Over 68 mammal species have been recorded in Lake Mburo National Park including carnivore animals, herbivores, primates, and reptiles. The park is a common stopover for most Uganda safaris to or from the west e.g. gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

On your safaris in Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park is the most convenient and best place to spot zebras (holds over 5000 zebras). The park also holds various antelope species such as the beautiful Elands, Impalas, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, Topis, Bohor Reedbucks, etc. Other herbivores spotted include Hippos, Buffaloes, and Warthogs, there’re no elephants.

Lake Mburo park is the best place to spot leopards in the wild while on your Uganda tours. They’re best spotted while on night game drives where you’ll get a chance to see other nocturnal animals in Lake Mburo National Park including the hyenas.

Below are Lake Mburo National Park animals

Herbivores Animals In Mburo National Park

Uganda national park Mburo boasts several herbivores animals including numerous antelope species counting the herds of impalas only spotted here and in Katonga Game Reserve in Uganda.

Note that for many years, elephants have not been spotted in Mburo national park.

The following are the common herbivores animals in Lake Mburo National Park

1. Cape Buffalo- Syncerus Caffer

The Cape buffalo is a large sub-Saharan African bovine. It’s among the  African safari’s big five (animals that early hunters referred to as the most challenging and difficult to hunt on foot). Cape buffaloes are widely regarded as the most dangerous animals in Uganda, killing over 200 people each year.

Cape buffalos are large cow-like animals with grey or black fur and reddish-brown young. Both sexes have heavy, ridged horns that grow straight, then curve down, then up. Buffalos commonly live in open savannas, as well as mopane grasslands. Their natural predators mostly include lions, hyenas, and crocodiles. On average, a Buffalo can live about 25 years in the wild.

During your Uganda safaris in Lake Mburo park, they can be spotted on a game drive or along the Lake Mburo shores, as well as around Rwonyo rock lick.

2. Burchell’s Zebra- Equus Burchelli

The Burchell’s zebra can also be called the Plain zebra. It’s the only zebra species in Uganda only spotted in Kidepo and Lake Mburo National Park. Plain zebras have black and white stripes all over their bodies, with fading stripes on the legs, and each zebra has distinct stripes unique from the others, much like fingerprints on humans.

Zebras live in small groups and usually congregate in larger herds near water and food sources, but they retain their identity as family units. In Lake Mburo park, they are can be found in woodlands while on a game drive however, in the dry season, they’re spotted along lake Mburo.

3. Rothschild’s Giraffe

A Rothschild’s giraffe, also known as Giraffa camelopardalis Rothschild, is one of the unmistakable large animals in Uganda that you should not miss seeing on your Uganda trip in Mburo park. A giraffe is the world’s tallest animal, towering about 5.5m above any other animal and most plants. It has pale orange-brown patches and is famous for its long incredible neck and 45cm long tongue which allows it to feed on tall trees.

The giraffe’s front legs are significantly taller than its hind legs, resulting in a steeply sloping back from the shoulders to the rump. Please note that giraffes live in small herds mostly in savannahs, grasslands, and open woodlands.

Giraffes have fewer predators, but they can be preyed on by hyenas, lions, crocodiles, and leopards on rare occasions. In Lake Mburo NP, if lucky, they can be spotted while on the game drives.

4. Hippopotamus- Hippopotamus Amphibious

A hippo is the third largest land animal on the planet, after elephants and rhinos, weighing between 1,300 and 1,500kg. Hippos are visually stunning animals, with barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths with large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, and pillar-like legs. Despite their stocky body and short legs, hippos can run at 30km/h over short distances.

Hippos are Ugandan native animals, known to kill more people than any other animal in Africa (over 500 people each year). Hippos spend the day lying in the water next to each other to stay cool and hydrated, but just before night, they leave the water to feed on land, traveling 3- 5km and eating approximately 40kg of grass before returning to the water at sunrise.

On your Uganda wildlife safari in Mburo park, they’re spotted on the banks of Mburo lake as you are on a boat cruise.

5. Common Eland- Taurotragus Oryx

The Common eland (Eland antelope) is a spectacular antelope also known as the Southern eland. It is the largest savannah antelope in Africa (Eastern and Southern Africa) with an average weight of about 500- 600kg. Males can weigh up to 1,000 kg.

This lovely antelope has a genuinely smooth coat. Males have a darker coat with a bluish-grey tint and a series of vertical white stripes on the sides, while females have a tan coat. The males’ throats have a large dewlap, and their foreheads have dense fur. They are frequently seen near Lake Mburo’s shores, mostly during the dry season.

6. Bush Buck- Tragelaphus Sylvaticus

A Bushbuck is a nice-looking common antelope species found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, rivers, and forested areas. Bushbucks are generally solitary or territorial browsers and close relatives of the Nyala however, bushbucks are a bit larger.

Female bushbucks have a light brown coat and all sexes have around 7 white stripes and white spots on the sides. The ears, chin, tail, legs, and neck also have white patches.  Only the males have horns. They can be spotted along Lake Mburo’s shores.

7. Defassa’s Waterbuck- Kobus Ellipsiprymnus

A Defassa’s waterbuck is a lovely large antelope that is mostly found near permanent water sources such as valleys, rivers, and lakes. These antelopes have long bodies, necks, and short legs, as well as coarse hair and a mane on their necks. Only males have horns. Waterbucks, in particular, have a cream-colored patch (a bib) on their throat.

