Lake Mburo National Park is a compact yet richly diverse protected area located in western Uganda, near the town of Mbarara. Covering about 370 square kilometers, it is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks but stands out for its unique mix of grassland, woodland, and wetland habitats. The park is centered around Lake Mburo, one of 13 lakes in the region, five of which lie within the park’s boundaries, creating a landscape teeming with life. It is one of the best places in Uganda to see zebras, impalas, elands, and topis, and it is home to buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, leopards, and over 350 bird species.

Unlike other national parks in Uganda, Lake Mburo has no elephants, allowing for more extensive acacia woodland and a different ecological balance. Activities in the park include game drives, boat cruises, walking safaris, horseback riding, and mountain biking, making it a favorite for travelers seeking close-up wildlife experiences. Easily accessible from Kampala (about a 4-hour drive), Lake Mburo is often used as a convenient stopover en route to or from south western Uganda’s gorilla parks, yet it is a destination worth exploring in its own right.