Semuliki national park is situated in a remote corner of Uganda’s southwest, in the Bundibungo district. Semuliki national park is one of the smallest national parks in Uganda, with a surface area of 220 km2 and an elevation between 670 and 760 meters above sea level. The greatest parts of this low-lying park may flood during the rainy season, reminding us of the seven million years when the entire valley was covered by a lake.
Semuliki national park is one of Uganda’s ten national parks and the finest forest birding destination due to its abundance of central African bird species that reach the eastern limit of their range. The Long-tailed Hawk, the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, the Black-wattled Hornbill, the Congo Serpent Eagle, the yellow-throated Cuckoo, the White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfishers, the Ituri Batis, the Sassi’s Olive, the Xavier’s, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, the Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, the Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides, the Red
In 1932, Semuliki national park was established, and in 1993, it was elevated to national park status. The park has been recognized as the only tract of trust lowland tropical forest in East Africa with moist semi-deciduous forest, dominated by iron-wood with patches of swamp forest and water habitats characterized by forest streams and oxbow lakes with adjacent swamps. It is home to approximately 441 recorded bird species and 53 mammal species.
The majority of Semuliki national park’s mammals are nocturnal, uncommon, and shy. The park is also home to primates such as monkeys, Oliv baboons, Blue monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Guereza Colobus, and chimpanzees. Pottos may be nocturnal primates in Semuliki national park. The Bush pi, glimpse elephants, Buffaloes, Zenker’s Flying mouse, water chevrotain, Dwarf antelope, and Beecroft’s Anomalure are among the mammals that can be spotted. In addition, visitors have a chance of observing active and agile squirrels, small collared fruit, and Target rats.
In addition to the Sempaya Hot springs, Semuliki national park contains evidence of older processes that occurred in the park many years ago. During the past 14 million years, potent subterranean forces have shaped the rift valley, as evidenced by the presence of these hot springs. Sempaya hot springs boil at high temperatures of about 103°C and they boil from the rock bottom of the earth to demonstrate the underground geographical focuses.
Activities to do Semliki National Park
Game drives
During this activity, visitors to Semuliki national park are taken around the park in a wildlife safari tour vehicle so that they can experience nature in the wild. Game drives in Semuliki national park are conducted either early in the morning, late in the afternoon, or at night through the savannah grassland and acacia woodland of Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve, where you can view various bird species and animals, including lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda kob, hippos, primates like chimpanzees, monkeys,
Bird watching
While on safari in Semuliki national park, birdwatching is the most popular and fascinating activity for bird enthusiasts. Semuliki national park is home to 400 bird species, which accounts for roughly 40 percent of the total number of bird species in Uganda, 66 percent of the country’s forest birds, and five endemic species to the Albertine Rift.
Birding in Semuliki national park is done in the forest edges along Bundibugyo road, in Kirumia River trail, Ntandi, and Sempaya, different bird species will be viewed including the Orange cheeked waxbill which are typically seen in groups of 3 to 7 individuals, other species include the Capuchin babbler, Crested flycatcher, Piping Hornbill, Orange Weaver, Red-billed malimbe, Papyrus gonolek, Swamp palm bulbul, Maxwell’s black weaver, African piculet, Ituri batis, Congo serpent eagle, and the rare Shoebill stork are among the rare birds that can be observed on a guided boat excursion through the swampy area. Therefore Semuliki national park has the richest forest birds in Africa which offer you a memorable experience on your safari tour in Uganda.
This is one of the most popular and fascinating activities, where visitors explore the park on foot with a park ranger. Early morning nature excursions are conducted in the beautiful vegetation of Semuliki national park. Semuliki national park provides numerous hiking paths.
Boat ride in Semuliki national park
During the boat ride in Semuliki national park, which is conducted on Lake Albert, you will enjoy the scenic view of the rift valley between Rwenzori Kijura escarpments and view various bird species, such as the rare shoebill stork, which is found in the swampy areas, and other birds such as blue breasted bee-eaters and blue-headed caudal, among others. There is also a 160km-long, guided boat ride on the Semuliki River, where you will see a variety of animals such as Waterbucks, Sitatungas, Nile crocodiles, Lizards, and Hippos, among others, allowing you to have a wonderful experience on the water while riding near to the animals.
Cultural interactions
Cultural encounters, this is a thrilling activity in Semuliki national park where visitors tour around the local communities around the national park, the communities include Ntoroko fishing community which is located at the southeastern tip of Lake Albert between Wasa and Musizi rivers, people in the community are fishmongers and fish different fish types including catfish, lungfish, saltwater fish among others, they rely on fish to make a living, visitors who tour the community are able to interact with the locals and learn about their The Batwa trail experience is another encounter where visitors interact with the Batwa people who lived in the forest before it was declared a national park; nowadays, the Batwa live outside the park’s boundaries and only visit the park as guides during the Batwa trail experience in Semuliki national park. The Batwa were hunters and gatherers who relied on the forest for food and shelter. During the encounter, you will meet their king and queen and witness their cultural performances consisting of dances, songs, and storytelling, among others.
Primate walks
Primate walks, Semuliki National Park is one of the national parks in Uganda that offers primate walks to visitors in the park, which begins at Semuliki safari lodge where you meet the guides before going on the walk in the forest where you will view different primates such as Chimpanzees, Red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Black and White colobus monkeys, Olive baboons, Grey-cheeked mangabey, and others, as well as other animals such as You can also organize to participate in chimpanzee trekking and the chimpanzee habituation process, during which you will spend sufficient time with chimpanzees that are being habituated by researchers in order to become accustomed to human presence.
Accommodations
Semuliki national park offers luxury and midrange accommodation facilities to tourists who are on safari in the park, including Semuliki safari lodge, which is located in Semuliki valley and is the oldest lodge in the park, Ntoroko game lodge, which is situated on the shores of Lake Albert, Kirumia guest house, which is situated near Sempaya gate along Bunyambugyo highway, and Bamuga campsite, among others.
Semuliki national park is one of the less-visited national parks in Uganda with unique wildlife species, bird species such as the shoebill stork, undisturbed diversity, vegetation, and hot springs that allow you to explore the park to its fullest extent and gain unforgettable experiences during your Uganda safari.