Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is an incredible forest safari destination in Western Uganda. It is known to be a true birder’s haven as it is home to some of the most sought-after bird species including the Albertine Rift endemics and the Congo biome species.

The park is located in Bundibugyo District in Western Uganda. It covers an area of 220 square kilometers and it rises at an altitude of 670 to 760 meters above sea level. It lies on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Semuliki National Park was created as a reserve called Semuliki Forest Reserve in 1932 and was made a national park in 1993.

Top tourist attractions at Semuliki National Park include about 53 mammal species, 441 bird species, 300 butterfly species, 235  moth species, and different local cultures,. Therefore, tourists to Semuliki National Park can participate in different safari activities like animal viewing, birding, cultural encounters, and butterfly viewing, among others.

For the best safari experiences at the Semuliki National Park, contact our professional travel consultant at Orinoco Expeditions for the best offers.

Types of Safaris at Semuliki National Park 

With a great list of safari attractions/ things to see at Semuliki National Park, the destination will grant you unforgettable safaris to experience for example

1. Birding safaris
2. Wildlife safaris
3. Cultural safaris
4. Scenery Safaris

Let us discuss them below.

Birding Safaris at Semuliki National Park

The birding safaris and tours at the park are one of the most incredible experiences of the park.

Semuliki National Park is home to over 441 recorded bird species including the 23 Albertine Rift Endemics, 35 Guinea Congo Forest biome bird species, and 12 bird species that are very rare like the Yellow Throated Cockoo and the Western Bronze-Naped Pigeon.

Some of the Guinea-Congo forest biome species are the Spot-breasted Ibis, the Congo Serpent Eagle, Haartlaub’s Duck the Red thighed Sparrowhawk, and the Chestnut Flaned Goshawk.

Wildlife Safaris at Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park has a biodiverse environment that protects about 53 mammal species including primates like Chimpanzees, Baboons, Bush Babies, Mona monkeys, among others. Examples of primates at Semuliki National Park include African Elephants, African Buffalo, Antelopes, and the Pygmy Scaly Tailed Flying Squirrel, among others.  

Cultural Safaris at Semuliki National Park 

Different cultural people and ethnic groups live around the park like the Bakonjo who cultivate at the Mount Rwenzori slopes, and the Bwamba people who also live at the slopes of Mount Rwenzori.

You can also explore the Batwa Pygmies, which are a hunter-gatherer group that lives at the edge of the Semuliki Forest, and the Batukuru Cattle Keepers which live in the open plains.

Scenery Safaris at Semuliki National Park 

The beautiful sceneries at Semuliki National Park prove it to have gone through old processes that are believed to have been formed for over 25,000 years. These include the Sempaya hot springs, the ancient biodiverse forests that are believed to have survived the ice age, and the beautiful Albertine Rift Valley.

Semuliki Park also borders the Semuliki River and the Lamia River.

These create an irresistible sight to behold while on your safari trips in the park.

Top Things to Do at Semuliki National Park 

Semuliki National Park offers many safari activities for travelers who explore the park.

Below are some of the top safari experiences at Semuliki National Park

1. Bird watching

The bird-watching adventures at Semuliki National Park bring you to experience the great sights of over 441 bird species. Some of them include the Kingfishers, Black Collared Lovebird, White Spotted Flufftail, Grey Ground Thrushes, Yellow Throated Nicator, Simple Greenbulls, and the Piping Hornbills, among others.

2. Chimpanzee tracking

Chimpanzee tracking at Semuliki National Park occurs with the guidance of a professional guide who will lead you to watch a group of habituated chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

The Indiana University carried out habituation on one of the chimpanzees, and the experience costs about $30.

For your Chimpanzee trekking adventures in the park, you will also encounter other primates like the Monkeys, Olive Baboons, and the Grey Cheeked Mangabeys.

3. Nature Walks in the Forest

The nature walks at the Semuliki Forest will give you the beautiful experience of viewing the different bird species, vegetation, primates, butterflies, and moths.

Nature walks in the park follow the different trails of the Sempaya Nature Trail, which is 8 km long, the Kirumia hiking trail, which is 13 km long, and the Red Monkey trail, which is 11 km long.

4. The Batwa Cultural Encounter

Discover the unique cultural ways of the Batwa Pygmies by visiting them in the forest. The indigenous Batwa people once lived in the forest and protected it as their home before being evicted when the park was gazetted.

You will watch as they go about their different cultural ways for example cooking, dancing, singing, gathering fruits, among others.

5. Visiting the Sempaya Hot Springs

The local stories around the Sempaya Hot Springs captivate various tourists in the country. The male spring has a diameter of about 12 meters, and the female spring is called the Nyasimbi Spring.

The springs are so hot that both locals and tourists use their waters to boil eggs.

6. Touring the Semuliki River

The Semuliki River has a distance of about 160 kilometers and its waters are home to various captivating wild animals like the Crocodiles and Hippos. Additionally, its shores accommodate different water bird species that you can explore on your safari encounters at the park.

Best Time to Visit Semuliki National Park 

There are two seasons at Semuliki National Park and these are the dry season and the wet season. The dry season runs from April to June and July to September and the rainy season runs from December to March and October to November.

The best time to visit Semuliki National Park is during the dry season when the trails in the forest are drier and thus easier to walk through on foot. The dry season is also the peak season when there are many people in the safari parks.

The rainy season, although it causes quite a few inconveniences like some muddy tracks and trails, is a low season with fewer tourists. It is also when different plants come to full fruition, thus revealing a great and beautiful green scenery.

With fewer tourists, the rainy season is also a good time for budget travelers who would like to have discounted costs during their trip, especially on accommodation.

What is the Entry Fee to Semuliki National Park 

The entrance fee to Semuliki National Park is $35 for foreign nonresidents, $25 for foreign residents, and 15,000 Uganda shillings for East African Citizens.

Best Clothes to Wear and Things to Pack for your Safari to Semuliki National Park 

To have a more comfortable trip during your safari tours, you will need the best safari clothes to wear and the necessary things to carry for your adventures as seen below.

What to Wear: Trousers, long-sleeved shirts, strong sturdy shoes, socks, scarf, garden gloves, rain jacket, or poncho.

What to Pack: Sunscreen, insect repellent, notebook and pen, camera, binoculars, snacks, bottle of water.

Best Accommodation Facilities at Semuliki National Park 

Depending on the type of safari, the lodges around Semuliki National Park are categorized into budget, midrange, and luxury safaris. Below, we list some of these lodges.

Budget Safaris: Bumaga Campsite, Hotel Vanilla, Kirumia Guest House

Midrange Safaris: Mountain of the Moon Lodge

Luxury Safaris: Nyati Game Lodge, Semuliki Safari Lodge

How do I get to Semuliki National Park 

By road, you can get to Semuliki National Park through the Kampala-Fort Portal road, which is the best, and it takes about 5 hours over a distance of about 180 km.

Alternatively, you can use the Masaka-Mbarara-Kasese highway, which takes about 8 hours over a 465km distance.