Semuliki National Park, When to visit & Activities

Semuliki National Park is located in the Bundibugyo in the western parts of Uganda, close to the DR Congo border. The Rwenzori Mountains are found in the southeast of the park, and Lake Albert is to the north. The Lamia and Semuliki rivers run along the park’s perimeter. The park became a forest reserve in 1932 and designated a national park in 1993. The Semliki Wildlife Reserve, which is adjacent to Semuliki National Park, is frequently confused with the park itself. The vast Ituri Forest, which stretches all the way to the Zaire River, includes the woodlands of Semuliki. This implies that the park is home to many of the sixty tree species and animal species present in Central Africa, 410 different species of birds. The park offers an abundance of activities such as Hiking, wildlife drives, birdwatching, primate viewing, forest walks, and visits to the two hot springs.

Best Things To Do in Semiluki National Park

Exploring the Sempaya Hot Springs

The park is famous for its two hot springs. The local legends surrounding their formation captivate tourists more than the scientific explanation. Both a male and a female hot spring are present. The female hot spring is called Nyasimbi, and the male, Bintente, is around 12 meters in diameter.  Visitors to the Semuliki National Park hotspots can boil eggs in 10 minutes with the heat from the leaking water.

Several bird species and small primates can be seen climbing up and down the trees as people make their way to the hot springs. A tower and boardwalk have been constructed by the park authority so that visitors can safely observe the hot springs. Cultural dances are typically performed by local tribes to amuse tourists who have come to experience the hot springs. Visitors can take a neighbouring forest walk or visit the Mungiro Falls in addition to the hot springs, birds, and primates.

Best Things To Do In Semiliki National Park

Semuliki River Visit

The Semuliki River is roughly 160 kilometers long. One of the water sources that feeds the huge river Nile is this murky forest river. The river is home to crocodiles, hippos and hundreds of birds. Visitors love taking long walks to follow the river as it meanders through forests and rift valley.

Forest and Nature Walks

One of the popular activities in the park is taking a walk in the forest to spot the vegetation, birds, butterflies and primates. Forest Walks usually begin from around the Sempaya park gate ending at the hot springs. There are three established walking trails in the park that is the Sempaya Nature trail, which is 8 km long, the Kirumia Hiking trail of 13 Kilometers and the Red-monkey track of about 11 km. Hikers need to carry rudimentary items like machete to cut overgrown vegetation as they clear paths in the forest. Visitors interested in camping in the forest need to come with their own equipment.

Game drives

Game drives in Semuliki National Park offer opportunities to spot over 52 mammals. The park has three major tracks used for game drives that pass through the savannah plains of the park. Both day and night game drives can be arranged by staff in the park. Note: Visitors need to come with a good four-wheel drive vehicle to pass through the more difficult sections of the park particularly during the rainy season.

Chimpanzee tracking

The Indiana University habituated some clans of Chimpanzee that are now open for tourism. Chimpanzee tracking permits cost $30 for international visitors. While tracking the chimpanzees, visitors should also expect to spot smaller primates like the grey-cheeked mangabey Black and white Colobus monkeys, African red colobus, Dent’s Mona monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys and Olive baboons among many others.

Note: It is important to come prepared with the right clothing and equipment to protect against stinging insects, sharp tree branches and thorns. Come with enough drinking water and light snack.

Bird watching

Semuliki National Park is one of the best places for birdwatching in Uganda. Semuliki National Park has half of the bird species found in the Democratic Republic of Congo because the park is an extension of the greater Ituri forest of the DR Congo which stretches up to river Zaire.

This extension allows species from central Africa to move up to Semuliki National Park. Birding in the park can be done in the forest, around the Sempaya hot springs or behind the ranger’s post. Bird species include the African Dwarf Kingfishers, Bates’ Nightjar African Piculet, Cassin’s Spine, Black-collared Lovebird, Black Dwarf Hornbill, African Goshawk, Black-wattled Hornbills, Great Sparrows , Ayres Hawk-Eagle, White-spotted Flufftail, Red-thighed Sparrows, Brown-crowned Eremomela , Black-winged Starling, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Chestnut-breasted Negro finches, Crested Malimbes ,Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Chocolate-backed, Forest Francolin , Forest Thrushes, Grant’s Bluebill, Gabon Woodpecker, Green-tailed Bristle bill, Red-billed Dwarf, Grey Ground Thrushes, Hartlaubs’ Duck, Ituri Batis, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Yellow-throated Nicator, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Piping Hornbills, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-bellied Malimbes, Red-chested Owlet, Pale-fronted finches, Red-eyed Puff-back, White-throated Blue Swallow, Red-billed Helmet Shrike , and Zenker’s Honeyguides. Late in the evening, you can start to hear the nocturnal residents like the African Wood Owl and the Buff-spotted Flufftail.