They have a shaggy brown-grey coat that emits a smelly greasy secretion to repel predators and acts as waterproofing when the animal dives into the water. It is mostly found near the shores of Lake Mburo.

8. Impalas- Aepyceros Melampus

Impalas are medium-sized antelopes. They feature a glossy reddish-brown coat and only males have slender lyre-shaped horns. Some people confuse Impalas with Uganda kobs, however, Impalas are lighter in build and have reddish-fawn upper parts that become paler on the sides. Their chest, belly, throat, and chin are all white, with a distinctive black ear tip.

The Impala’s tail is white with a central black line on the upper surface and a vertical black blaze on each buttock. On your Uganda safaris in Mburo park, they’re more likely to be spotted along Lake Mburo’s shores, especially during the dry season, but they’re also possible in woodlands as on game drives.

9. Topis- Damaliscus Lunatus Jimela

Topis are medium-sized antelope with a lovely reddish-brown to purplish-red coat. Many people confuse Topis with Jackson’s hartebeest, but the two are not the same. Topis have distinct black patches on their face, upper forelegs, hips, and thighs.

Both sexes have thick-ringed, lyre-shaped horns that measure 30- 40cm in length. On your safari Uganda tours in Lake Mburo National Park, Topis can be seen around Lake Mburo especially during the dry season as they come to take water. You can also encounter them in woodlands while on guided walks or game drives.

10. Sitatunga- Tragelaphus Spekii

In contrast to other antelopes, Sitatungas are swamp-dwelling antelopes that are excellent swimmers and can hide underwater, living only their eyes and nostrils visible. In appearance, Sitatungas resemble Bushbucks. Males have long, twisted horns, and the females’ coats are a reddish-chocolate brown color.

Sitatungas have white patches on the throat and close to the head in addition to numerous stripes and spots all over their body and white facial markings. Males grow a rough, scraggy mane. If lucky, in Lake Mburo National Park, it can be spotted in the Warukiri and Miriti swamps.

11. Bohor Reedbuck- Redunca Redunca

The Bohor reedbuck is a lovely, robust antelope with a brownish-yellow to greyish-brown coat (yellower than other reedbuck species). Its undersides are white, and its tail is marked white. Only males have horns, which are between 25-35cm long, and hook slightly forward from the forehead.

On your safari in Uganda Lake Mburo National Park, Bohor reedbucks can be spotted around the shores of Lake Mburo and also while on a game drive.

12. Oribis- Ourebia Ourebi

An Oribi is a small (12- 22kg) antelope found in eastern, southern, and western Africa. Oribis have a slightly raised back, a long neck, and long limbs. They have a glossy yellowish to rufous-brown coat with a white chin, throat, underparts, and rump, as well as a large black sound glandular patch below each ear.

Only males have horns that are slender and upright, ridged to about halfway up, and smooth and pointed at the ends. On your Uganda trip in Lake Mburo park, you may see them near Lake Mburo’s shores and at a water hole near Mihingo Lodge during the dry season.

13. Common Warthog- Phacochoerus Africanus

The Common warthog is a savannah and woodlands-dwelling wild member of the pig family. On average, Warthogs weigh about 45-150kg. They are unmistakable due to their amazing pair of tusks that protrudes from their mouth and curve upwards. These tusks are used to fight other hogs and to protect themselves from predators.

Their head is large, and they have a mane that runs down the spine to the middle of the back. Warthogs have sparse hair covering their bodies, which is usually black or brown, and a long tail that ends in a tuft of hair. They can be seen near Lake Mburo’s shores, especially during the dry season.

14. Bushpigs- Potamochoerus Larvatus

The Bushpig is a member of the pig family inhabiting forests, woodlands, riverine vegetation, and cultivated areas. Bushpigs look similar to domestic pigs, but they can be distinguished by their blunt muscular snouts, small eyes, and pointed tufted ears.

Bushpigs range in color from reddish brown to dark brown. They have a lighter-colored mane that stands up when the animal is tense. The upper parts of the face and ears are also paler. Though recorded in Lake Mburo National Park, they are hardly spotted due to their nocturnal habits.

Other Herbivores Animals In Lake Mburo National Park

These include:

1. Klipspringers
2. Dik-dik
3. Hares
4. Rats such as Cane rats, Langer cane rats, Striped grass mice, Harsh-furred rats, Unstriped grass mice, Common swamp rats, etc.
5. Squirrels such as the African tree squirrel and the Giant squirrel
6. Pangolins
7. Porcupines for example, the East African crested porcupine

Carnivores Animals In Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo national park Uganda boasts numerous carnivores animals including Leopards, Serval Cats, Side-Striped Jackals, etc. Note that, for many past years, Lions have not been spotted in Mburo national park.

Among Uganda national parks, Mburo park is the best place to spot Leopards on safaris in Uganda, mainly on a night game drive however, still possible on a day game drive.

Below are the common carnivores animals in Lake Mburo park

1. Leopards- Panthera Pardus

Many people often confuse Leopards and cheetahs, but they can be distinguished. Leopards are more muscular than cheetahs, have rosette-shaped spots on their limbs, and have no black tear marks. A Leopard is among the incredible African safari big five game, preferring dwelling in wooded and rocky habitats and thus, rarely seen due to its solitary and secretive nature.

