Semuliki National Park
Located in western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Semuliki National Park protects a unique lowland tropical rainforest, covering about 220 square kilometers forming part of the Congo Basin Ecosystem which makes it quite different from most other Uganda National Parks.
The park is best known for its impressive hot springs, especially the famous Sempaya Hot Springs, where boiling water shoots up from the ground. It also protects a rich biodiversity with many rare and Central Africa species of monkeys, birds and forest animals that are not common in other places in East Africa.
With over 400 bird species, Semuliki National Park is a top birding destination in Uganda. The park also offers thrilling guided nature walks through dense forest trails, cultural encounters with local communities such as the Batwa.
Semuliki National Park provides a unique blend of rainforest exploration, geothermal features and diverse wildlife, making it a special and less – visited destination in Uganda.
History of Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park was started as a forest reserve in 1932 and was upgraded to a national park in 1993 mainly to curb deforestation. The Semuliki forest is an extension of the great Ituri Forest that stretches all the way to the River Zaire in Congo, this extension implies that the conditions in Semuliki are completely different from any other national park in Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania. The conditions in Semuliki National Park are similar to those in Central Africa, for that reason the flora and fauna species here are only found in Central Africa.
Climate in Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park receives an average rainfall of about 1250 mm, with the highest rainfall peaks in March – May and September – December. It is crucial to note that during the rainy season, most parts of the park flood. Temperature in Semuliki range from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius.
Wildlife in Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is a sanctuary to 60 mammal species including the baby duiker, Beecroft’s Anomalure, bush babes, warthogs, Uganda Kob, Dwarf Antelope, elephants, fruit bats, Red-legged Sun Squirrel, Sitatunga, Zenker’s Flying Mouse, over 300 species of butterflies and primate species including blue monkeys, chimpanzees, De Brazza’s Monkeys, Guereza Colobus, vervet monkeys and olive baboons. Also, Smuliki National Park hosts night primates like galagos and the Pottos.
Birdlife in Semuliki National Park
With over 435 bird species, Semuliki National Park is one of the top birding hotspots in Uganda including 35 Congo – Guinea specials recorded nowhere else in East Africa, and at least a dozen more that are difficult to see elsewhere in the region.
Bird species to see in Semuliki National Park including African piculet, African pied hornbill, Bates’s nightjar, Black dwarf hornbill, Black-casqued hornbill, Black-throated coucal, Black-winged oriole, Blue-billed malimbe, Blue-breasted kingfisher, Blue-headed flycatcher, Capuchin babbler, Chestnut owlet, Chestnut-breasted nigrita, Chestnut-flanked sparrowhawk, Congo serpent eagle, Crested malimbe, Eastern bearded greenbul, Fiery-breasted bush-shrike, Forest scrub robin, Gabon woodpecker, Grant’s bluebill, Grey ground thrush, Hartlaub’s duck, Long-tailed hawk, Lowland akalat, Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Maxwell’s black weaver, Nkulengu rail, Piping hornbill, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Red-billed helmet-shrike, Red-eyed puffback, Red-rumped tinkerbird, Red-thighed sparrowhawk, Rufous flycatcher-thrush among others.
Safari Activities to Do in Semuliki National Park
Game Drives in Toro Semuliki Game Reserve
Embark on a thrilling game drive in Toro Semuliki Game Reserve situated close to Semuliki National Park, the reserve has three tracks running through the savannah grassland where you will spot several wildlife species such as forest elephants, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, and Uganda kob among others. With some luck, you will see pygmy hippos, leopards and elusive bushbabies among others.
Game drives in Toro Semuliki Game Reserve take place in the morning, afternoon and at night. The night game drives are perfect for visitors who want see nocturnal species such as the white – tailored mongoose among others.
Bird watching
Semuliki National Park is a birder’s haven hosting over 435 bird species which can be seen on a birdwatching excursion. Some of the common birds you can spot include Bates’s nightjar, Black dwarf hornbill, Black-casqued hornbill, Black-throated coucal, Black-winged oriole, Blue-billed malimbe, Blue-breasted kingfisher, Blue-headed flycatcher, Capuchin babbler, Chestnut owlet, Chestnut-breasted nigrita, Chestnut-flanked sparrowhawk, Congo serpent eagle, Crested malimbe, Eastern bearded greenbul, Fiery-breasted bush-shrike, Forest scrub robin, Gabon woodpecker, Grant’s bluebill, Grey ground thrush, Hartlaub’s duck, Long-tailed hawk, Lowland akalat, Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Maxwell’s black weaver, Nkulengu rail, Piping hornbill, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Red-billed helmet-shrike, Red-eyed puffback, Red-rumped tinkerbird, Red-thighed sparrowhawk, Rufous flycatcher-thrush among others.
Visiting the Sempaya Hot Spring
The Sempaya Hot Spring is one of the most visited attractions in Semuliki National Park, the park has two hot springs that is the Male Spring known as Bintente measuring 12 meters in diameter and set in a lush swampy clearing, and the Female Spring known as Nyasimbi meaning “the female ancestors”. This is a boiling geyser that spur bubbling water and steam up to two meters high creating a steam cloud that can be seen from as far as 2 km away. Local people used to boil their food in these boiling pools, and as a visitor you can as well boil eggs and Matoke
Cultural and Community Encounter
Cultural and community encounters in Semuliki National Park take you to the village sharing borders with the park, visit the Batwa hunter-gatherers who depend on the Semuliki Forest for food, shelter and tool. Here you will be entertained by local dances and drama, learn about their history through several displays and get a chance to purchase some of their intricate handcrafts.
Guided Nature and Forest Walks
Enjoy a close encounter with nature and wildlife in Semuliki National Park on guided nature and forest walks, led by an experience guide you will take on a 13 km Kirumia Nature Walk Trail which runs through the heart of the forest to the Smuliki River. This 8 hour round trip starts at 8 am and is perfect for birders.
Also, you can have a forest walk through the 11k, Red Monkey Track that follows the eastern border of the park which has the rare DeBrazza’s monkey to the Semuliki River.
Getting to Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is accessed by road and air transport.
By Road, the park is accessed by Kampala – Fort Portal – Mubende Road or Kampala, Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese routes which is a distance of 465 kilometers.
By Air: There are chartered domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kasese airstrip and connect to the park by road.
