DÉCOUVERTE DU PARC ET DE SES ABORDS

Various trails criss-cross the park, which can be explored on traditional game drives, preferably in the early morning or late afternoon (hiring a UWA guide costs US$20), or even after dark (US$30/person). Impala, buffalo, zebra and, possibly, giraffe (in 2020, twenty-four individuals were counted within the park's perimeter) will be waiting for you. The night safari (departing at 6.30pm or 7pm) will enable you to spot galagos, pottos and, with a bit of luck, a leopard. With the exception of the night drive, the presence of a mahout is not compulsory, and you can carry out your game drive on your own, although this will deprive you of interesting information about the flora and fauna. It's also possible to ride your bicycle through Lake Mburo National Park with a guide (US$35/person). Boat trips (five daily) on Lake Mburo are another popular activity (US$35/person for around 2 hours), thanks to the presence of crocodiles and hippos. UWA also offers nature walks (US$20/person for 2 to 3 hours' walk) led by an armed guide. Among other things, the guide can explain the different species of the acacia genus and the associated project to change the park's vegetation (from wooded savannah to grassy savannah). Ornithology enthusiasts can also request a trip to Rubanga Wood (in this southern part of the park, whose lakes and marshes are fed by the Rwizi River, you're likely to spot the endemic papyrus gonolek and blue-naped coucal). For fishermen, the lake is home to six species of fish, including tilapia, but you'll need to bring your own tackle (a permit costs US$20/person for one day). For more information on these activities, please contact the UWA interpretation center or the staff at your camp or lodge. For those unable or unwilling to pay park entrance fees, don't worry: the animals don't care about the boundaries of the protected area. You can discover them on horseback (offered by Mihingo Lodge and Leopard Rest Camp), on foot or by bike (bike hire available from Rwakobo Rock, Mihingo Lodge or Leopard Rest Camp) outside the park.