A Leopard hunts using stealth and power, usually getting to almost 5m to its prey before attacking and can run at speeds of up to 58km/h. In Mburo national park, they can be spotted on rock-out crops (at Leopard rock), mainly during night game drives however also possible in the day time.

2. The Spotted Hyenas– Crocuta Crocuta

The Spotted hyena is also known as the Laughing hyena. It’s the sole member of the genus Crocuta. Hyenas have sloping backs and dark brown spots. and They have got powerful jaws strong enough to crack open bones and slice through the thickest hides.

Hyenas give birth to 2-3 cubs who are born with their eyes open. Female Hyenas undergo a difficult time while giving birth as they give birth through their narrow clitoris. During parturition, their clitoris ruptures to allow the young to pass through, the mum takes about a week to heal.

Hyenas are typical nocturnals and don’t hunt for themselves in most cases, instead, they feed on what other animals, such as lions and leopards have hunted by stealing from them. Hyenas have outstanding hunting skills capable of killing an animal large as a wildebeest. In Mburo park, you can spot them usually, early in the morning on nature walks to the western side of the park or on night game drives.

3. Serval Cats- Leptailurus Serval

A Serval cat is a nice-looking African wild cat. It has a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat with black spots and stripes, white marks on the ear, and a short black-tipped tail.

Serval cats mainly prey on rodents, frogs, insects, reptiles, and small birds as they are capable of jumping over 4m up in the air. If lucky, on your Mburo national park Uganda safari, it can be spotted in the woodlands while on a game drive.

4. Side-Striped Jackal– Lupulella Adusta

The Side-striped jackal is a beautiful nocturnal dog-like carnivore that is slightly larger than the Kidepo National Park’s Black-backed jackal. It has buff-grey fur, a darker grey back than the underside, and a black tail with a white tip. White stripes run down the sides from elbow to hip.

The side-striped jackal is less carnivorous, and its diet consists of small mammals, fruits, maize, reptiles, eggs, and birds. It can be seen on a game drive in the open woodlands. On a lucky day, it can be spotted in the open woodlands while on a game drive.

Other Carnivores Animals In Lake Mburo National Park

These include:

1. Mangoose such as the Banded mongoose, Greater grey mongoose, Lesser slender mongoose, White-tailed mongoose, and the Marsh mongoose.
2. African Civet
3. African wild cat
4. Genets
5. Honey badger (the ratel)
6. Aardvarks
7. Weasels e.g. the African- striped weasel
8. Viverrines
9. Hedgehogs for example, the East African hedgehog.

Primates In Lake Mburo Park

Lake Mburo National Park has got 2 primate species and includes the following:

1. Olive Baboons- Papio Anubis

Olive baboons are large monkeys with powerful limbs. Baboons have green-grey fur and a frightening appearance due to their dog-like pointed muzzles and powerful jaws with long pointed canine teeth.

On your Uganda safari holiday in Lake Mburo park,  they can be spotted while on a game drive or a guided nature walk in the open woodlands and thickets.

2. Vervet Monkeys- Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Vervet monkeys are attractive monkeys that can easily be recognized by their black faces with white hair fringe. Their coat hair color is mostly grizzled-grey overall. An obvious way to identify males is by their turquoise-blue scrotum. In the Rubanga forest, they can be seen.

Reptiles In Lake Mburo Park

Lake Mburo National Park boasts numerous species of reptiles however most of them are hardly spotted, the commonly encountered include:

1. The Nile Crocodile- Crocodylus Niloticus

With an average weight of about 225-414.5kg and an average length of 9-4ft, the Nile crocodile is the largest and most incredible freshwater predator in Africa, only found in 26 African nations. It can be found in a variety of aquatic habitats, including lakes, rivers, and swamps. Nile crocodiles have amazing thick, scaly, and well-protected skin.

Crocodiles are cold-blooded animals, therefore they spend most of the day basking with their jaws open from 9 am to 4 pm, “especially if not disturbed and the weather is sunny”. This prevents them from overheating by regulating their body temperature.

They are apex predators, very aggressive, and can kill almost any animal that comes within their range. Their diet consists mainly of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. On your Uganda tour holiday in Mburo national park,  they’re found on the banks of Lake Mburo.

Other Reptile Species In Lake Mburo National Park

1. Lizards include the monitor lizard, snake lizard, and common house lizard.
2. Snakes counting the Black mambas, Puff adder, Spitting cobra, African rock python, Green mambas, Gabon viper, Slender green snake, and Boomslang (tree snake).
3. Chameleons such as the Bright green chameleon, the Smaller chameleon, and the Pigmy chameleon.
4. Skinks for example the Red and black skink, Side-striped skink, Speckled-lipped skink, Grey-black limbless skink, etc.
5. Geckos such as the Black-throated dwarf gecko, Blue-bodied agama, and Uganda house gecko.
6. Tortoises for example, soft-shelled turtles, western hinged tortoises.

Conclusion

Regardless of its being the smallest savannah park in Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park has been a must not miss paradise for most Uganda wildlife safaris to the west. Some of the amazing animals in Lake Mburo National Park include numerous antelope species such as the beautiful Elands, Impalas, Topis, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, etc.

