Lake Mburo National Park, a compact 260-square-kilometer wilderness in western Uganda, offers global travelers an accessible safari escape 240 kilometers southwest of Kampala. With options by road or air, reaching this park known for its zebras, lakes, and rolling hills is straightforward and rewarding.
The quickest route is flying from Entebbe International Airport to Mbarara Airstrip. Domestic flights by AeroLink or Bar Aviation take 1 hour, one way, with schedules varying (2-3 times weekly). From Mbarara, a 1-hour drive (50 kilometers) on a mix of paved and dirt roads leads to the park’s Nshara Gate. Lodge transfers or taxis cost, and booking flights early is advised, especially for dry seasons (June-September and December-February).
Driving from Kampala, a 3-4 hour trip (240 kilometers) via the Masaka-Mbarara highway, is the most popular approach. The route is paved to Sanga Gate (210 kilometers), with the final 30 kilometers on good gravel standard vehicles suffice, though 4x4s handle wet seasons (March-May and October-November) better. Public buses from Kampala to Mbarara connect to taxis for the last stretch.
From Entebbe, add 30-60 minutes to reach Kampala’s starting point. Lake Mburo’s proximity and multiple entry gates (Sanga, Nshara) make it a convenient stop en route to western parks like Bwindi. Whether by air or road, the journey unveils a vibrant safari destination waiting to be explored.