All activities / Horse Riding / Equestrian / Lake Mburo National Park
Horse Riding / Equestrian in Lake Mburo National Park
A compact acacia-and-lake park in western Uganda with no elephant or lion, which makes it one of the few places in Africa you can safari on foot or on horseback among plains game like zebra, impala and eland.
Why here
Lake Mburo is small, and the absence of elephant and, in practice, of resident lion is exactly what makes it special: you can walk here, and you can ride. From Mihingo Lodge, perched on a granite kopje above the park, guided horseback safaris take you out across the acacia savanna among Burchell's zebra, impala, eland, topi and warthog, animals that treat a horse as just another grazer and let you approach far closer than a vehicle would. The riding runs from short outrides for beginners to longer half-day trails and overnight rides for confident riders, on a stable of Boerperds and thoroughbreds. It is the only place in Uganda offering horseback safaris inside a national park, run under agreement with the Uganda Wildlife Authority since 2008.
Best months
Riding runs year-round, with the drier months of June to September and December to February giving the firmest ground and most comfortable outrides. Rides are matched to ability, from lead-rein beginner walks to faster trails for experienced riders. Morning and late-afternoon rides avoid the midday heat and coincide with the best game activity. Numbers per ride are small.
Getting there & around
Lake Mburo is the closest savanna park to Kampala, about four hours by road on the way to or from the western gorilla parks, which makes it an easy first or last stop on a Uganda loop. Horseback safaris are run exclusively by Mihingo Lodge and should be booked with your stay; park entry is paid to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Riding ability is assessed before longer trails.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (1)
Mihingo Lodge
OutfitterPerched on a granite kopje above Lake Mburo National Park, Mihingo Lodge is the only place in Uganda offering horseback safaris inside a national park, riding among zebra, impala and eland that tolerate horses far more calmly than they do vehicles. The lodge also runs walking safaris alongside giraffe and night drives in a park known for unusually frequent leopard sightings.