Other commonly spotted Lake Mburo National Park animals include herds of Zebras, Buffalos, Hippos, And Crocodiles, plus Leopards, Spotted hyenas, Side-stripped jackals, Serval cats, etc. Lions and elephants have not been spotted in the park for a long period.

Book With Us An Affordable African Safari In Uganda For A Memorable Experience In The Pearl Of Africa- Uganda. Please, Feel Free To Email Us For Any Inquiries About Your Uganda Tour.

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Lake Mburo National Park is surrounded by a high human population. The dominant tribe around the park is Banyankole, which is famously known for rearing long-horned cattle known as Ankole cattle.

1. Igongo Cultural Center And Museum

About 4km from Lake Mburo National Park Sanga gate is situated Igongo Cultural Center and Museum, locally known as a ‘Eriijukiro’.

The center incorporates a modern and well-organized museum that achieves its goal of preserving and promoting the history of the Ankole kingdom and other traditional societies of western Uganda.

It houses several detailed and well-annotated displays covering everything from the development of currency in Uganda to traditional Ankole and Bakiga dress, drums and other musical instruments, agricultural practices, and herbal medicine.

They are also several informative displays relating to the foundation and the history of the Ankole kingdom, and its rules, and the 19^th-century warrior queen Kitami Kya Nyawera, whose murder by a rival king presage a series of local disasters and led to the establishment of the Nyabingi cult at her shrine in the vicinity of Lake Bunyonyi.

2. Traditional Bahima Homestead

Take a walk or a bike ride over to a traditional Bahima homestead to learn about their cultural traditions and their way of life.

Activities include learning about the Ankole long-horned cows with an opportunity to try your hand at milking, understand the ghee-making process, taste milk, and much more.

This experience includes a nature walk or bike ride across grazing land, where wildlife and livestock mingle together, to the homestead and back again. Alternatively, you can ride a mountain bike to a nearby fishing village and see how the people live.

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Not only known for prime Uganda wildlife safaris, Lake Mburo National Park is also a superb destination for birding safaris in Uganda. Regardless of its being the smallest savannah park in Uganda (370km²), it holds over 350 bird species, most of them being acacia-dwelling birds.

Mburo national park boasts some of the most sought-after birds for birders on Uganda birding safaris for example, the elusive shoebill stork. Other birds in Lake Mburo National Park, include the African finfoot, Papyrus gonolek, Grey crowned crane, African fish eagle, Yellow-rumped tinker bird, Double-toothed barbets, Red-faced barbet, African wattled lapwing, etc.

On your birding Uganda tour in Lake Mburo NP, the best spots for bird watching include Warukiri and Miriti swamps, areas around Lake Mburo, Rubanga forest and also near the salt licks nearby the viewing platform, where you’ll get a chance of spotting even a variety of animals in Lake Mburo National Park.

Here Are The Most Sought-after Birds Of Lake Mburo National Park

1. Shoebill

A shoebill is undeniably the most preferred bird on Uganda birding safaris. This amazing bird is about 4.5ft in height, weighing over 7kg. It has a grey plumage, but its most distinct feature is the shoe-shaped bill. It prefers large water swamps of grasses and reeds and it’s referred to as “the king of the marshes”.

If lucky, this unusual bird can be spotted in the swamps of Warukiri and Miriti.

2. African Finfoot

An African finfoot is a spectacular elongated, duck-like bird, easily identified by its neon orange bill and legs. Its back and underparts are unevenly spotted and barred. The throat of males is grey and white in the female.

Its short thick neck and bright-colored bill and feet distinguish it from the darters and cormorants. It can be spotted while on guided nature walks in Rubanga forest.

3. Grey Crowned Crane

Also called the golden crested crane, the grey gowned crane is the national bird of Uganda. This spectacular bird is about 1m (3.3ft) tall. Its colorful plumage is mostly grey though with a range of colors. It has a glittering black-and-white face, a bright red inflatable throat pouch and a crown of golden-yellow plumes.

They mostly feed in pairs to flocks preferring wetlands and water-logged plains. They can be spotted in Warukiri and Miriti swamps.

4. African Fish Eagle

Also called the African sea eagle, the African fish eagle is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa around open water bodies. This beautiful eagle has a distinct appearance. It’s mostly brown with a white head like the bald eagle and large, powerful black wings.

Its head, breast, and tail are snow white, except for the featherless face, which is yellow. The African fish eagle’s eyes are dark brown and it features a yellow hook-shaped beak and powerful talons that enable in catching its slippery aquatic prey. You can spot it around Lake Mburo.

5. Papyrus Gonolek

The papyrus gonolek is a spectacular bird species in the family Malaconotidae, restricted in Papyrus swamps. It’s a handsome black and red medium-sized bush shrike with a yellow crown. Its upper parts: the wings & tail are black except for a broad white bar on the wings. The breast and upper belly are vivid orange crimson, and the lower belly is whitish.

On your Lake Mburo national park Uganda birding tour, it’s mostly spotted in Warukiri and Miriti swamps.

