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African Safaris and Tours
Lake Mburo National Park Lodges
Lake Mburo Lodges and Tented Camps, Inside and Beside the Park
Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda's smallest savannah park, set between Kampala and Mbarara, yet it packs open grassland, acacia woodland, rocky ridges, papyrus swamp and five lakes into one compact landscape. It holds Uganda's only population of impala and is one of the best places in the country to see zebra. Eland, buffalo, topi, Defassa waterbuck and warthog graze the savannah, hippos and crocodiles line the lakeshores, and leopards and hyenas move through the woodland, though sightings are rare. More than 300 bird species have been recorded, with acacia specials such as the bare-faced go-away-bird, black-bellied bustard and southern ground hornbill.
Our Lake Mburo lodges sit in two settings. Mantana's Lake Mburo Camp is inside the national park on a hillside above the lake. Mihingo Lodge and Rwakobo Rock Lodge stand on rocky outcrops just beyond the boundary, on private land and ranchland that open up activities outside the park as well as in it.
With no elephants in the park, Lake Mburo can be explored on foot, on horseback and by bike as well as by vehicle and boat:
- Game drives through the acacia savannah
- Night game drives, arranged by Mihingo Lodge and Rwakobo Rock Lodge
- Boat trips on Lake Mburo for hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds
- Guided walks
- Horseback safaris from Mihingo Lodge's own stables
- Mountain biking from Rwakobo Rock Lodge and Mihingo Lodge
The park lies close to the main road west from Kampala, so it fits neatly into a road safari to the parks of western Uganda — see our Uganda safaris. For the dry and wet seasons, see when to visit Uganda, and for other areas, Uganda lodges. We quote Lake Mburo lodges as part of a tailor-made safari, not as standalone room-only bookings.
Our Lake Mburo Lodges and Camps
Mantana's Lake Mburo Camp
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Set on a hillside above the lake, Mantana's Lake Mburo Camp is our only Lake Mburo lodge inside the national park. Tents stand on raised wooden platforms with private verandas, and game drives, guided walks and boat trips explore the park around camp.
Mihingo Lodge
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Known for horseback safaris, Mihingo Lodge keeps stables on private land bordering Lake Mburo National Park. Its tented rooms sit on raised platforms under thatch across a rocky kopje, and the infinity pool overlooks a valley waterhole where zebra and eland drink.
Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
About 1.5 km from Lake Mburo National Park's Nshara Gate, Rwakobo Rock Lodge stands on a rocky outcrop in the Ankole ranchlands. Thatched cottages, a pool and a waterhole below the dining area set the scene, and mountain biking explores the land outside the park.
Choosing a Lake Mburo Lodge (FAQ)
Which Lake Mburo lodge is inside the national park?
Mantana's Lake Mburo Camp is the Lake Mburo lodge we offer inside the national park itself. It sits on a hillside above Lake Mburo, so game drives, guided walks and boat trips start within the park rather than at a gate. Mihingo Lodge and Rwakobo Rock Lodge stand just outside the boundary.
Where are Mihingo Lodge and Rwakobo Rock Lodge?
Both stand just outside Lake Mburo National Park, on rocky outcrops with views towards it. Mihingo Lodge is on private land bordering the park, while Rwakobo Rock Lodge is in the Ankole ranchlands, about 1.5 km from Nshara Gate. Staying outside the boundary adds walks, rides and bike trails on land beyond the park.
What kind of rooms do the Lake Mburo lodges have?
Lake Mburo's lodges offer tented rooms or thatched cottages rather than hotel-style blocks. Mantana's Lake Mburo Camp has safari tents on raised wooden platforms with verandas. Mihingo Lodge has tented rooms on raised platforms under thatched roofs, spread across its kopje. Rwakobo Rock Lodge has thatched cottages built from local materials.
Which Lake Mburo lodge offers horseback safaris?
Mihingo Lodge runs horseback safaris from its own stables, and riding is the activity it is best known for. Rides cross savannah where zebra, eland and impala graze, without the sound of an engine. Mihingo caters for beginners and experienced riders, so tell us your riding level when we plan your itinerary.
Can I go mountain biking from a Lake Mburo lodge?
Yes, Rwakobo Rock Lodge and Mihingo Lodge both offer mountain biking. Rwakobo organises rides across the savannah outside the park boundary, a good way to stretch your legs after a morning game drive, and zebra and impala are often around the lodge. Ask us to build a ride into your stay.
Which Lake Mburo lodges arrange night game drives?
Mihingo Lodge and Rwakobo Rock Lodge both arrange night game drives in the park. After dark, a spotlight picks out animals you rarely meet by day. Leopards and hyenas live in Lake Mburo's woodland, but UWA notes sightings are rare, so treat any encounter as a bonus rather than a promise.
Which Lake Mburo lodges have a swimming pool?
Mihingo Lodge and Rwakobo Rock Lodge both have swimming pools. Mihingo's infinity pool overlooks a valley waterhole where buffalo, eland, impala and zebra come to drink. Rwakobo's pool shares its views with the dining room and bar, and the lodge has its own waterhole below the dining area.
Map of Lodges in and around Lake Mburo National Park
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