Semuliki National Park, one of the tiniest parks that has contributed to the Pearl of Africa’s distinction as a travel destination. When you visit Semuliki National Park, you stumble across a centralized location. Where Central and East African inventions spread out. At a height of roughly 700 meters, the park’s tropical woodland vegetation reaches the Utuli forests. One of the Congo’s largest forests. The park was first declared a game reserve in 1932, and it was upgraded to national park status in 1993.
In western Uganda’s Bundibungyo district, Semuliki National Park borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park, which was established in 1993 and has a 220 km2 (22,000 hectare) surface area, provides views of the Rwenzori hills inside the alignment of the Albertine Rift.
The park has a greater eco-biodiversity of plants and animals. Some of which are reminiscent of the woods of Central Africa. Along with the semi-deciduous forest and the enormous Ituri forests, there is also a majority of medium-altitude, moist evergreen flora. Primordial hot springs, which are traditional Bamaga sites for rituals. Are what make Semuliki National Park noteworthy.
Most people remember Semuliki National Park as the location of some wonderful hot springs. Two amazing hot springs that erupt from the ground with incredible energy and reach temperatures of 1000 °C are a blessing for the park.
Wildlife Biodiversity of Semuliki National Park
The park has remnants of processes that are much older than the over 25,000 years that Semuliki’s species have been accumulating. Hot springs erupt from the earth’s surface to show the strong underground forces that have shaped the rift valley over the past 14 million years. Another 120 mammals live in this biologically varied area as well, including elephants, antelopes, and various monkey species like baboons and chimpanzees. This forest is home to about 350 bird species, including 23 endemic to the Albertine Rift.
Crocodiles and hippos can be seen frequently along the Semuliki River. There are 235 different types of moths and more than 300 different species of butterflies, including 46 different types of woodland swallowtails. In Semuliki National Park, there are records of around 435 different bird species. A total of 35 species of birds from the Guinea-Congo forest biome are listed on the checklist, including the red-thighed sparrowhawk, chestnut-flaned goshawk, Congo sepent eagle, and spot-breasted ibis. There are 12 other species that are spotted, including the western bronze-napped pigeon and yellow-throated cukoo.
How to get to Semuliki National Park
Semuliki may be reached by plane or by vehicle; the 300-kilometer drive from Kampala begins at Fort Portal. The journey from Kampala to Fort Portal through Mubende takes four to five hours. The distance from Fort Portal town to the main highway junction going to the park is around 52 kilometers. And here, a competent 4WD is required to navigate the park roads, especially during the rainy season.
Those traveling by public transportation must take a taxi from Fort Portal town to Bundibugyo and get off at the park’s Sempaya gate. The Sempaya gate is located 5 kilometers from the park’s Ntandi offices. In particular, during the late hours, public transportation to Bundibugyo is unreliable, and passengers may have to wait a while for taxis and minibuses to arrive.
What season is ideal for visiting Semuliki National Park?
Due to its tropical location, the park may be accessible all year due to its favorable climate. Semuliki National Park welcomes visitors throughout the year. The best times to travel are, however, between April and June and July and September, which are the dry seasons. Driving around the park is simpler during these dry months because there is less muck. It is challenging to go about the park during the rainy season, which occurs between December and March and between October and November. The park experiences flooding in some areas as well.
A list of things to do at Semuliki National Park
Wildlife drive
The Semuliki drive inside and outside the park, one of the exciting activities travelers engage in while visiting Semuliki, is incredibly rewarding and home to a variety of wildlife species. Along the picturesque drive, visitors can witness the park’s prominent mammal species, including buffalo, leopards, hippos, water chevrotains, bush babies, civets, elephants, and pygmy flying squirrels. The red-tailed monkey, vervet monkey, blue and De Brazza’s monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, black and white colobus, and chimpanzee are just a few of the primate species you may expect to see, along with more than 300 butterfly species.
Birds Watching
Semuliki National Park is renowned as a sanctuary for birdwatchers. Over 440 different bird species may be found in Semuliki, especially along Sempaya and Ntandi, the park’s administrative hub. Expect to see birds such as the Ross’s turaco, white-crested hornbill, red-billed dwarf hornbill, piping hornbill, yellow-throated nicator, and great blue heron. You can expect to encounter shoebill storks and other water birds close to Lake Albert. In addition, East Africa is home to 12 distinct bird species that are incredibly rare. These include, among others, the Western bronze-napped pigeon, chestnut-breasted negro-finch, yellow-throated cuckoo, piping hornbill, red-sided broadbill, Xavier’s greenbul, capuchin babbler, yellow longbill, blue-headed flycatcher, and red-billed helmet-shrike.
Tracking of chimpanzees
The likelihood of seeing chimpanzees is uncertain. However, Semuliki National Park also offers this intriguing experience, particularly for scholars. Primate stroll is what the morning chimpanzee tracking at UWA mostly refers to. The chimpanzees in this location are being studied and are still getting used to tracking. It is probably challenging to hike and see the chimpanzees, and the possibilities of doing so are only approximately 30%. However, there are a number of primates along the primate trails in the tropical savannah. Including olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-checked mangebay.
Nature walks
You can encounter some common primates by taking the forest-lined path. That leads to the hot springs. Along with several intriguing birds, including forest hornbills, blue-breasted kingfishers, red-rumped and yellow-throated tinkerbirds, Frasier’s ant-thrush, and honey-guide greenbul, among others, these primates include the red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and black and white colobus.
Another broad steaming pool, a geyser, is located on the opposite side of the slushy marsh clearing and is accessible by a walkway. Variability in specialized bird populations is suggested by the wilderness trail that runs through the park’s eastern border to the Semuliki River. You may witness a variety of monkeys, crocodiles, buffalo, and elephants on the river. In addition to the red monkey route. The Kirimia River Trail, which runs for about 15 km along the banks of the Semiliki River before crossing to the Kirimia River. And the cultural paths provide additional options for nature walks.
Where to stay when visiting Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park, like the other parks in Uganda, has a dearth of places for visitors to stay while they are there. Therefore, it’s crucial to book your lodging before visiting the park to prevent the embarrassment of not having a place to stay the night. When visiting this unusual tourist destination. All types of visitors to the park can, however, stay at one of the numerous lodging options.
The list of places to stay while visiting Semuliki National Park, including lodges and campgrounds They are accommodating to travelers on a luxury, middle, or low budget. The UWA campsites, Kirimia Guesthouse, Hotel Vanilla, Semliki Safari Lodge, Ntoroko Game Lodge, and