Semuliki National park
SEMULIKI VALLEY NATIONAL PARK:
Semuliki Valley National Park is situated in the western parts of Uganda particularly regions of Bundibugyo district in Bwamba County supporting two distinctive attractions that’s the unique birds and the two hot springs with the swampy surroundings. This valley tropical rainforest covers 220 square kilometres of land area in the Albertine Rift Valley with a gently slopy landform ranging between 670 metres to 760 metres above sea level and was initially gazetted as a Game Reserve in 1926 making it one of the oldest protected areas. Later in 1932, this land was designed into a forest reserve which upgraded to a National Park in October, 1993.
Location of Semuliki Valley National Park:
Semuliki lies in the western parts of Uganda in Bundibugyo district near the foothills of Mountain Rwenzori ranges sharing borders between Uganda south of lake Albert below the kijura Escarpment and Democratic Republic of Congo in the Albertine Rift Valley of Uganda. Semuliki is a home to the only true tropical lowland forests in East Africa with features of vast Ituri Forest, wetlands and bamboo containing diversity of wildlife species like over 400 bird species, 8 primate species, 63 mammal species, 300 butterfly species from both Central and East Africa.
Attractions in Semuliki Valley National Park:
Semuliki is a home paradise to birdwatchers featuring diverse attractions such as bird watching, the Sempaya Hot spring, Semuliki River Walk, chimpanzee tracking and cultural experiences.
- The Sempaya Hot Springs
Sempaya hot springs are the most popular attraction in Semuliki National Park formed by both male and female hot springs. These hot springs are powerful natural hot springs with boiling water bubbles from underneath the ground forming a steam movement into the forest thus a unique natural spectacle.
- Semuliki River
Semuliki River is a water channel connecting Lake Edward and Lake Albert in the Albertine Rift Valley of Uganda offering a paradise for bird watchers and home to aquatic wildlife like hippos and crocodiles.
- Wildlife
Semuliki Valley National Park is home to diversity of wildlife species like over 400 bird species, 8 primate species, 63 mammal species, 300 butterfly species from both Central and East Africa. Wildlife mammal species in Semuliki Valley National Park include Elephants, Uganda Kob, Waterbucks, forest Buffaloes, Warthogs, crocodiles, hippos, Dwarf antelopes, bush pigs, and primates of Semuliki like chimpanzee, red-colobus Monkeys, bush babies, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among more.
- Birds
Semuliki Valley National Park hosts over 400 bird species including the Albertine Rift endemics and eastern Congo Forest birds of which nine are different species of hornbill thereby making it a top destination for forest bird watching in Africa. Some of the bird species to spot whilst on a safari in Semuliki are Western dwarf hornbill, Maxwell’s black weaver, yellow-throated cuckoos, Black wattled hornbills, piping hornbills, shoe bill stork, leaf love, orange weaver birds, Ituri batis, yellow throated nicator, blue billed malimbe, long-tailed hawks, Congo serpent eagle, palm bulbul, purple breasted sunbirds, blue headed crested flycatchers, Ross’s turacos among more.
Activities In Semuliki National park
There are various activities to carry out during a safari in Semuliki Valley National Park such as visiting the Sempaya Hot Springs which is the most famous, birding, nature walks especially along the Semuliki river, primate tracking, and cultural encounters with the local people in the community.
- The Sempaya Hot springs
Visiting the Sempaya Hot Springs is the most popular activity where you will distantly observe the natural wonder made of both female hot spring (Nyasimbi) and male hot spring (Bintete) with powerful boiling water bubbles from underneath the ground hot enough to cook eggs.
- Game Drive safari in Semuliki
Semuliki Game drive guarantees beautiful wildlife sights of mammal species like Elephants, Uganda Kob, Waterbucks, forest Buffaloes, Warthogs, crocodiles, hippos, Dwarf antelopes, bush pigs, and primates such as red-colobus Monkeys, bush babies, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons among more in the grassland of Toro Semuliki.
- Birding
Semuliki harbours over 400 bird species including the Albertine Rift endemics and eastern Congo Forest birds of which nine are different species of hornbill thereby making it a top destination for forest bird watching in Africa. Some of the bird species to spot whilst on a safari in Semuliki are Western dwarf hornbill, Maxwell’s black weaver, yellow-throated cuckoos, Black wattled hornbills, piping hornbills, shoe bill stork, leaf love, orange weaver birds, Ituri batis, yellow throated nicator, blue billed malimbe, long-tailed hawks, Congo serpent eagle, palm bulbul, purple breasted sunbirds, blue headed crested flycatchers, Ross’s turacos among more.
- Hiking
Explore the 3 amazing park’s hiking trails such as 11 km red monkey hiking, 13 km Kirumia river trail and 2 to 4 hour’s Sempaya trail.
- Nature walks
Enjoy guided nature walks through the 3 amazing park’s hiking trails such as 11 km red monkey hiking,13 km Kirumia river trail and 2 to 4 hour’s Sempaya trail with park ranger.
- Cultural Experiences
Engage with local communities of people such as Batwa and learn about the Batwa Pygmies, there culture and traditions.
Best time to visit Semuliki Valley National Park:
Semuliki can be explored all year round in both dry season and wet season in Uganda though the dry season in months of December through February and May to September in Uganda are the best because the trails are drier and easier to walk through while spotting wildlife.
Accommodations to stay in and around Semuliki Valley National Park:
Semuliki Valley National Park offers arrange of stay in and around accommodations ranging from budget-friendly to mid-range to luxury.
Budget-Friendly accommodations include Ntoroko Game Lodge, Kirumia Guest House, Hotel Vanilla, and Bumaga Bandas.
Mid-range accommodations like Mountain of the moon lodge, Ntoroko Game Lodge, Semliki Safari Lodge and Nyati Game Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge.
Luxury Accommodations include Kyaninga lodge, Semuliki Safari Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge.
Directions to Semuliki Valley National Park:
Travel to Semuliki Valley National Park either by air or by road. By road are two possible routes to use shorter route from Kampala to Fort Portal via Mubende approximately 180 km in about 4 – 5 hours drive or the longer route from Kampala to Fort Portal via Masaka-Mbarara and Kasese approximately 460 km in about 7 to 8 hours drive. By air, take a flight from Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi Airfield to Semliki Airstrip.
