Horseback riding in Lake Mburo National Park is an extraordinary experience offering a perfect blend of adventure and game viewing. This epic activity is operated by Mihingo Lodge and it makes Lake Mburo the only national park in Uganda where visitors can engage in horseback riding safaris. Riding on the back of the horse as you penetrate into the deep wilderness of Lake Mburo National Park is one of the most memorable experiences in life.
What to expect to see on horseback riding in Lake Mburo National Park?
Lake Mburo National Park is a habitat to biodiversity and horseback riding gives a remarkable exposure to animal or nature lovers to its natural endowment.
The national park hosts diversity of wildlife and while riding on the horseback, you will be sighting wildlife such as zebras, Rothschild giraffes, impalas, klipspringers, giraffes, warthogs. This protected area is also a good habitat to animals such as duikers, buffaloes, waterbucks, 350 bird species, elands, topis, leopards, etc.
How much is a horse safari in Lake Mburo NP?
The cost of horse safaris in Lake Mburo NP largely depends on how many hours one wants to ride, whether inside or outside the park and if you are staying at Mihingo Safari Lodge or not.
The 2025 prices of horse safaris in Lake Mburo NP are as follow;
For visitors staying at Mihingo Lodge:
- 30 minutes outside the park – 25$
- 1 hour inside or outside the park – 50$
- 2 hours inside or outside the park – 80$
- 3 hours inside the park – 100$
- 4 hours inside the park – 120$
For other visitors not staying at Mihingo Lodge:
- 30 minutes outside the park – 40$
- 1 hour inside or outside the park – 70$
- 2 hours inside or outside the park – 110$
- 3 hours inside the park – 130$
- 4 hours inside the park – 150$
How long does the horseback riding take?
Horseback safaris can take 1-2 hours for short rides, while long rides can take 3-4 hours. The long rides involve exploring the beautiful side of the park, the Warukiri hills (1329m). The Warukiri ridge provides ultimately 360-degree view of the valleys and the surrounding. Some wildlife can also be spotted at the waterhole including large herds of buffaloes.
In addition, riders can also have breathtaking view of about 9 of the 12 Lakes in and around Lake Mburo National Park. First time riders can opt to walk or trot and senior riders can penetrate through the park’s savanna and grassland plains in the park.
What is required of the riders?
Acceptable carrying capacity for horses is less than 100kg although majority of them here carry below 85kgs. Before setting off, your weight will be taken note, and each group of 6pax will be led by one or two experienced horse guides.
What to wear for horseback riding?
Helmets, long trousers, sturdy shoes, riding chaps etc are essentials you need for a horseback riding tour. Some of these items are provided at Mihingo Lodge especially the adjustable helmets.
Available horseback riding options for riders.
The overnight horse-riding experience, you camp at the pitched tents on the Lake Mburo shores or at the top of one of the hills in Lake Mburo National Park. At night, you will be enjoying the clear sky with bright stars. Visitors will have a 3-course menu, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The stables & the team.
The stables are well kept and monitored by a trained team. The care takers live near the stables and they take responsibility to feed, take complete care, cleaning of the stables at Lake Mburo National Park. Horses only enter the stable boxes to have their dinner and for safety purposes from the roaming hyenas.
About Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda.
Lake Mburo National Park is a compact savanna park and it is suitably lying in Western Uganda. It lies at altitudinal range of 1219 to 1828m, sitting on the land area of 370sq.kms consisting of forest galleries, acacia woodlands, rolling hills, wetlands etc where diversity of wildlife reside.
Other than horse riding, visitors can also be part of the mesmerizing experiences such as guided game drives, nature walks, boat or launch cruise, mountain biking, sport fishing, bird watching and more.
Where to stay while on a horseback riding tour?
All the 3 main categories of accommodation exist at Lake Mburo National Park; budget, midrange and luxury lodge. The top lodges to consider booking include Kigambira Safari Lodge, Mihingo Lodge, Hyena Hill Lodge, Mburo Safari Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, Leopard Camp, Eagles Nest, Rwakobo Rock and Rwonyo Rest Camp.
Getting to Lake National Park for horseback riding?
By road; Getting to Lake Mburo National Park involves a 240km long drive from Entebbe / Kampala taking about 4 hours on Masaka-Mbarara highway. One can access to the park is via Sanga or Nshara gates.
By air; fly from Entebbe Airport and land at Mbarara airstrip which is less than 30-minutes’ drive from Sanga gate.
