Semaliki National Park is located in western Uganda in a remote part of Bundibugyo district Bwamba County along the Rift Valley floor and lies on Uganda’s border with DR Congo. Semuliki national park was established as a forest reserve in 1932 and then later upgraded to a national park in 1993 mainly to curb deforestation. The park covers an area of 220square kilometres of East Africa’s only lowland tropical rainforest with an altitude of 670-750m above sea level.
The park is bordered by Lake Albert in the northern side and the Rwenzori Mountains on the south Eastern side. Two rivers, Lamia and Semaliki are found at the parks borders. Semaliki National Park lies on relatively flat land making it prone to flooding when the Park Rivers receive too much rain during the wet season. Semaliki National Park is often confused with the Semaliki Wildlife Reserve which is adjacent to the park. The forests in Semaliki are an extension of the great Ituri Forest that stretches all the way to the River Zaire. This extension implies that many of the tree and animal species found in Central Africa can be found in the park. The conditions in Semaliki are completely different from any other national park in Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania but instead similar to those in central Africa.
Flora and fauna
Semaliki national park is classified as semi-deciduous forest, the only tract of lowland tropical forest in East Africa. The centre of the forest is dominated by ironwood but the edges are attractively varied with riverine swamp forest along the Semaliki River and beautiful mixed forest of Sempaya. Semaliki national park has an amazing jungle life with breath-taking sights of butterflies and plant species including 305 species of trees recorded of which 125 species are restricted to this park alone. The jungle walks and hikes are the best way to explore and enjoy the beauty of the park. With a nice view of the Semaliki River meanders, the hot springs and the tropical rain forest extending up-to Ituri forest in Democratic Republic of Congo. The diversity of the vegetation offers refugee to many animals and birds among the breath taking sights and calls of birds, chatters of primates.
Wildlife
Tourists visiting Semaliki national park can spot lots of wildlife animals. Semaliki forest is home to 53 mammals, of which 27 are large mammals and several are Central African species found nowhere else in East Africa. Forest elephants and forest buffaloes which are smaller compared to their savannah relatives. Hippos and crocodiles are found in Semaliki River while the forest is remarkably rich in primates like Chimpanzee, black and white colobus, Central African red colobus, blue monkey, red-tailed monkey, de Brazza’s monkey, vervet monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, baboon and Dent’s mona monkey are present. Wildlife of Semaliki national Park include hippos, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, African civet, crocodiles, Mona monkeys, lions, chimpanzees, waterbucks, bush babies, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. Others include vervet monkeys, pygmy squirrel, pygmy antelope, red duikers, blue duikers, flying squirrel.
Bird life
For bird lovers, Semaliki national park is a great place to see different bird species. Semaliki national park boasts of over 560 bird species. There are also many bird species found in this area that is normally found in the Congo region of Africa but also some that are only found in the Albertine Western Rift which includes: the shoebill storks, red billed dwarf hornbill, Ross’s turaco, orange weaver, long tailed hawk, crested flycatcher, Congo serpent eagle, red eyed puff back, black casqued wattled hornbill, Maxwell’s black swallow, swamp palm bulbul, leaf love, red bellied malimbe, lemon bellied crombec, red billed helmet shrike, lyre tailed honey guide, spot-breasted ibis, Hartlaub’s, duck, chestnut-flanked goshawk, forest francolin, western bronze-napes pigeon, black collared lovebird, yellow-throated cuckoo, red chested, owlet, honey guides, African piculet among other.
Hot springs
The hot springs at Sempaya are Semaliki’s most tourist attractions. Two main springs are set in a lush clearing close to the south-Eastern corner of the fore outer spring is just a few minutes walk from the Semaliki park office. This is dominated by a boiling geyser (which spurts up to 2m high from a white iced cake like of precipitated mineral. Water also bubbles in small pieces which eggs can be cooked.
When To Visit Semaliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is an all year-round travel destination. Regardless of this fact, most Uganda safari activities in Semaliki National Park are best carried out during the dry season. The 2 dry seasons in Semaliki NP run from December, January to February and June, July, August to early September.
From June to September, Semaliki National Park is kept drier and temperatures rise from 25 degrees Celsius. However, during these months, afternoon thunderstorms can occur at any time. From October, November to December & March, April to May rains occur at any time. These are also months of the year when routes in Semaliki National Park become muddy and can be challenging to navigate through. During this period, a 4×4 tourist vehicle is the best to use.
Tourist activities / attractions in Semaliki national park.
Game viewing in Semaliki national park
Game viewing in Semuliki national park’s open savannah grassland is excellent. Even without entering the Semuliki national park, a scenic drive around it will bring you closer to the wonderful beauty that surrounding the park.
There are about 53 species in Semuliki national park with animals such the Pygmy hippos, bush babies, Uganda kobs, white-tailed mongoose, buffaloes, forest elephants, warthogs, crocodiles among others. Night game drives are also possible in Semuliki as the park has most of the night creatures that can be spotted during nocturnal game drives.
A drive to the Sempaya hot springs brings you across the Rift Valley of Congo. Here you can do monkey and chimpanzee tracking but chimpanzees are available during the wet season when the forest dig trees have fruits.