Cultural visits and experiences

The area around the National park is home to four indigenous tribes. Visitors can choose to visit any of the four tribes living in the edges of the park. The Batwa pygmies are hunters and forest gatherers while the Bakonjo and Bamba grow crops (rice, potatoes, cocoa and matooke) on the slopes of the mount Rwenzori. The Batuku live in the northern section of the park as pastoralists. Tourism and modernization are changing the lives of these tribes and particularly the Batwa. The Batwa used to live freely in the forests of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo but have been relocated to areas outside the national parks. Some of the Batwa in Semuliki National Park have been resettled in an area near Ntandi with the help of a Christian organization ADRA but with little success as they still find themselves longing for their old way of life in the forest. Some of the Batwa with support from the Uganda Wildlife Authority showcase their cultural heritage to visitors through dance, storytelling and other demonstrations.

When to go and visit Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is opened throughout the year. However, the best months to visit are during the dry seasons of April – June and July – September. During these dry months, driving through the park is easier because of less mud.

The wet season which that is between December – March and October to November cause difficulty navigating through the park. Some sections of the park become flooded as the rains fill up the rivers. However during this time transport and accommodation prices tend to be discounted.

Accessing Semuliki National Park

There are two roads from Kampala to the park. One can use the shorter Kampala to Fort Portal road via Mubende which takes between four to five hours or use the longer route from Kampala through the towns of Kasese, Mbarara and Masaka which takes a bout 7 to 8 hours of driving. This long drive offers visitors opportunities to see some of Uganda’s great national parks like Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Mburo. Once one reaches Fort Portal town it takes about 52 kilometers to reach the junction leading to the park from the main highway.

Note: One needs a good 4 Wheel drive to pass through the park roads especially during the wet season.

Accommodation in Semuliki National Park

There are few accommodation facilities within the park. Most of the good hotels and lodges are in the towns of Bundibugyo and Fort Portal. The Uganda Wildlife Authority came up with a solution and set up two campsites near their main offices and gate. It is important to book these hotels in advance in order not to miss out on the rooms especially the budget ones. Let’s look at the services offered by these campsites and other hotels in greater depth:

 Campsites and Bandas by the Uganda Wildlife Authority

The campsites are built 3 km away from the Sempaya trail where most activities in the park begin. Although the rooms in the Bandas are comfortable, there are no meals. Visitors need to order for the meals or hire cooking utensils in order to cook their own food.

Semliki Safari Lodge

This lodge is the oldest in the area and is found in the Semliki Wildlife Reserve near the park with wonderful views of Congo’s Blue Mountains. The lodge is made up of luxury tents that are built with local material without jeopardizing quality. Semuliki safari lodge. About 18 people can be accommodated in a day. As the only lodge in area of about 500 sq. km, it offers a truly private wilderness experience. Some of the facilities in the lodge include a bar, restaurant, hot showers, comfortable sofas, a lounge area, reading area and a swimming pool. Food and breakfast can be brought to the room and comprise of well-made local and international cuisines.

Ntoroko Game Lodge

This lodge is also built at the Semuliki Wildlife reserve near Lake Albert. The lodge has Luxury tents that are next to the beautiful and unspoiled sand beaches of Lake Albert. Ntoroko Game Lodge is suitable for visitors on honeymoon vacation and desire privacy. The lodge has beautiful wooden floors and stylish stone exteriors with great views of Lake Albert. There are both single and double rooms which have fans, a safe, hairdryers, heaters and private balconies.

Kirimia Guesthouse:

This guesthouse is built 10 km away from the Sempaya gate towards Bundibugyo town in the village of Kirimia. The guesthouse is popular with tourists because it offers budget rooms that are still of good quality. The rooms are self-contained and meals can be served in the room on request. Because it is built near the Kirimia Head Trail (for birding) and the park headquarters in Ntandi, visitors to this guesthouse can use it as a starting point to go for game drives, bird watching and spotting primates like chimpanzee and Colobus monkeys.

Hotel Vanilla:

Hotel Vanilla is a budget hotel found in Bundibugyo town and close to the largest town market. The hotel rooms are clean and self-contained with showers. Meals are served from the hotel restaurant while drinks can be ordered from the hotel bar.