SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK
Activities
Semuliki valley is located in Bwamba County that is within Bundibuyo district in western Uganda. The park is situated with in the western arm of the rift valley base between Lake Albert, the Rwenzori Mountains as well as the Kijura escarpments. The park was gazzated in 1993 into a National park
Semuliki valley National park overs 220 square kilometers with in an altitude of 670 meters to 760 meters above sea level. At the edges of the park river semuliki acts as a boundary between Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo. The rain cover of the park is about 1250 mm staring from March to May, September and to December.
Semuliki National park is home is over 60 species of mammals including Buffalos, hippos, leopards, monkeys, elephants, bush babies, pygmy flying squirrels among others. It has 8 primate species the common vervet monkey, Red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, Black and white colubus monkeys, Debrazzas and the Grey checked mangabey
The park is a good birding haven with over 400 bird species having 11 species being endemic to the park birds such as the Congo serpent Eagle, Long Tailed Hawk, Nkulengu Rail, Black Wattled Hornbill, Red billed Helmet shrike, Ituri Batis and the black winged starling among other birds that may be sighted.
It’s also endowed with 300 tree species and chimps with in the forested area.
How to get to Semuliki National Park
From Entebbe Airport to semuliki using road transport through Kampala to Fort portal via Mubende which is 180 km with a travel time of about 4 to 5 hours.
One may choose to use the Masaka- Mbarara kasese then Fort portal and then to the park and this takes 6 to 7 hours drive. While in fort portal, the drive to semuliki also famous for its hot springs takes a drive of about 2 hours.
The park is home to both the female and male hot springs, river semuliki, the rain forest cover, it gives you a scenic view of the mountains of the moon. It is also dominated by the swamp area which is a good serene environment for nature walks and birding tours giving you a feel of nature.
Semuliki National park has a number of activities that one can engage in while on your safari
Visiting Sempaya hot springs
The magnificent female hot springs have high temperatures of about 100 degrees Celsius and this is as a result of geothermal energy beneath the earth’s crust. Semuliki is also home to a male hot spring that is also worth visiting. The hot springs can of boil eggs and this is usually tried out by clients. The trial to the semuliki hot springs is 8 Km takes us to both the male and female hot spring which is the hottest and its water gates up to 2 meters high. While on the walk to the sempaya hot springs you get a chance to see a number of wild life
Game Drives
While on a Game drive our clients a driven through the parks diversity with sight of wildlife and nature, the safari drives can be done early morning, afternoon and night game drives were you are given a ranger to escort you in to the wild savannah grass land and woodland. You may also be chanced to sight the seasonal waterfalls that are also a good haven for birding.
Bird Watching
Bird watching is a unique activity that bird lovers engage in while in semuliki National park which is home to about 400 bird species. Most bird spots in the park include sempaya area and Kirumia River among others. Some of the bird species include black wattled hornbill, ituri batis, great blue turaco
Nature Walks
While in semuliki National park we can have a number of nature walks via plate forms viewing a number of wildlife such as monkeys, bird, butterflies among others. This activity entails exploring the park on foot to the various sections of the park. While on the nature walk you shall be sight a number of animals such as Uganda kobs, baboons, black & white colobus monkeys as well as a number of bird species.
The park has 3 nature walk trials starting with the sempaya trial that leads to the hot springs. Along this trail it offers you a number of wildlife such as primates and bird species
13 km kirumia trail and the 11 km trail that stretch up to the Semuliki River.
Primate Walk Tour
The diverse park offers a guided primate walk in the forests of the park on the lookout for primates like chimps, red tailed monkeys, de debrazza monkeys, black and white colobus, baboons and sometimes kobs and bushbucks.
Boat ride
The boat experience along the Semuliki River stretches 160 km long making its trial from the mountains of the moon, Lake Albert and the might river Nile. The boat ride on the river semuliki offers you a serene scenic view of the rift valley amidst the escarpments. While on the boat ride you shall have chance to sight a number of bird species
Trips to consider
3 Days Semuliki National Park – Sempaya Hot springs
8 Days Kibale, Semuliki, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks Safari
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3 Days Semuliki National Park -Sempaya Hot Springs
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