Bird watching in Semuliki national park
If you are a birder travelling to Uganda, Semuliki national park is the most rewarding destination with hundreds of bird species at Sempaya and Ntandi areas. Semuliki national park has over 400 bird species recorded in this park thus making it one of the top birding destinations. These include; the capuchin, white tailed piping hornbill, blue headed crested flycatcher, orange weaver, red-billed malimbe, yellow-throated tinker bird, lemon-bellied crombec, black dwarf hornbill, African piculet, chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Red-billed dwarf hornbills, blue-billed malimbe, Maxwell’s black weaver, white-throated blue shallow, red-rumped tinker bird, yellow-throated cuckoo, nkulegu rail, leaf-love, the Ross’ turaco among others.
Guided nature walks and hiking in Semuliki national park.
Semuliki national park has hiking trails that travellers visiting the park can take to explore the park extensively. Guided nature walks or hiking trails in Semuliki national park can take 2 to 8 hours, taking travellers through some of the best and well developed trails.
These trails include;
Kirumia trail: This is a challenging 13 kilometre trail that is perfect for birders for it takes them through the forest to the Semuliki River. The kirumia trail is an 8 hour hike and usually starts by 8am and is the best for bird watching because you are likely to encounter several birds.
Red-monkey trail: This is the 11 kilometre trail that stretches from the Eastern margin of the Semuliki national park- an area popular for exceptional and endangered de Brazza’s monkeys and extends to the mighty Semuliki River. Tourists in this trail get to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river.
Sempaya nature trail: The magnificent 8 kilometre Sempaya trail is the most interesting trail and leads to see the Sempaya male and female hot springs and several primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked Mangabeys among others. The Sempaya trail is a 2hour walk and can be conducted either in the morning or in the afternoon.
Visiting the hot springs
Hot springs of Sempaya are the prominent tourist attractions in Semuliki national park. These hot springs are both male and female that is Bitende and female Nyamisimbi. Watching hot water bubbling from boiling geysers is a wonderful view never to miss in a lifetime. Tourists get to boil eggs in hot water pools.
Chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park.
The primate walk is in Toro – Semuliki wildlife reserve. You are briefed at the research camp and you walk towards kijura observation point where you continue your journey of tracking the chimpanzees. The trail can take between 4-6 hours as you follow the tracks of the chimpanzees. The trail is exciting with several birds sighted along the way and occasionally elephants, buffaloes and lions.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Semuliki national park.
Chimpanzee habituation experience is a full day activity available at Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve. It is booked prior at Uganda wildlife Authority where you receive a permit and join the ranger guides with researchers.
Here you join the researchers as they as they follow chimpanzees from early morning as they leave their nests to late evening when they get back to nesting. The idea is for chimpanzees to be acquainted with human beings and eventually join the group that will be available for chimpanzees tracking.
Boat ride on Semuliki River, Semuliki national park.
As you plan your safari in Semuliki national park, boat rides should never be forgotten on your list, boat rides in this national park take place on river Semuliki of 160 kilometres running from the Rwenzori Mountains to Lake Albert and River Nile. On this boat ride, you get to see water bucks, Sitatungas, lizards, Nile crocodiles, Pygmy hippos as they roam along the river banks, watching the river meandering through the Rift Valley is such a magnificent view.
Cultural encounters and Communities around Semuliki national park.
Visitors on a cultural tour or community visit are able to visit the Batwa homesteads just outside Semuliki national park. These stay at the outskirts of Semuliki national reserve came from Ituri forest of Democratic republic of Congo. Batwa cultural experience takes the tourists through the ancient life of the Batwa and their way of life.
Two main tribes live outside the park, the Bamba and Bakonjo. The Bamba grow crops at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains while the Bakonjo cultivate the slopes of the mountain. There are also pastoralists like the Batuku and the Batwa hunters at the edge of the forest in the park. About 120 Basua still live as hunters and gatherers in the forest. The Basua are pygmies similar to the Batwa and have also lived in the forests for thousands of years but their recent eviction from parts of the forest and failure to adapt to life outside the forest has led to concerns about the impact of unplanned eviction on certain indigenous tribes. Like some of the forests and wildlife being protected, the Basua people face total extinction and the eradication of their culture and heritage as a result of being removed from the forest.
Where to Stay in Semuliki national park.
Semuliki national park offers accommodation options ranging from Budget to Luxury both inside the park and in Towns of Bundibugyo and Ntoroko. The most up market lodges like Semuliki Safari Lodge, Ntoroko Game Lodge, Nyati safari lodge.
The budget options like; UWA Bandas, Semuliki Guest House, Sempaya Rest Camp.
How to Get to Semuliki national park
Semuliki National Park can be accessed by both road and air transport
By Road:
There are two major routes from Kampala to Fort Portal, 4WD vehicles are recommended for both:
Kampala-Fort Portal via Mubende is about 180km, or a 5 – 6 hour drive, making it the shortest route. Kampala-Fort Portal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese is longer at 465km (7 – 8 hours).
Semuliki National Park’s Sempaya Gate is 59km from Fort Portal. The park headquarters at Ntandi is 6km further along the road. Historically, the journey was a slow and bumpy 2-3 hour drive on a narrow road that winds over the northern Rwenzori. The route has currently been widened and surfaced to make the journey shorter and more comfortable.
By air:
Direct Charter and domestic flights are offered from Entebbe International airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Semuliki Airstrip.
