SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK

Semuliki National Park is situated in the distant part of Southwestern Uganda in Bwamba County found in Bundibugyo district on Uganda/Congo border. The park is bordered by Lake Albert in the North and the Rwenzori mountains in the South-east; it is one of Uganda’s newest National Parks and covers 220 square kilometers of the valley that connects Uganda to the rain forests of Central Africa. This makes it an extension of the vast Ituri tropical rainforest found in Congo. It is approximately 340kms around 6 hours drive from Kampala the capital of Uganda.

Semuliki is among the most bio-diversified forests and mainly well-known for its bird population. It is one of Africa’s oldest tropical rainforests that remained after the last ice age 18,000 years ago. The valley has a lot of vegetation making this forest so thick and a habitat for many animals. Initially it was a forest reserve managed by colonial government in 1932, and was later established as a national park in October 1993 to conserve forests and protect wildlife managed by Uganda wildlife Authority.

The park receives an average amount rainfall of 1,250mm; this is in the months of March-May and from September –December. During the wet seasons most places flood with water. The temperature rate in the park usually changes from 18°C to 30°C. The park has Hot springs famously known as the Sempaya Hot springs, giving it a nice scenic look. The Hot springs bubble water up from the lowest point under Sempaya this is an amazing feature to watch.      .

Around the park

Semiliki River

The Semuliki River forms an international boundary as it makes its way in the park covering a journey of around 140 kilometers; it is shared by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. It flows from Lake Edward and pours in Lake Albert; there are various vegetation types along the river, various bird species, animals like Hippos and they can be seen while on a boat ride along the river and on the Eastern shores of Lake Albert.

Flora and Fauna

Generally Semuliki National Park has a more distinctive ecosystem in the Albertine rift valley. The park is situated in different ecological and climatic zones, this has caused a high variety of animal and plant species in the park and these are also found in the Congo basin. It is endowed with spectacular scenery starting with the bamboo forests, the tropical lowland rainforests, savannah grasslands and swampy vegetation that has a variety of fauna.

The park is home to various animals with over 60 mammals such as forest elephants, pygmy flying squirrels, civets, hippos, leopards, forest buffaloes and bush babies, around 8 primate species like chimpanzees, De Brazza’s monkeys, the Red tailed monkeys, over 400 bird species such as the white crested, black dwarf, white dwarf, Abyssinian ground hornbill, shoe bill stork and about 300 butterfly species among others.  Most of these animals can be seen during the night game drive, Semuliki is a place where you can clearly take a night game drive where you can see different things like Owls, bats, bush babies among others.

The major activity in Semuliki National Park is birding, and this is why it is regarded to as the “True Birders’ Haven “with over 400 bird species, it is the best place to view most of Uganda’s beautiful  birds, most birding trails are around the Sempaya hot springs. The different bird species to look out for include; the African Turacos, crested Malimbe, Black dwarf Hornbill, the Piping Hornbill, Leaf-love, the Red-billed and the Blue-billed Malimbe, Red-thighed and Great sparrows, African wool owl, shoe bill stork and many more.

The other activities that can be done in Semiliki unlike birding are Chimpanzee tracking , nature walks, boat rides, games drives(also at night), visiting the hot springs, community walks/visits.

Local people

There are two major groups of people living in this area such as the Bakonjo and the Bamba. Others include the Batuku who are pastoral cattle keepers whose animals get water and pasture along the river Semiliki and the Batwa (pygmies) also live in the valley. The Batwa are an indigenous group of people that used to stay in the Semiliki forest and all they used to do was to gather fruits and do hunting in the forest. So while in the park you cannot miss out on a community walk or visit to their villages.

The other locals in the area also practice subsistence farming where they earn a living from; they also use the forest as a source of certain things they need such as fruits, herbal medicines, bush meat, building materials like wood and vegetables. There is also a small group of people that still leaves in the forests called the Basu they still depend on hunting and gathering of fruits, so touring this park also adds own their well being and also tourists who visit their community can learn a lot from them like how they make hand crafts like baskets, mats among others.

Accommodation

There are various lodges or hotels around the park that range from up market to budget, such as the Semiliki safari lodge, there are some cottages in        Bumaga and they are located around 2.5km from Sempaya gate. In general all hotels and lodges are accessible; there is nothing to worry about accommodation.

Tariffs

Concerning the tariffs especially those for activities and park entry fees, it important to contact UWA on their tariff sheet concerning such information since the charges vary over time.

Please note that of the funds collected 20% is shared in the communities that stay in the park, this helps to show them the benefits of tourism and also it supports the local’s at large.

GETTING THERE- Semiliki National Park

Semuliki National Park found in the south western corner of Uganda in Bundibugyo district

can be accessed by road on two routes especially when you are coming from Kampala Uganda’s capital, for these two routes it is advisable to use 4WD vehicles;

• Route 1:

  Kampala-Fortportal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese. This is approximately 465 km and it takes between 7 and 8 hours to reach, which makes it a longer route but it’s on this same route where you can visit some other places along the way such as Queen Elizabeth National park, Lake Mburo National park and other places.

• Route 2:

  Kampala-Fortportal via Mubende, this route is approximately a 4-5hour drive about 180km; this makes it a shorter route.

The park is situated in Bundibugyo about 59 km from Fortportal which takes between2 and 3 hours on the bumpy road to reach the Sempaya Gate. Along the way there is a lot to see like the different Rwenzori ranges, the beautiful view of the floor of the Albertine Rift valley, Some times in the rainy season the road especially in the mountainous region are bad hence would need more time to access the park. But currently the road is being widened to quicken transport.

The park headquarters found at Ntandi are located 6 km from the Sempaya gate though still on the same route.

Semuliki can also be accessed by use of Public means;

• Get a taxi/bus from Kampala to Fortportal, when you reach the taxi park board a taxi or pickup truck heading to Bundibugyo which is still the same journey time just that there could be a few stopovers, reach at the Sempaya gate. On return use the similar means and make sure you don’t head back to Fortportal later than 4 pm. In fact since it is a bit a long journey it would be advisable to spend a night and travel back the next day.

Please note that, during rainy seasons the roads can be so bad hence a 4WD or a good 2WD is highly recommendable.