Semuliki National Park

Uganda Safaris | Semuliki National Park

The semuliki National Park that occupies 670 to 760 meters of a flat and undulating gentle landform, above sea level and is a popular though one the newest National parks in Uganda which was established in October 1993. This park harbors a variety of mainly central African species like the continent’s fabulous and adored birds, for-example the Lyre-tailed Honey guide Black-wattled, Long- tailed Hawk, Nkulengu Rail and the Congo Serpent Eagle that cannot be found else were in East Africa.

The park that covers a 220sq km area and the vast Ituri Forest’s eastern extension lies within the western rift valley’s arm, along the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda and is in Uganda’s extreme west in Bundibugyo. It is also one of Africa’s flora and fauna richest areas, particularly the birds. During the climatic upheavals of the Pleistocene, the park forms part of the forest continuum.

ACCESSIBILITY

You can use the Kampala to Fort portal road via Mubende that takes about four to five hours or the seven to eight hours Kampala to Fort Portal road via Masaka to Mbarara through Kasese to Fort portal to access the park.

SAFARI ACTIVITIES

The Semuliki National park that is blessed with various ideal attractions like hot springs, tropical forests and many other features offers remarkably beautiful scenery. While on the road up in the mountains, you can see the tropical rain forests that stretch up to Ituri forest, the hot springs and the magnificent charming outlook of the winding Semuliki River, at “Mungu Ni Mukybwa”. The 2 hot springs of two meters surge of hot water at 130°c of and the 12 meter diameter pool of oozing scorching water at 106°C, is hot enough to boil eggs in ten minutes. They can also boil some other foods.

NATURE WALKS THROUGH THE SEMULIKI JUNGLE

The Semuliki jungle walks through the partly muddy ground and the rain forest’s palm trees, last about two hours starting from Sempaya gate. The walk is amazing for plant, butterfy, birders and primate lovers. Tourist have a chance to see primates like Mangabeys and Blue Monkeys, birds like Honey guides, Palm nut Vultures and Hornbills and mammals such as sitatungas, forest buffaloes, leopards, pygmy hippopotamus and elephants. 305 trees species are recorded as well as 125 park constrained species.

LOCAL COMMUNITY WALKS

You will find the local pygmy Ituri cultural group, the Batwa community, in the neighborhood of the park. The Semuliki forest inhabitants depend on hunting and fruit gathering in the forest. Lately they have been integrating and exchanging cultures with other ethnic groups. You will witness the pygmies dances, lifestyles and traditions when visit the pygmy community near Sempaya Gate. You can also get yourself some souvenirs.

BIRD WATCHING

This safari has bird watching as another major tourist activity.The various vegetation types in this park give birders an opportunity to see various birds such as water birds, forest birds, grass land birds and wetland birds, since birding is part of the touring activities during the tour. You can also see birds at Sempaya’s geothermal hot springs during the night.