Serving as an important transportation hub, Mbarara is Uganda’s second-largest city and lies in the south-west region of the country. It’s a popular base for exploring Lake Mburo National Park, which encompasses rocky ridges and riparian woodlands that provide a habitat for African wildlife.
Things to do in Mbarara
For a retail fix, head to the Mbarara Shopping Centre, where you’ll find stores selling everything from clothing to electronics. You can browse the homewares at MM Kitchen Ware, check out the video games at MU-RO Gamerz or shop for devices at Grant Electricals. Once you’ve built up an appetite, you can choose between Kekez Crispy Dine, Mubz Take Away or Cafe Joes.
Flowing along the southern edge of Mbarara is the River Rwizi, which originates in the Buhweju Hills and ends in Lake Victoria. It not only provides a source of fish but also sand for building bricks and papyrus for making baskets, chairs and mats. Several cascades can be found along its course, including the impressive Obururuma Waterfalls.
Sprawling east of Mbarara is Lake Mburo National Park, a former hunting reserve and the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks. Its lakes, wetlands and gorges provide habitat for zebras, buffalos and hippos, as well as black-bellied bustards, mosque swallows and Ruppell’s starlings. Game drives offer up-close encounters with impalas and elands, with a highlight being the occasional sighting of a leopard.
Getting around Mbarara
Mbarara is just over four hours’ drive from Kampala and 4.5 hours from Entebbe International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Long-distance buses connect to Mbarara and the city centre is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car and driver is the most convenient way of getting around the region.