6. African Wattled Lapwing

Also called the Senegal wattled plover or simply the wattle lapwing, the African wattle lapwing is a nice-looking largish wader in the family Charadriidae. It’s a striking unique large brown wader with a black crown, white forehead plus large yellow facial wattles that have distinctive fleshy red bases. Their tail is white, tipped black, and their long legs are yellow.

They’re mostly spotted in pairs or small groups while on nature walks around Lake Mburo or in Miriti and Warukiri swamps.

7. Martial Eagle

The martial eagle is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. This endangered spectacular eagle is the only member of the genus Polemaetus. It’s one of the largest eagles in Africa weighing about 4.17kg. This giant eagle has a short but prominent crest. Martial eagles have a dark brown plumage on their upper parts (head, back, and chest) with undersides covered in brown blotches.

In flight, the underwings are brown. It can be spotted either solitary or in pairs, especially in plains where it hunts for vertebrates like rats and birds and attacks by surprise attack. It has incredible keen eyes that can locate prey from 6km away. It can be spotted on nature walks to the salt lick.

8. The Ross’s Turaco

The Ross’s turaco is a colorful African bird in the turaco family- Musophagidae. It’s a good-looking purple turaco with a yellow bill and face plus a puffy red crest. It shows gorgeous large crimson wing patches while in flight. It’s mostly found along forest edges and in woodlands.

On your Lake Mburo safari, it can be encountered while on nature walks to Rubanga forest.

9. Double-Toothed Barbet

A double-toothed barbet is a lovely bird species in the family Lybiidae. This colorful barbet can easily be identified by its lovely black and red colouring. It has a huge ivory-colored bill and yellow skin around the eyes. This colorful barbet is black on the top side of its body with a patch of white feathers on its back. Its breast is red, with a white patch on its side.

Though similar to the black-breasted barbet, the double-toothed barbet features a red chest. On your Uganda birding tour in Lake Mburo park, it can be spotted in Rubanga forest.

10. Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird

The yellow-rumped tinkerbird is a small spectacular black-and-white barbet in the family Lybiidae. This beautiful bird is identified by its bold white stripes on the face and a yellow to gold rump color which varies geographically. Though similar to the Yellow-throated tinkerbird, its facial marking is white-not yellow and lacks a yellow throat.

It’s commonly found in forests and thick woodlands. On your Uganda tour in Mburo national park, it can be spotted on nature walks to Rubanga forest.

11. Yellow Throated Tinker Bird

A yellow-throated tinkerbird is a gorgeous small barbet species in the Lybiidae family commonly spotted in forests and forest edges. Despite its name, the yellow throat is not often seen, except in the western range species. They’ve pale whitish underparts and black upperparts with a distinctive white moustache and show a small yellow rump when seen from above.

Though alike to the Red-rumped and Yellow-rumped tinker bird, the Yellow-throated tinkerbird is bicolored all-over and has a yellowish throat. It can be spotted in Rubanga forest.

12. Red-Faced Barbet

A red-faced barbet is a spectacular species of bird in the African barbet family Lybiidae. This dazzling barbet is easily identified by its red coloring on the face and around the eyes however, is black on the dorsal side of the head. It has a black body with wings streaked with yellow.

It looks like the black-billed barbet however, it lacks red on the throat. They’re found mostly in woodlands, usually spotted in pairs or small groups. You can spot around the viewing platform near the salt licks.

13. Yellow-Breasted Apalis

A yellow-breasted apalis is a lovely species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It’s a slender beautiful long-tailed canopy warbler with green upper parts, a yellow breast, a greyish face with a striking red eye, plus a white belly that’s sometimes separated from the breast by a variable black bar which lacks in some individuals.

They’re mostly spotted in pairs and even in flocks, especially at forest edges, and broadleaf woodlands, foraging actively in the canopy, flipping their tails as they move. You can spot them while on nature walks to Rubanga forest.

14. Piapiac

A piapiac is a gorgeous African bird in the crow family, the only member of the genus Ptilostomus. This unique magpie-like bird has a long narrowing tail and a chunky bill. Adults have a glossy black plumage with black heavy bills, black legs and feet plus a purplish irish with a bluish-purple outer ring. The Juveniles have black-tipped pink bills.

They can be spotted in groups riding on the back of the mammal or perched on treetops. You can spot them on buffalo herds coming to take water around Lake Mburo, especially in the dry season.

15. Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird

The bare-faced go-away bird is an amazing-looking bird species in the family of Musophagidae. This lovely grey turaco is named after its unique bare black face. It has a bushy crest and a white head and breast. They’re found mostly in moist savanna, woodland, and shrubs usually in small groups.

Though similar in shape to the White-bellied go-away-bird and Eastern plantain-eater, it’s easily separated by its bare black face, the white collar and lack of white wings at the tail. It can be spotted on nature walks to the salt lick.

16. White-Headed Barbet

A white-headed barbet is a colorful medium-sized black-and-white barbet species in the family Lybiidae. Its tail can be black or white, the wings can be all black or heavily white-spotted, and its underparts can be all white or all black with thin white streaks.

This eye-catching bird is usually found in fig trees, open savanna and lush woodlands, often in groups. It can be spotted while on nature walks to the viewing platform around the salt licks.

17. Tropical Boubou

Also called the bell shrike, the tropical boubou is a medium-sized spectacular black-and-white bushshrike. Its underparts are white while the upper parts and tail are in glossy blue-black except for a white stripe across the top of the wing. Their bill and the legs are black, while the feet are bluish grey and have dark reddish brown irises.

