The number of giraffes in Lake Mburo National Park has increased to over 100 following the translocation process that was done in 2015. This has been revealed during the media Agro-tourism Fam trip and study tour organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in the western region districts.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) translocated 15 giraffes (Four males and 11 females) from Murchison Falls National Park to Lake Mburo National Park located in Kiruhura District to increase their breeding capacity.
According to Allen Kenzarwa, the ranger guide at Lake Mburo National Park, when the animals (giraffes) reached the park in 2015, they found a variety of food with no competitors and were not threatened, which is why the number has been increasing at a high rate.
Allen Kenzarwa, the ranger guide at Lake Mburo National Park
In addition, Kenzalwa explained that this has also contributed to an increase in the number of tourists visiting the park because seeing giraffes at the park is much easier compared to other places due to their location on the cattle corridor.
“Giraffes are so beautiful, attractive and being the tallest mammals in the world, they attract more tourists besides being easier here at Lake Mburo National Park because of the topography,” she said.
Kenzalwa also noted that, like many other conservation areas in the country, Lake Mburo National Park faces the challenge of poaching and a poor road network, which limits its accessibility.
Lake Mburo National Park may be Uganda’s smallest savanna park, but it is rich in biodiversity, scenic beauty, and cultural significance. Conveniently located near the highway linking Kampala to western Uganda, the park offers an accessible yet immersive safari experience.
The writer while posing for a photo moment with the giraffes in the background at Lake Mburo National Park
Despite its size, wetlands cover 20% of the park’s surface, forming part of a 50 km-long wetland system connected by swamps and five lakes within the park’s borders. These diverse ecosystems support an incredible variety of wildlife, birds, and aquatic species, making Lake Mburo a must-visit destination for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
However, conservation efforts have restored the park, ensuring its survival and sustaining wildlife populations for future generations. Today, 20% of the park’s entrance fees are reinvested into local community projects, funding schools, health clinics, and infrastructure development to benefit neighbouring communities.
Facts about giraffes
The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world, standing at around 4m to 5m high, and the tallest giraffes can be recorded at up to 5.9m.
Despite being incredibly tall, giraffes still only have seven vertebrae in their neck- the same number as humans and most other mammals.
A giraffe’s neck is too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread or bend its front legs to reach the ground for a drink of water. Giraffes only need to be drunk once every few days. Most of their water comes from the plants they eat.
Giraffes in Lake Mburo National Park
Unlike most other four-legged mammals, giraffes swing both legs on the same side at almost the same time during their walk, known as “pacing”. This movement is lost, however, when the giraffe breaks into a gallop.
Giraffe feet are the size of a dinner plate with a diameter of 30cm. Both male and female giraffes have ‘horns’ already at birth. These ossicones lie flat and are not attached to the skull to avoid injury at birth.
They only fuse with the skull later in life. Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young fall about 2m to the ground and can stand up within an hour of birth.
The gestation period for a giraffe is 457 days, which is about 15 months. Generally, only a single baby is born.
