Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is one of the most recently gazzeted game parks in Uganda located in the western district of Bundibugyo along the foothills of Mount. Rwenzori. Upgraded to national park status in October 1993, this park sits among the pleasantly endowed destinations with diverse floral and faunal species in the whole of Africa. These range from a diverse range of butterflies, mammals, primates and bird species; over 60 percent of forest birds in Uganda are recorded in this park.

 

Though the park is one of the newest parks, it shelters the oldest wildlife reserve - Tooro wildlife reserve and it is a haven to both East and Central African species.

 

Semuliki hosts more than 400 bird species with almost 60% of Uganda’s forest birds(over 216 species) including the rare  Sassi's olive greenbul,  over 59 mammal species from African buffalo, bush babies, hippos, African civet, African elephant, at least eight primate species and 460 butterfly species can be found in the park. The diversity in fauna and flora can be credited to it hosting the sole remaining low-land tropical forest in East Africa

 

ACTIVITIES IN SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK

 

Bird watching in Semuliki National park

 

Semliki National park is certainly one of the best birding places in Uganda, Africa. Bird watching of rare species is among the top activities in this park. With above 441 bird species recorded including 60 percent of Uganda’s forest birds. Forty-six Guinea-Congo biome species not recorded anywhere in East Africa and five Semuliki endemics can be found in the park.

 

Notable species to watch out for include the Yellow-throated Cuckoo, White-crested Hornbill, bizarre-looking Shoe Bill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, African Piculet, and Yellow-throated Nicator among others.

 

Wildlife game drives

 

Visitors who are not bird enthusiasts are catered for by the exhilarating game drives where you can encounter 59 mammals 27 of them being large mammals;such as elephants and buffaloes. Travelers on a game drive can encounter some of the eleven endemic species of the park including strange water “fanged deer”, two flying squirrel species, and the pygmy antelope.

 

On a good day, tourists on a safari drive might meet forest elephants and forest buffaloes which are smaller than their savannah counterparts. Keenly lookout for the African wild pigs and an elusive leopard on a good day.

 

Chimpanzee tracking experience

 

The forest is a sanctuary to different primate species making it headed by the chimpanzee, the grey-cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboon, Central African red colobus, De Brazza’s and Dent’s Mona monkeys among others.

 

The tracking activity starts with early briefing at the research camp before heading into the forest for chimp tracking. It can last 3-6 hours before you meet the chimpanzees depending on how far they have roamed for food from previous day’s nest. During the adventure, you will encounter different bird and butterfly species or lucky sighting of forest buffalos and elephants. When you finally meet the chimpanzees, you are permitted only one beautiful hour with these fascinating creatures that share almost 97percent of human DNA.

 

Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki National Park

 

A visit to Semuliki National Park is incomplete without encountering the celebrated Sempaya hot springs. There are two hot springs found in Semuliki national park - the male and female hot springs respectively. The female hot springs are the fieriest as compared to their male counterpart. The female hot spring forms a 2 meters’ fountain spurting boiling, bubbling water at temperatures of almost 103 degrees creating a sight to behold.

 

The mist formed by the steam from the hot springs can be witnessed from 2 kilometers away. Local communities believe that these hot springs have healing powers and are also used to prepare their food in these boiling hot springs. Visitors can also get an opportunity to boil a few eggs in the boiling water and relish them under the wild African skies. During the nature walk, look out for species like red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and grey-cheekedmangabeys displaying their captivating acrobatics in the canopy.

 

HOW TO GET TO SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK?

 

By road

 

Visitors can easily access the park from Kampala using the Kampala - Fort Portal city highway and then connect to Semuliki national park. The journey lasts for about 7 hours’ drive from Kampala and it is only 55 kilometers from Fort Portal city to the park.

 

By air

 

Guests can either utilize chartered or scheduled flights from Entebbe to Kasese or fromKajjansi airstrip in Kampala cuttingtravel time to less than an hour.

 

For visitors searching for off-the-track destinations and privacy, no other destination is perfect than Semuliki national park due to its strategic position and fewer guests that this park hosts. Plan a trip to the birder's haven and experience a trip of lifetime.

Related Destinations

lion standing

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth national park is one of Uganda’s vibrant parks and enjoys a bigger percentage of tourists who come to Uganda planning a visit to this splendid park. The park has a rich…

View Tour

murchison falls

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls national park is the largest and oldest national park in Uganda located in north-western Uganda covering an area of 3,840 square Kilometres. This park is known to be…

View Tour

mount elgon crater lake

Mount Elgon National Park

Mount. Elgon national park is a unique game park shared by 2 east African countries - Uganda and Kenya. The park gets its name from the special Mount Elgon, an ancient extinct volcano…

View Tour

young leopard in serengeti park

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is the oldest national park in Tanzania and holds a spot among the largest wildlife parks on the African continent. The park is found in eastern Mara Region,…

View Tour

Lizard in Rwenzori National Park

Rwenzori National Park

Rwenzori National Park is one of the ten gazetted national parks in Uganda. The park stretches over an area of 996 square kilometers sharing borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo…

View Tour

ngorongoro game drive

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro conservation area is among the conservation areas under UNESCO World Heritage sites located in Ngorongoro district, west of Arusha city in northern Tanzania. This conservation…

View Tour

gorilla scratching his shoulder

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Have you been passionate about or had any questions in line with gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, birding or so many other adventures? Mgahinga gorilla national park has got all…

View Tour

Nyungwe forest National Park

Nyungwe forest national park is one of the oldest national parks not only in Rwanda but also in the entire East African region. The park traces its origin as early as 1903 when the then…

View Tour

gray crested crane

Gishwati Mukura National Park

When it comes to unique and new African safari experiences, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is of no doubt one exceptional place any nature lover should look out for. Established in 2015,…

View Tour

zebras

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s primeval tourism destinations. Found in the far northeastern corner and sharing borders with Kenya and South Sudan, the park is…

View Tour

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is one of the oldest and most famous parks on the African continent. This is attributed to the fact that it is one of the few stronghold destinations hosting ¼…

View Tour

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is the tiniest game park of all the ten gazetted national parks in Uganda. This hidden savannah gem is found 240 km west of Kampala in Kiruhura District in…

View Tour

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a very important park found in Kanungu district - southwestern region of Uganda. This Park is situated on the edge of AlbertineRift Valley and shares…

View Tour

kibale-national-park primates

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is among the best rewarding destinations in Uganda to explore. Endowed with varied and rich landscapes of rainforest, swamp, and patches of savanna interposed…

View Tour

Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park

The oldest national park in Africa, formerly known as Albert National Park, is located in central part of Africa. The Albertine Rift in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of…

View Tour

Masai Mara National Park

Masai Mara National Park

Located 270 kilometers south of Nairobi - one of Kenya's most dynamic towns, the Masai Mara is unquestionably one of Africa's most popular safari destinations. Choose it for a holiday…

View Tour

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi - Biega National Park was upgraded to national park status in 1970 to safeguard endangered wildlife species and especially the eastern lowland gorillas, Africa's top safari…

View Tour

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

With the highest number of African elephants in Kenya, Amboseli is a true African wilderness, a vacation to this wildlife center is incomparable and incredibly gratifying, with the…

View Tour

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park

Explore Akagera National Park, Rwanda's lone haven for animals, big cats, birds and savanna grassland, which is bordered on one side by Uganda and Tanzania on the other side. Akagera…

View Tour