It can be spotted while on nature walks to the viewing platform near the salt licks.

18. Red-Chested Sunbird

A red-chested sunbird is a beautiful slim curve-billed sunbird species in the family Nectariniidae. Males are typically black and green with a red band across the underparts and elongated central tail fluffs. Females have plain grey-brown above and pale with heavy dark markings below.

It’s confused with the beautiful sunbird however, male red-chested sunbirds lack extensive yellow on their belly band and females are more streaked below. Females are similar to female Marico sunbird but have no dark throat patch and less distinct pale eyebrows.

They’re found in a variety of habitats including, wetlands, savanna, scrub, woodland, and gardens. In Lake Mburo NP, they can be spotted on a nature walk to salt licks.

19. Pin-Tailed Whydah

A pin-tailed whydah is a small gorgeous songbird with an exclusive pennant-like tail in breeding males. Males are easily identified by their black back and crown plus a very long black tail. Their wings are dark brown with white patches and have white underparts plus a short orange-pink bill.

Females don’t have a long tail, they’ve streaked brown upperparts, white underparts with buff flanks, and a buff black face pattern however, they hold an orange-pink bill. They can be spotted around the viewing platforms near the salt licks in Lake Mburo park.

20. Malachite Kingfisher

The Malachite kingfisher is a small colored kingfisher, about 13cm in length. It has a short black crest with blue feathers however, it’s identified by its bright metallic blue upperparts and orange underparts. It also has white patches on the throat and rear neck sides and features bright red legs plus a reddish-orange bill though black in juveniles.

The Malachite kingfisher sits still for long periods before diving to snatch its prey in the water. They can be spotted while on a boat cruise on Lake Mburo.

21. Pied Kingfisher

The pied kingfisher is a lovely species of kingfisher easily identified by its black and white striped plumage. It has a short, bushy crest and silky dark bill. They’re commonly seen resting in small groups or pairs and commonly hover over water (clear water) before diving for fish.

Males are double banded across the breast and females have a single gorget that’s usually broken in the middle. They can be spotted while on a boat cruise on Lake Mburo.

22. Blue Breasted Kingfisher

The blue-breasted kingfisher is a beautiful tree kingfisher usually spotted in rainforests. Their prominent feature is the blue-breasted chest. Mature ones have a bright blue head, back, wing panel and tail and white underparts plus black shoulders. Their large bill features a red upper and black lower mandible. Please, also note their bright red legs.

They can be confused with the woodland kingfisher however, the blue-breasted king fisher is larger, has a black patch on the back, blue breasts, a black line behind the eye, and prefers thicker habitats. It can be spotted in Rubanga forest

23. Saddle-Billed Stork

Called also the saddle bill, the saddle-billed stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. It’s a nice-looking tall leggy black-and-white stork easily identified by its striking red, yellow, and black bill. It can be spotted singly or in pairs, around Lake Mburo.

24. Yellow-Billed Stork

A yellow-billed stork is a stunning large African wading stork in the family Ciconiidae. This lovely bird is easily identified by its striking yellow bill and bright red facial skin. Its plumage is white with a short black tail that is glossed green and purple when freshly molted.

Though, a little similar to the white stork, a white stock lacks red facial skin and a yellow bill. It can be seen around Lake Mburo shores.

25. Pink-Backed Pelican

Pink-backed pelicans are rather small pelicans, though still very large birds weighing 4-7kg. They have a pale grey plumage with a pinkish bill, a grey crest, and a pinkish hue on the back “not in deep pink of a flamingo”. Immature have darker grey. Though confused with great white pelicans, pink-backed pelicans are much smaller and have a pinkish bill.

These lovely birds are spotted while on a thrilling boat cruise on Lake Mburo, usually in small groups along the shores.

26. African Darters

The African darter is an amazing cormorant-like water bird usually referred to as a snake-bird due to its long & slender neck that has a snake-like appearance when it swims with its body submerged. Adults are mostly black with white flecks and streaks.

Males have rusty necks and a white stripe running from the eye down the side of the head while females and juveniles are muted and brown. On your Uganda safari in Lake Mburo NP, they can be spotted while on a thrilling boat cruise on Mburo lake.

27. Great Cormorant

Great cormorants are lovely water birds mostly covered in black plumage except for their yellow chin and a white patch on the throat and the thighs plus a grey duck-like bill. These gorgeous birds are the 2^nd largest species of cormorants after the flightless cormorants (endemic to Ecuador).

They’re mostly spotted standing on rocks and you can spot them while on a boat cruise to Lake Mburo.

28. Long-Crested Eagle

A long-crested eagle is a spectacular African bird of prey locally known as Kamusungu-sungu in Uganda. It has a blackish-brown plumage and long thin feathers growing from the rear of the crown- usually held erect.

Kamusungu-sungu’s eyes are bright yellow though, females have darker and their cere and feet are yellow, fading to white in males. They mostly feed on forest edges and near moist areas. In Lake Mburo NP you can spot one around the viewing platform near the salt licks.

