Wildlife in Lake Mburo National Park
The common wildlife in Lake Mburo National Park includes birds, primates, and mammals, including buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, elands, topis, and impalas. Mburo is the smallest park in Uganda, but despite its size, it is home to a great deal of wildlife and a remarkable ecosystem. The park hosts 350 bird species and several animals, including but not limited to the following:
List of Animals and Wildlife found in Lake Mburo Park
Zebras:
Besides the rare Kidepo National Park, Lake Mburo National Park is the only other destination in Uganda where you will find zebras in plenty. You are guaranteed to see them when you visit the park, where they are referred to as a common sight that goes with the slogan “whispers of the wild.” You will hear those zebras hissing or whispering, as many would say.
Buffalo:
Just like zebras, graze in the park, and you will find herds of them on your tour, either resting or munching the grass gracefully. They will then lift their noses and stare, creating perfect photo moments for the visitor. Buffaloes are also a common sight in Lake Mburo National Park.
Hippos:
Hippos are abundant in Lake Mburo, and you will encounter several of them during a boat cruise on Lake Mburo and late in the evening when they get out of the water to graze on land. They are also a common sight, just like zebras and buffalo, and you can be sure to see them on any particular visit.
Giraffes used to be nonexistent in Lake Mburo but were recently introduced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. A group of giraffes was transferred from Murchison Falls National Park to Mburo, and as of now, they are regarded as occasional visitors because their small number is still getting familiar with their new home, so sightings are not guaranteed.
Leopard:
The park is a good place to hope for a sight of a leopard. There is a place locally known as the “leopard rock” where leopards in Lake Mburo are usually seen, but your chances will be better with a night drive or early morning game drive. Because of their shy and elusive traits, leopards are regarded as elusive because they are masters of camouflage and hard to find.
Hyena: Several hyenas exist in the park, but they are referred to as occasional because they are seen infrequently.
Lions:
These have been known to be extinct in the park, but lions are slowly returning to Lake Mburo National Park because of the stability the park has enjoyed for a long time and the large number of prey that exist in Lake Mburo. Lions are rare in this park; only a few lucky visitors have seen one or two.
The park is the only place in Uganda where the impala is found. The eland is also found only in Mburo and the less accessible Kidepo. There are other animals in the park, especially small ones, including topi, duiker, oribi, Bohor reedbuck, sitatunga, and klipspringer. There are also several baboons and other primates, including monkeys.
