Semuliki National Park is located in Bwamba County, a very remote part of the Bundibugyo District in the western part of Uganda. The park is lying on a gently flat land and it happens to be one of the smallest and newest National park of Uganda. Semuliki National park is found within the Albertine Rift and western arm of the East African Rift and it lies on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is dominated by the eastern most extension of the great Ituri forest of Congo basin thus being a birding paradise. The Semuliki valley contains evidence of even older processes. Hot springs bubble up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley during the last 14 million years.
The National park protects a practically lowland forest within the Albertine Rift Valley offering an extraordinary diversity of fauna: at least 300 species of butterfly can be found while birders will be challenged to find the 441 bird species identified, including 45 species that are found nowhere else in Uganda.
Semuliki National Park should be every traveler’s tourism destination due to the various activities one can participate in while on a holiday in Uganda as Fort Portal being the nearest town.
Quick Facts
Semuliki National Park, is situated in Bwamba County, Bundibugyo District, Western Region of Uganda.
It was made a national park in October 1993 and is one of Uganda’s newest national parks.
Semuliki National Park lies on Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwenzori Mountains are to the south-east of the park, while Lake Albert is to the park’s north.[1] The park lies within the Albertine Rift, the western arm of the East African Rift.[3] The park is located on a flat to gently undulating landform that ranges from 670 to 760 m (2,200 to 2,490 ft) above sea level.
The four-ethnic group of people leaves near Semuliki National Park include Batuku who are cattle keepers, Bakonjo who are the cultivators, the Batwa known as tradition hunters and fruit gatherers and Bwamba farmers.
Attractions
The Sempaya hot springs are Semuliki most famous attraction. The male spring known as ‘Bintente’ set in a lush swampy clearing, the female spring, Nyasimbi meaning the female ancestors” is a boiling geyser which spurt bubbing water and steam up to two meters high. Local people used to cook their food in these boiling pools.
The vegetation of the park is mainly filled by one tree species that is the Cyrometra Alexandri, including other ever green tree species and swamp species. The most interesting part of visiting this park is that, it can be visited at any time of the year unlike other parks.
The fauna includes over 400 bird species of which 216 are true forest birds, like the Sassi’s olive green bull and the Forest ground thrush. The park is also home to over 53 mammals, with 11 of those being endemic species such as Pygmy antelopes and 2 flying squirrel species. Other mammals include Hippos, Leopards, Buffaloes, Elephants.
Visit Semliki National park, one of Uganda’s birding paradise to encounter various species of birds flying from one destination to another. Birdlife is especially spectacular in Semuliki with 441 recorded Species to look out for here include the Nkulengu Rail, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Horbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, African Piculet, White-throated Blue Swallow, Yellow-throated Nicator, Leaf-love, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Crested Malimbe, Red-bellied Malimbe, Blue-billed malimbe, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Orange-cheeked Waxbill.
Four ethnic groups live near the Park that is, the Bwamba, Bakonjo, Batuku and Batwa Pygmies who live at the edge of the forest.
Getting There
The park can be reached by the two major roads from Kampala to Fort Portal via Mubende, is about 180km about 6hours drive while Kampala – Fort Portal via Masaka, Mbarara, Kasese is about 465km. This road gives you the opportunity to visit other attractions like the Equator, Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National parks, kyambura wildlife.
From Fort Portal a 2-3 hours’ drive on the rough road towards Bundibugyo will lead you to Sempaya gate. The park headquarters at Ntandi is 5 km further from the gate along the same route. Using public means, you can take a taxi or a min-bus to fort portal, from the taxi park, board one of the pick-up trucks for Bundibugyo and stop at Sempaya gate which has a clear sign post. Return trip will be by the same means but avoid being too later.
Are you planning to travel to Semuliki National Park for a vacation, book and stay in some of the accommodation offered around the park and this varies depending on the taste and preferences of each other. Accommodations found in the park ie Ntoroko game lodge, Semuliki safari lodge and UWA campsite and Bandas.