29. Black Breasted Snake Eagle

Also called the black-chested snake eagle, a black-breasted snake eagle is a beautiful eagle easily identified by its dark brown-black head and chest thus, named the black-breasted eagle and feeds mostly on snakes hence, the other name though, it even feeds on lizards, insects, small mammals and frogs.

This eagle features a white belly, bright yellow to orange eyes, and its legs, the hooked bill are pale grey. It can be spotted around the salt licks.

30. Goliath Heron

The goliath heron is the world’s largest heron species weighing over 4-5kg and 6-7ft tall with a wingspan of 2m plus a strong dagger-like bill. Males and females look alike. This incredible heron has a slate-grey plumage, with a chestnut-colored head and a striped neck plus a white chin and throat.

It has black legs and yellow eyes with a yellow eye ring. A goliath heron is so aquatic, hunting for large fish and other amphibians. It can be spotted in Warukiri and Miriti swamps.

31. African Openbill

An African openbill is a medium-sized dark stork. This amazing stork is identified by its exceptionally- shaped bill which has a gap between the upper and lower mandible. Their beaks only meet at the tip and not in the middle hence, the name “openbill”.

They prefer still waters of shallow lakes, swamps, and seasonal pans. In Lake Mburo National Park, they can be spotted in Warukiri and Miriti swamps.

32. Abdim’s Stork

Also known as the white-bellied stork, Abdim’s storks are social storks belonging to the Ciconiidae family. They feed mostly on insects and are found mostly in open habitats however, also use wetland margins. This stunning bird has grey legs, red knees and feet, a grey bill and white underparts.

It has red facial skin in front of the eye and blue skin near the bill in the breeding season. Abdim’s stork is the smallest species of stork- 73cm tall, weighing about 1kg. They can be spotted around Lake Mburo.

33. Southern Ground Hornbill

The southern ground hornbill is the largest species of African hornbill. This enormous, social and terrestrial-loving hornbill is truly unmistakable, covered in black plumage. An adult male has a brilliant red face and throat wattles, while females have purple-blue in the center of the red throat patch.

Juveniles are scruffy with yellowish facial skin. In flight, this giant bird is black with wide white wingtips. They’re mostly spotted in grasslands in pairs or small groups. You can spot them while on nature walks to the salt licks.

34. Hammerkops

A hammerkop is an amazing medium-sized wading bird with brown plumage. Their head shape, a long bill and crest at their back resemble a hammer, hence their name. It mostly feeds in shallow water preying on fish and amphibians though, shrimps, insects and rodents are taken too.

Hammerkops are known to build giant stick tree nests (of about 1.5m across) in large trees. It’s rarely missed on guided nature walks around Lake Mburo.

35. African Sacred Ibis

The African sacred ibis is an amazing-looking species of ibis, a wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae native to Africa and the Middle East. This striking white ibis is easily identified by its bald black head, thick curved black bill and black legs plus its wings being edged with black wingtips.

They can be spotted while on nature walks around Lake Mburo.

36. Black-Billed Bustard

Also known as the black-bellied korhaan, the black-bellied bustard is a spectacular medium-sized African ground-dwelling bird in the bustard family. They’ve black and brown marks on a mostly tan-colored back. Males have a black belly, neck stripe, throat, and face patch while females have uniform buff-brown from the belly to the head.

Males, usually retract their head to the back, giving “a short rising wheezy whistle, zhweeeeee”, pauses in that position, and slowly raises the head, giving a popping quock followed by an amazing soft gurgling. They can be spotted on a nature walk to the salt licks.

37. Common Bulbul

The common bulbul is a lovely nondescript thrush-sized brown bird with a darker face and throat. Their belly is pale and the undertail

white or yellow in some species. It’s usually spotted in small flocks and not easily missed due to its noisy and repetitive powerful song. They can be spotted while on a guided walk to the salt licks.

38. Blue-Headed Coucal

The blue-headed coucal is an incredible species of cuckoo in the family of Cuculidae. It has a heavy bill and its head usually looks black, though can show a blue gloss. It has a dark brown plumage at the back and its underparts are white while a long tail is black. They’ve pure red eyes, and greyish-black legs and feet.

They’re mostly found in marshes, swamps, and wetlands, though occasionally seen in open lands. It can be spotted on guided nature walks to the salt lick.

39. Black-Headed Gonolek

A black-headed gonolek is a magnificent bird species in the family of Malaconotidae. It mostly dwells in dry savanna, tropical moist shrubs and seasonally flooded lowland areas. This beautiful bushshrike is identified easily by its shining red and black plumage.

Though similar to the papyrus gonolek, the black-headed gonolek has an all-black head lacking a yellow crown. On your Uganda birding tour in Lake Mburo park, it can be spotted on a nature walk around Lake Mburo.

40. Speckled Mousebird

A speckled mousebird is the largest species of mousebird and the most common one. This pretty mouse bird has a brownish-grey plumage and a long scruffy tail. It’s distinguished from other moosebirds by its blackish face and grey-brown crest. Just like other moosebirds, this bird is acrobatic- capable of feeding upside down.

They’re mostly spotted in small social groups, in forest edges and thickets in savannahs, feeding on fruits, leaves, flowers, etc. They can be spotted around the viewing platforms near the salt licks.

