Semuliki national park

Semuliki national park is a protected area in Uganda located in the remote corner of southwestern region of Uganda lieing at an elevation range of 670 meters – 760/meters above the sea level, the park covers an area of 220 square kilometers losing on floor of the Rwenzori Mountains. Semuliki national park protects an extension of the Ituri forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo which is the only tract of true low land tropical forest in East Africa, the lowland tropical forests in this park is associated with central Africa forests and they are an extension of the ituri forest of the Congo Basin. Semuliki national park derives its name from River Semuliki which runs through the park and creates an international boundary between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Semuliki national park protects a diverse ecosystem including about 305 tree species with 125 species restricted to the park, 30 species of butterflies, 46 species of forest swallowtails and charaxes and 53 mammal species. Animals in semuliki national park include primates with nocturnal species and forest species, these primates include Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Vervet, Red-tailed and Mona, Gentle (Blue) Monkeys, Olive Baboon and Guereza Colobus, De Brazza’s Monkey, Chimpanzees and nocturnal primates such as photos and Galagos. Other animals include Elephant, Bush pig, Water Chevrotain, Buffalo, Sitatunga, White-bellied Duiker or Dwarf Antelope, Beecroft’s Anomalure or Zenker’s Flying Mouse, Fire-footed Rope or Red-legged Sun Squirrel. Little collard fruit Bat, Target Rat and many more.

Semuliki national park boosts 34% of Uganda’s bird population with about 435 bird species, among these birds there are 46 Guinea-Congo biome species only found in East Africa. Birds in semuliki national park include Spot-breasted Ibis, Hartlaub’s Duck, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Red-thighed Sparrow-hawk, Long-tailed Hawk, Forest Francolin, Nkulengu Rail, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-chested Owlet, Bates’ Nightjar, Chocolate-backed, White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-crested, Black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf, Piping and Black-wattled Hornbills, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted, Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides, African Piculet, Gabon Woodpecker, Red-sided Broadbill, White-throated Blue Swallow, Green-tailed Bristle bill, Sassi’s Olive, Xavier’s, Swamp, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Yellow-throated Nicator, Capuchin Babbler, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Forest and Grey Ground Thrushes, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red-billed Helmet -Shrike, Red-eyed Puff-back, Black-winged Starling, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes, Pale-fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negro finches, Grant’s Bluebill and many more.

Another attractive attraction in semuliki national park are the fuming Sempaya hot springs, Sempaya hot springs are two that are male by the name of Bintente of 12 meters in diameter found in a lush of swamp and female hot springs named Nyasimbe meaning the female ancestors. Nyasimbe hot springs is a boiling geyser of 103°C bubbling water which steams up 2 meters up in the air. The hot waters of hot spring are so hot that they can boil eggs and bananas

Safari activities to do in semuliki national park

Primate tracking

Semuliki national park is a home to many species of primates living in forests of the park which are trekked on primate tracking experience, primate tracking commences as early as 8 am in the morning with briefing then head to the forests in search for primates. Primates encountered on primate tracking include Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Vervet, Red-tailed and Mona, Gentle (Blue) Monkeys, Olive Baboon and Guereza Colobus, De Brazza’s Monkey, Chimpanzees. On this experience you are offered 1 hour in the presence of the primates while taking pictures and observing the behaviors of the primates in their natural habitats.

Birding

Semuliki national park is a home to a huge concentration of birds with over 435 bird species including46 Guinea-Congo biome species only found in East Africa, birding in the park offers views of many birds such as White-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue and Ross’s Turacos and many more. Semuliki national park comprises best sites for sporting birds and they include Sempaya and, Kirumia river area.

Cultural Encounters

Cultural encounters in semuliki national park offer a visit to the pygmy community, the Batwa are hunter- gatherers and were originally inhabitant of Bwindi forests before the gazetting of the parks. The Batwa live on the outskirts of semuliki national park and when you visit their community you will encounter their amazing cultures and traditions such as hunting demonstration, building of houses using local material and be entertained by local music and dances at Ntandi. In Batwa community there are intricate handcrafts for sell.

Game Drives

Semuliki national park offers amazing game drives on which many animals are sighted, game drives are done on a 4X4 wheel car and they are conducted with a help of a guide who know well about the park. There are 3 trails running through savannah grasslands used on game drive expeditions, game drives in semuliki national park offers sights of many animals such as forest elephants, buffaloes, Hippos and Crocodiles along the Semuliki River, white tailed mongoose, Uganda kob, pygmy hippopotami, leopards and many more.

Hiking and Nature Walks

Semuliki national park is a very beautiful scenic destination offering amazing hiking and nature walks experience, hiking and nature walks in this park is done on a number of trails such as Kirumia trail, Sempaya nature trail and red monkey track.

Kirumia trail is 13 kilometers running through the heart of forests i n the park to semuliki river, this trail offers 8 hours of completion and it is perfect for birders as many birds are sighted.

Red monkey track is a 11 kilometers trail following the eastern birder of semuliki national park to semuliki river, this trail offers sights of the rare DE Brazza’s monkey.

Sempaya nature trail is a 8 kilometers trail of 2-4 hours completion, this trail runs through forest galleries offering sights of many primates such as Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Vervet, Red-tailed and Mona, Gentle (Blue) Monkeys, Olive Baboon and Guereza Colobus, De Brazza’s Monkey, Chimpanzees and it lead to the magnificent Sempaya hotsprings. To reach the male hot spring, it is a one long hour walk through patches if forests inhabited by red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys are common. To get to the female hot spring, it is a 30 minutes’ hike through palm forests, at the hot spring hikers get to boil matooke and eggs in the boiling geysers which is an entertaining experience.

Where to stay in semuliki national park

In semuliki national park there are many accommodation establishments that are lodges and camps offering a place to stay to tourists on a Uganda safari in this park, accommodation in semuliki national park is got from Semliki Safari Lodge situated inside the park and Kyaninga Lodge, Mountains of the moon Hotel and Rwenzori View Guest house found in Fort portal city.

How to get to Semuliki national park

Semuliki national park is situated in the remote corner of south western Uganda in approximately 510 kilometers and it is accessed by road and air means of transport, most safaris to semuliki national park begin from Kampala the capital city of Uganda.

By road– semuliki national park is accessed using two routes that are

• Kampala – Fort portal via Masaka, Mbarara to Kasese – this route is of 510 kilometers and a drive of about 7-8 hours.
• Kampala-Fort portal through Mubende – which is a shorter route

By air – scheduled domestic flights are offered from Entebbe international airport and kajjansi airstrip to semuliki airstrip which serves the park. Domestic chartered flights are offered by Aero link and fly Uganda.