Semuliki National Park is a beautiful Uganda safari destination and a national park positioned in Bwamba County found in Bundibugyo District, western Uganda. The park is situated close to Kibale National Park the chimpanzee capital and it is contiguous with the great Ituri Forest in Democratic Republic of Congo anc contains the only tract of true lowland tropical rainforest.
Semuliki National Park is bordered by Lake Albert in the northern side and the Rwenzori Mountains on the South Eastern side, along the birder’s of the park there are 2 rivers that is Lamia and Semuliki. These rivers are the main watering sources feeding the park and its ecosystem.
Semuliki National Park covering an area of 219 square kilometers is mainly dominated by a very dense tropical lowland forest with patches of grassland, wetland and bamboo forest.
Semuliki National Park is an extension of the West African jungle that stretches all the way from Equatorial Guinea through Congo, forming a habitat for some of the special Guinea – Congo biome species that do mot exist in other areas of East Africa, the park is one of the richest areas of flora and fauna diversity in East Africa.
Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is famous for its 2 hot springs which are a greet sight to see, the hot springs are a visual testament to the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley in the last 14 years.
One of these hot springs is a male hot spring and the other is a female hot spring.
The Male Hotspring is known as Bintente, it is about 12 meters in diameter.
Female hot Spring is called Nyasimbi and it is a geyser sprouting up to 2 meters into the air from an opening in a low salt sculpture, the emerging water has a temperature of over 100℃ and the surrounding pools are hot enough to boil eggs in 10 minutes.
Wildlife in Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park comprises of various habitats hosting a wide variety of wildlife including forest elephants, buffaloes, sitatingas, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, white – bellied duikers, civets, scaly – tailed flying squirrels and bush babies.
Semuliki Forest is home to 10 species of primates such as central African red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked Mangabey, Dent’s Mona monkey, Red – tailed monkey, Vervet monkey, Olive baboon, blue monkey and chimpanzees.
Birdlife in Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is one of the top birding destinations in Uganda with over 410 species of birds, 67% of these species are forest birds. Birds in Semuliki National Park include Shoebill stork, White-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue and Ross’s Turacos, Congo Serpent Eagle, Long tailed hawk, Nkulenga Rail, Black-wattled Hornbill, Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Ituri Batis, Maxwell’s Black weaver, Red-billed Helmet-shrike, Swamp Palm Bulbul and Crested Malimbe among others.
Uganda safari Activities to do in Semuliki National Park
Visiting the Sempaya Hot Springs
The two Sempaya Hot springs are the iconic attractions in Semuliki National Park, these hot springs are male hot springs called Bitente and female hot spring called Nyasimbi. The female hot spring is a boiling geyser, it gushes out steam and bubbling water several meters high and can be seen more than 1 Kilometer away, the hot spring gushes out hot water, hot enough to boil eggs.
In the past, people who used to live in the area used to cook food in the hot waters.
Forest and Nature Walks
Forest and nature walks are one of the popular Uganda safari activities in Semuliki National Park, the park has a number of trails running through the forest’s jungle and savannah forests. These walks begin from around the Sempaya Park Gate ending at the hot Springs.
There are three established walking trails that is Sempaya Nature Trail which is 8 kilometers long, the Red Monkey track of about 11 kilometers and the Kirumia Hiking trail of 13 kilometers. On these trails, you will explore the park and encounter various animals, primates and birds.
The walks also takes you to a 160 kilometers long Semuliki River which is home to crocodiles, hippos and hundreds of birds, the river meanders through forests and rift valley floors.
Game drives
Semuliki National Park is home to over 52 mammal species and the park has three major tracks used for game drives running through the savannah plains, day and night game drives are offered in Semuliki National Park.
From the comfort of your vehicle, you will get a chance to see several animals such as Forest elephants, buffaloes, bushpigs, sitatunga, white – bellied duikers, hippos and crocodiles among others.
Chimpanzee trekking
The forests of Semuliki National Park are home a population of chimpanzees with some communities/clans habituated by The Indiana University and they are open for tourism.
Chimpanzee trekking excursion offers visitors a chance to spot the chimpanzees and spend one hour in their presence while watching them from one tree branch to another, picking fruits among others. You will also have an opportunity to spot other primates such as Black and white Colobus monkeys, Central African red colobus, Dent’s Mona monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, Olive baboons and Red-tailed monkeys among many others.
Bird watching
Semuliki National Park is among the best destinations for birdwatching in Uganda, the park is home to half of the bird species found in the Democratic Republic of Congo as it is an extension of the great ituri forest in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bird watching in Semuliki National Park can be done in the forests around Sempaya Hot Springs and behind the ranger’s post. Some of the bird species to lookout for include African Dwarf Kingfishers, African Piculet, Bates’ Nightjar, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Black-collared Lovebird, Black-wattled Hornbills, African Goshawk, Ayres Hawk-Eagle, Cassin’s Spinetail, Great Sparrows, Red-thighed Sparrows, White-spotted Flufftail, Black-winged Starling, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Chestnut-breasted Negro finches, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Chocolate-backed, Crested Malimbes, Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Forest Francolin, Forest Thrushes, Gabon Woodpecker, Grant’s Bluebill,Green-tailed Bristlebill, Grey Ground Thrushes, Hartlaubs’s Duck, Ituri Batis, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Pale-fronted finches, Piping Hornbills, Red-bellied Malimbes, Red-billed Dwarf, Red-billed Helmet Shrike, Red-chested Owlet, Red-eyed Puff-back, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Red-sided Broadbill, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Simple Greenbulls,Spot-breasted Ibis, Spotted Lyre-tailed Honeyguides, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, White-bellied Kingfisher, White-throated Blue Swallow, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Nicator and Zenker’s Honeyguides among others.
Accommodation in Semuliki National Park
In Semuliki National Park there are limited accommodation options, the available options range from luxury, midrange and budget. They include
- Semliki Safari Lodge
- Kyaninga Lodge
- Mountains of the Moon Hotel
- Ruwenzori View Guest House
- Kluges Guest Farm
- UWA Bandas & Campsite at Bumaga
When to visit Semuliki National Park
The Park can be visited all year round, however the best time to visit the park is during the dry season running from June to September and October to November. In this season it is generally hot and dry which makes it easy to navigate through the park and the vegetation cover is not thin.
How to get to Semuliki National Park
Semuliki Park can be accessed by road and air
By road – the park is accessed Kampala – Mubende – Fort Portal road which is approximately 355 kilometers (5 – 6 hours) pf drive. Once in Fort Portal, Sempaya gate is 52 kilometers – 2 hours of drive through the lower ranges of Rwenzori Mountains. Along the drive, you can see view the rift valley floor where the Semuliki flats and Toro – Semuliki Wildlife Reserve are located.
By air – there are chartered and domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip, a flight takes about 40 minutes to land at Semuliki Airstrip.