prices and availability.
What you can do at Lake Mburo
The park offers several ways to see the bush, not only from a car. Each activity is charged separately from the entry fee.
Game drives
You drive the tracks in your own or a tour vehicle, usually with a guide. Zebras, impalas, topi, buffalo and warthogs are common sights, and giraffes also live in the park. A self-drive game drive is a separate fee of $10 per vehicle for foreign non-residents.
Lake Mburo safari →Boat trip on the lake
A trip of about 2 hours takes you along the shore for hippos, crocodiles and water birds. The boat is charged at $30 per person, with a minimum charge for the small boat.
Boat trip →Horseback safari
Rides inside the park are offered for different levels. Beginners ride at a walk. Weight limits apply and have to be confirmed for each rider.
Horseback safari →Walks, cycling and night drives
Nature walks are $25 per person and cycling is $30 per person. Night drives are for guests who sleep inside the park and always go with a UWA guide.
Walking safari →Plan your Lake Mburo trip
Every page of this guide in one place.
Lake Mburo safari
Game drives, self-drive rules and night drives.
Tours from Kampala
Day trips and stopovers, with realistic drive times.
Boat trip
Hippos, birds and the UWA boat fee.
Horseback safari
Experience levels, weight limits and group size.
Walking and cycling
Nature walks, cycling and night drives.
Wildlife
Zebras, impalas, eland, topi and birds.
Ankole cattle
The long-horned herds on the park's edge.
Mbarara
The nearest city and its cultural museum.
Equator at Kayabwe
The roadside monument and the water demonstration.
Masaka
A stopover between Kampala and the park.
Park fees
Entry, vehicles and activities in USD and UGX.
Weather and best time
Dry and rainy months.
Lodges and camps
Accommodation types and camping.
Getting there
By road, bus and transfer from Entebbe.
History
From hunting area to national park.
A few things to know before you go
Points that save you money and surprises.
Entry, vehicle and activities are separate
You pay for each person, each vehicle and each activity on its own. A saloon car costs $40 per 24 hours with foreign plates, a tour vehicle or 4x4 $150. Check whether a tour price includes the permit and the park fees.
Park fees →The tariff window
The UWA tariff runs from July 2024 to December 2026. Check the current amount before you book.
Giraffes live here
15 Nubian giraffes were brought from Murchison Falls in 2015, and the herd is estimated at more than 50 animals today. Elephants are not part of the park.
Wildlife →Riding has weight limits
The general limit is 100 kg, most horses carry up to 85 kg and the strongest horse up to 95 kg. Confirm the horse and the date before you travel.
Horseback safari →Not every long-horned cow is a Watusi
The herds around the park belong to the Ankole group. The Watusi is one type within it, and local Bahima herds are not all Watusi.
Ankole cattle →If you continue west, the gorillas of Bwindi have their own guide at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel are covered at Queen Elizabeth National Park. The ferry to the Ssese islands leaves from Bukakata near Masaka, described at Kalangala.
Lake Mburo in a Uganda trip
Where the park fits.
Lake Mburo is the first national park on the road west from Kampala. Many travelers sleep here on the first night and drive on the next day to the Bwindi gorilla forest or to Queen Elizabeth. Others add it to a longer Uganda trip for the boat and horseback options that the bigger parks do not offer in the same way. The getting there page explains the road, the gates and the transfer from Entebbe airport. For entry rules in 2026, the single-entry tourist eVisa costs $50 and the East Africa Tourist Visa at $100, valid for Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda for 90 days. Exceptions depend on nationality.
More independent Uganda guides
Separate guides from the same team.
Jinja
The source of the Nile, rafting, boat trips and Lake Victoria at Jinja.
Kalangala
The Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria: Bugala, Banda, ferries and quiet beaches.
Bwindi
Gorilla trekking, permits, the four sectors and Lake Bunyonyi in southwest Uganda.
Murchison Falls
Safaris, Nile boat cruises to the falls, shoebills and the Ziwa rhinos.
Queen Elizabeth
Game drives, the Kazinga Channel, Ishasha's tree climbing lions and the Rwenzori.
Kibale
Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi, the crater lakes and Fort Portal.
Kidepo Valley
Remote savanna safaris in the Narus Valley, cheetahs, ostriches and Karamoja in the far northeast.
Lake Mburo National Park: frequently asked questions
Where is Lake Mburo National Park?
In southwest Uganda between Masaka and Mbarara, about 228 km from Kampala by road. The park is 370 km² and has five lakes inside its boundary.
How much does entry to Lake Mburo cost?
An adult foreign non-resident pays $40 per 24 hours, a child aged 5 to 15 pays $20 and children under 5 enter free. East African citizens pay UGX 20,000 for adults. These are amounts from the UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026. Check the current amount before you book. Vehicles and activities cost extra.
Can I visit Lake Mburo as a day trip from Kampala?
It is possible but long, with about seven hours of driving for the round trip before any game drive. Most travelers stay one night. See the tours page.
Which animals can I see?
Zebras, impalas, eland, topi, buffalo, warthogs, waterbuck, hippos and crocodiles live in the park, and the birdlife counts more than 315 species. Sightings are never guaranteed. See the wildlife page.
When is the best time to go?
The drier months of June to August and December to February suit game viewing. The rains fall from March to May and from September to November. See the weather page.
Is this the official Lake Mburo website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a lodge, a riding operator or a safari company.