Uganda's smallest and most accessible savanna park, known for zebras and walking safaris.
Kiruhura District, western Uganda, along the Kampala–Mbarara highway — Uganda's closest national park to the capital.
Size & Established: ~260 km² (some sources cite up to 370 km²); gazetted as a national park in 1983 — Uganda's smallest savanna park.
Terrain & Ecosystem: A mosaic of acacia woodland, dry hills, rocky outcrops, open and wooded savanna, and wetlands — nearly 20% of the park is covered by a system of five lakes and papyrus swamps, the largest being Lake Mburo itself.
Wildlife: Around 68 mammal species and over 315–350 bird species. Notably the only park in southern Uganda with zebras (shared only with Kidepo nationally), plus impalas (unique to this park), eland, topi, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and — following reintroduction — a returning population of lions and giraffes (introduced in 2015).
Main Activities: Game drives, walking safaris (rare elsewhere due to predator density), horseback riding safaris, boat cruises on Lake Mburo, mountain biking, birdwatching.
Best Time to Visit: Year-round, but June to September and December to February are driest.
Getting There: About 3–3.5 hours by road from Kampala — commonly used as a stopover en route to or from Bwindi.
Over 350 bird species and animals like zebras, giraffes, hippos, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles, and buffalo, with unique species including Burchell's zebras, impalas, and the elusive sitatunga antelope.
Ranger-led walks through forest or wetland habitats for close encounters with smaller wildlife, flora, and birdlife, offered in nearly every park.
Morning and evening drives through prime wildlife territory with expert spotters.
Relaxed cruises on Africa's great lakes and rivers, spotting hippos and birdlife.
R & M Wild Safaris