, by Rwobuyenje Family Resort
Mbarara is the largest city in western Uganda and a busy trading centre for the Ankole region. Many travellers pass through on their way to the national parks, but the city and its surroundings reward a slower visit.
Lake Mburo National Park is the closest park, about an hour away by road. It suits a day trip of game drives, a boat trip on the lake or a guided walk, and it is one of the few places in Uganda where you can see zebra.
To understand the region, look out for the long-horned Ankole cattle that graze the hillsides, and ask local people about the history of the Ankole Kingdom. Culture here is a living part of daily life rather than something kept in one place.
In town, local markets sell fresh produce, and you can watch daily life in a busy Ugandan trading centre. Along the roads around Mbarara you will also see herds of Ankole cattle grazing on the hillsides.
Mbarara is also a starting point for longer journeys. Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are both reachable by road, but they need a full day of travel each way, so plan them as separate trips.