Lake Mburo National Park

🇺🇬 Uganda

🦌 Impala Herds Roam Lake Mburo
🌍 #43 Global · 4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #29 in Africa #30 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Uganda 1217 spp. recorded

Lake Mburo National Park sits in southwestern Uganda as a protected expanse of rolling hills, grassy valleys, and acacia woodlands. Unlike the dense rainforests or vast open savannahs found elsewhere in East Africa, this compact landscape features calm lakes and papyrus swamps that shape a distinct home for local wildlife.

-0.632° S   30.987° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Impala ★
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

70–80% · Very likely
Plains Zebra ★
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

60–70% · Likely
Northern Giraffe ★
VU

Northern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely
Common Eland ★

Common Eland

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taurotragus oryx

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Rüppell's Glossy-starling
LC

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

80–90% · Very likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely
Topi

Topi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely
Speckled Mousebird
LC

Speckled Mousebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colius striatus

60–70% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

60–70% · Likely
Trilling Cisticola
LC

Trilling Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola woosnami

60–70% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

60–70% · Likely
Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

50–60% · Likely
Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird
LC

Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythaixoides personatus

50–60% · Likely
Woodland Kingfisher
LC

Woodland Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon senegalensis

50–60% · Likely
Common Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Common Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale parvula

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Impala ★
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

70–80% · Very likely
Plains Zebra ★
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

60–70% · Likely
Northern Giraffe ★
VU

Northern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely
Common Eland ★

Common Eland

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taurotragus oryx

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely
Topi

Topi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

60–70% · Likely
Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

50–60% · Likely
Common Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Common Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale parvula

50–60% · Likely
Northern Bushbuck
LC

Northern Bushbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus scriptus

50–60% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

50–60% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

40–50% · Likely
Brown Greater Galago
LC

Brown Greater Galago

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Otolemur crassicaudatus

20–30% · Possible
Yellow-winged Bat
LC

Yellow-winged Bat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lavia frons

20–30% · Possible
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Rüppell's Glossy-starling
LC

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

80–90% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely
Speckled Mousebird
LC

Speckled Mousebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colius striatus

60–70% · Likely
Trilling Cisticola
LC

Trilling Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola woosnami

60–70% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

60–70% · Likely
Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird
LC

Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythaixoides personatus

50–60% · Likely
Woodland Kingfisher
LC

Woodland Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon senegalensis

50–60% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

50–60% · Likely
Little Bee-eater
LC

Little Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops pusillus

50–60% · Likely
Red-necked Francolin
LC

Red-necked Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis afer

50–60% · Likely
Blue-naped Mousebird
LC

Blue-naped Mousebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Urocolius macrourus

50–60% · Likely
Black-headed Gonolek
LC

Black-headed Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius erythrogaster

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

40–50% · Likely
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

10–20% · With luck
Speckle-lipped Mabuya
LC

Speckle-lipped Mabuya

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis maculilabris

10–20% · With luck
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

Insufficient data
Black-necked Spitting Cobra
LC

Black-necked Spitting Cobra

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Naja nigricollis

Insufficient data
Black Mamba
LC

Black Mamba

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dendroaspis polylepis

Insufficient data
African Rock Python
NT

African Rock Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python sebae

Insufficient data
Uganda blue-headed tree agama
LC

Uganda blue-headed tree agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Acanthocercus ugandaensis

Insufficient data
Green Night Adder
LC

Green Night Adder

Reptile

Causus resimus

Insufficient data
Neumann's Marsh Terrapin

Neumann's Marsh Terrapin

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelomedusa neumanni

Insufficient data
Flathead Leaf-toed Gecko
LC

Flathead Leaf-toed Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Hemidactylus platycephalus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Bocage's Tree Frog
LC

Bocage's Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Leptopelis bocagii

Insufficient data
Senegal Kassina
LC

Senegal Kassina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data
Mwanza Frog
LC

Mwanza Frog

Amphibian

Xenopus victorianus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Topi Rutting and Territorial Displays

Feb

During February, male topi engage in dramatic rutting rituals, stamping the ground and clashing horns to establish dominance.

Topi

Topi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely
🦌

Plains Zebra Migration and Calving

Jun

In June, plains zebra herds move to the lake’s floodplains, where females give birth to foals amid the lush grasses.

Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

60–70% · Likely
🦌

Northern Giraffe Courtship and Browsing Shifts

Mar

March sees northern giraffes performing courtship necking while shifting their browsing to newly sprouted acacia leaves after the short rains.

Northern Giraffe
VU

Northern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Impala
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
50–60
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
Plains Zebra
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
Northern Giraffe
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
20–30
60–70
50–60
Common Eland
40–50
60–70
60–70
70–80
30–40
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
20–30
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Common Warthog
70–80
80–90
60–70
70–80
40–50
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Cape Turtle Dove
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
Topi
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
30–40
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
Speckled Mousebird
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Waterbuck
60–70
70–80
60–70
30–40
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
Trilling Cisticola
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Common Bulbul
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
30–40
Olive Baboon
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Woodland Kingfisher
70–80
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
Common Dwarf Mongoose
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
20–30
40–50
30–40
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Topi Rutting and Territorial Displays
🦌 Plains Zebra Migration and Calving
🦌 Northern Giraffe Courtship and Browsing Shifts

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🦌 Impala Herds Roam Lake Mburo

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
878
🐒 Mammals
198
🦎 Reptiles
109
🐸 Amphibians
32
1217 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
33 Threatened 21 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
66%
📊
Coverage (257 species at ≥5% of 1217 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
21%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 mammal, 5 bird)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
198
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
23
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
43

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Lake Mburo National Park?

The most likely sightings are Rüppell's Glossy-starling (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Impala (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Warthog (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Topi (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1217 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park for wildlife?

September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Impala in Lake Mburo National Park?

Yes — about 75% of wildlife watchers report a Impala sighting in Lake Mburo National Park, based on 77 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Plains Zebra in Lake Mburo National Park?

Yes — about 64% of wildlife watchers report a Plains Zebra sighting in Lake Mburo National Park, based on 50 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Northern Giraffe in Lake Mburo National Park?

Yes — about 62% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Giraffe sighting in Lake Mburo National Park, based on 46 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Eland in Lake Mburo National Park?

Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Common Eland sighting in Lake Mburo National Park, based on 43 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

Lake Mburo or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Akagera National Park 📍 119 km 🐟 African Fish Eagle Soaring Akagera

Akagera National Park

🇷🇼 Rwanda 🌍 #32 Global · 4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #24 in Africa #24 in Savanna & Grassland
Queen Elizabeth National Park 📍 121 km 🐘 Elephants Along the Kazinga Channel

Queen Elizabeth National Park

🇺🇬 Uganda 🌍 #19 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #14 in Africa #14 in Savanna & Grassland
Kibale National Park 📍 143 km 🦧 Chimpanzee Calls Through Kibale Forest

Kibale National Park

🇺🇬 Uganda 🌍 #110 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #45 in Africa #47 in Tropical Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 📍 149 km 🦍 Trek to the Mountain Gorillas

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

🇺🇬 Uganda 🌍 #176 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #52 in Africa #82 in Tropical Forest