A whirlwind of zebras and buffalo, impala and waterbuck, the Lake Mburo National Park sits neatly nestled on the edge of one of Uganda’s main highways connecting Kampala to the parks out in the west. That makes it not only one of the nation’s smallest protected areas but also one of its most accessible. Dominated in the main by sweeping, sun-splashed savannah and swampland, this 260-square-kilometer gem of ecotourism boasts campsites and safari lodges between its acacia groves, along with the waters of the eponymous Lake Mburo to boot. Just try to be on hand when the flocks of endangered migratory birds or crashes of rhinos make their way to the banks for a spot of watering. Lake Mburo National Park tour guides can help plan game drive or boating excursions and stays in the area, with other alternatives including balloon rides or treks through the papyrus wetlands and forested gorges that dominate the landscape.