41. Blue-Naped Mousebird

A blue-naped mousebird is a beautiful pale grey bird with a tremendously long tail. Adults have ash brown, greyish plumage, crested heads with a blue nape, plus a black-and-red bill. The juveniles lack blue on the nape and have pink facial skin and greenish bills. This lovely bird can be spotted while on a guided nature walk to the salt licks.

42. Black Cuckoo

A black cuckoo is a lovely medium-sized cuckoo species in the family of Cuculidae. This woodland bird is commonly spotted in acacia woodlands, thickets and along riverside woodland. It’s unmistakably identified by its entirely black plumage except for white tips on the long tail and sometimes limited white barring elsewhere.

It can be spotted while on guided nature walks to the salt lick.

43. Red-Chested Cuckoo

A red-chested cuckoo is nice-looking species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. Males have slate-grey upper parts, pale grey throats and sides of their heads and dark grey tails tipped with white. Its breast is rufous (cinnamon), usually with barring, and the belly is creamy-white or pale buff.

Females resemble males however, the color of the breast is duller and with variable amounts of barring. They can be spotted on guided walks in Rubanga forest.

44. White-Winged Warbler

A white-winged warbler is a beautiful species of bird in the family Phaenicophilidae. It’s the only member of the genus Xenoligea. This eye-catching warbler has a bright green back, a grey crown, and white underparts plus blackish wings and tail.  It’s named for the bold white stripe on the wings.

Though identical to the Green-tailed ground warbler, it’s identified by a white stripe on its wings. They’re usually spotted in thickets or shrubs on a guided walk to the viewing platform around the salt licks.

45. Black-And-White-Casqued Hornbill

Also called the grey-cheeked hornbill, the black and white casqued hornbill is a large black and white hornbill. It’s identified by its enormous blackish bill with a large casque on top. Males have larger black and white bills than females. They’re monogamous, commonly seen in pairs and their diet consists mainly of figs, fruits & insects.

In flight, they show a broad white patch at the back of the wing and a black tail with white sides. It’s similar to the White-thighed hornbill but, has a black center to the tail, black wingtips plus a darker bill and casque. They can be spotted on nature walks to Rubanga forest.

46. Crowned Hornbill

The crowned hornbill is a medium-sized African hornbill easily identified by its white belly, black back, and wings plus an orange bill with a stocky casque on the upper mandible, smaller in females.

They’re found mostly in woodlands, and forest edges, usually in small flocks. You can spot them while on nature walks to the viewing platform around salt licks.

Other Common Birds In Lake Mburo National Park

1. Great blue turaco
2. Broad-billed roller
3. Lilac-breasted roller
4. Western tinkerbird
5. Yellow-fronted tinkerbird
6. Yellow-throated tinkerbird
7. Red-fronted barbet
8. Yellow-spotted barbet
9. White-headed barbet
10. Crested barbet
11. Blue-breasted bee-eater
12. Cinnamon-chested bee-eater
13. White-throated bee-eater
14. Blue-cheeked bee-eater
15. European bee-eater
16. European bee-eater
17. Black-billed turaco
18. Eastern plantain-eater
19. Long-tailed cormorant
20. Great egret
21. Intermediate egret
22. Little egret
23. Cattle egret
24. Black stork
25. Woolly-necked stork
26. Marabou stork
27. Black-crowned night-heron
28. White-backed night-heron
29. Purple heron
30. Brown-chested lapwing
31. Rufous-bellied heron
32. Long-toed lapwing
33. Spur-winged lapwing
34. Senegal lapwing
35. Crowned lapwing
36. Brown-chested lapwing
37. Green wood-hoopoe
38. African pied hornbill
39. African gray hornbill
40. White-winged tit
41. Long-tailed cisticola
42. Red-shouldered cuckoo
43. Diederik cuckoo
44. African emerald cuckoo
45. Black cuckoo
46. African cuckoo
47. Brown parrot
48. Red-headed lovebird
49. Black scimitarbill
50. Common scimitarbill
51. Senegal thick-knee
52. Tawny eagle
53. Brown snake-eagle
54. Banded snake-eagle
55. Lesser spotted eagle
56. Booted eagle
57. Lizard buzzard
58. Black kite
59. Bat hawk
60. Harrier hawk
61. Bateleur
62. Palm-nut vulture
63. White-headed vulture
64. Lappet-faced vulture
65. White-backed vulture
66. African wood-owl
67. Malachite kingfisher
68. African pygmy kingfisher
69. Giant kingfisher
70. Grey-headed kingfisher
71. Woodland kingfisher
72. Striped kingfisher
73. Blue-headed sunbird
74. Green-headed sunbird
75. Red-necked spurfowl
76. Common quails
77. Southern red bishop
78. Nubian woodpecker
79. African paradise-flycatcher
80. Grey-backed cameroptera
81. Narina trogon
82. Red-necked francolin
83. Crested francolin
84. Red-winged francolin
85. Handsome francolin
86. Red-necked francolin
87. Green pigeon
88. Emerald spotted wood dove
89. Mourning collared-dove
90. Red-eyed dove
91. Ring-necked dove
92. Laughing dove
93. Blue-spotted wood-dove
94. Namaqua dove
95. Pennant-winged nightjar
96. Swamp nightjar
97. Black-shouldered nightjar
98. Square-tailed nightjar
99. African crake
100. Black crake

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