Semuliki National park
Semuliki National park
Semuliki National Park, located in the western Uganda, is a hidden gem nestled in the Albertine Rift Valley. Spanning 220 square kilometers, the park is situated in the Semuliki valley, a transitional zone between the East African savannas and the Congo Basin’s dense rainforests. The park was established in 1993, Semuliki national park is Uganda’s youngest national park and is characterized by lush tropical rainfall, scenic hot springs (Sempaya), diverse wildlife of over 441 bird species, 53 mammal species, unique cultural heritage (Batwa and Bakonzo communities). This lesser-known park provides an off-the-beaten path safari experience, ideal for adventurous travelers seeking an immersive and authentic African wilderness experience.
Attractions in Semuliki national park.
Bird species.
Semuliki national park is a home of the lots of bird species that means that the park is a true birding haven for the bird lovers. Semuliki national park inhabits various bird species that are over 441 that represents about 40% of the total number of bird species in the country, 10% of Africa’s bird species and 5% of the global bird species. Some of the bird species that are found in the park includes red-bellied, Red-eyed puff back, Black winged starling, Red-billed Helmet shrike, Lyre tailed Honeyguide, Ituris Batis, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, African Piculet and among others.
Sempaya hot springs.
Sempaya hot springs are natural geothermal wonders, in Semuliki national park. Sempaya hot springs are the main reason to why the travelers visit the park on a Uganda safaris because it has an experience of a life time recommended for anyone to experience. The springs comprise Female (smaller) and male (larger) springs. The water temperatures are up to 1030(2170 F) the steam emissions creating a misty atmosphere.
Animal species.
Semuliki national park is the stunning safari destination that offers the large population of the animal species. The park boasts animal species that are over 53 animal species like forest elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, crocodiles, pygmy hippopotami, leopards, bush babies, Uganda Kobs, chimpanzees waterbucks and among others, over 11 primates chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus, grey-checked mangabeys and among many others.
Activities to do in Semuliki National park
Chimpanzee trekking in Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve.
Chimpanzee trekking is the famous safari activity that takes place in Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve, in the dry forest as this makes the chimpanzees to move far and wide in locating and securing enough food which makes it a bit challenging to find the chimpanzees in the reserve during the trekking, but after finding them it become intriguing while observing the chimpanzees in their habitants. As the chimpanzee trekking can be joined by the team of researchers on a primates’ walk in the forest.
Visiting Sempaya Hot Spring.
Semuliki National Park is a stunning safari destination that is everyone’s naturalist dream. Exploring the Sempaya Hot springs the main attraction in the park that is there is ‘’male’’ springs also known as Bintente that measures 12 meters in diameter located in the lush swampy clearing where as there is also ‘’female’’ springs Nyasimbi that means the female ancestors where it has the boiling rate of over 1030C that spurs bubbling water and steam and reach up to two meters high. Local people used to come their food like matooke, eggs from the hot springs. Visiting the Sempaya hot springs is the incredible safari experience in Semuliki National Park
Bird watching.
Semuliki National Park is fully known as the birder’s haven with diverse numbers of the bird species that makes bird watching wonderful in the park. Semuliki National Park has some of the bird species in the park that includes over 106 water birds, over 143 forest birds, over 63 grassland bird species, over 129 savannah birds some of the bird species includes Black-collared Lovebird, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Red-thighed Sparrow hawk, Red-sided Broadbill, Sassi’s Olive, African Piculet, Green-tailed Bristle bill, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, and Ituris Batis, red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Congo Serpent eagle and among others.
Game drives in Toro Semuliki Game reserve.
Game driving in Semuliki National Park is the unique and exciting safari experience with the opportunities to spot various wildlife species in their natural habitats, like elephants, buffaloes, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, duikers, sitatungas, chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys and spotting various bird species. Game drives in the park are done in different phases that is morning game drive, afternoon game drives, and night game drives. Semuliki national park’s game viewing experience offers an intimate connection with nature and unforgettable encounters with African wildlife.
Cultural and community experience.
Tourists who visit Semuliki National Park experience the cultural experience which is one of the very interesting safari activity in the park. Visitors engage themselves and visit the Batwa hunter-gatherers that are the dependent on Semuliki forest for food, shelter, medicine, tools. This is where the locals entertains the visitors with their music and dance performances at Ntandi. Visitors can get themselves the handicrafts for souvenirs from cultural village or a boma built so that Batwa can demonstrate how they used to live in the forest, as well you can opt an experience of community walks.
Nature walks and forest walks.
Semuliki National Park offers the tourists with the wilderness this is the travelers do explore the park on foot with the presence of well experienced safari guide where you can have the unique safari experiences where you adventure the different trails like Kirumia Nature walks Trail. That takes you in the heart of the park of the forest this is the best safari moment where you experience and watch the colourful bird species in the park, also you can take the red monkey track where you get to spot the rare deBrazza’s monkey to the Semuliki River.
