Looking for Semuliki National Park activities? Unique and amazing tourist activities in Semuliki National Park attract many tourists on Uganda safari tours to explore this beautiful park.

In most cases, this wonderful ancient forest park—an extension of the eastern part of the magnificent Ituri Forest of Congo—is visited en route to Uganda wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, home of the tree-climbing Lions.

On a Uganda trip to Semuliki, visitors will enjoy numerous tourism activities in Semuliki National Park, such as exploring the Sempaya hot springs, bird watching, and scenic guided nature walks. Boat rides on the Semuliki River, remarkable cultural encounters, as well as chimpanzee trekking tours, await tourists on Uganda safaris in Semuliki National Park.

Though Semuliki Park offers various tourism activities for visitors, this park is famous for Uganda birding safaris. Semuliki holds over 441 bird species, including even the Congo Guinea biome species of birds. In this rainforest park of Uganda, it’s possible to spot wildlife species such as forest elephants, bushbucks, collard fruit bats, bush pigs, and many primate species.

Tourist activities in Semuliki National Park are best done during the dry months when rainfall is minimal. Being close to two prominent parks in Uganda (Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Park), it’s simple to add Uganda chimpanzee safaris in Kibale Forest and game viewing tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park on Semuliki adventures.

What activities can you do in Semuliki National Park? Continue below to find out the most popular tourist activities in Semuliki National Park: 

1. Birding in Semuliki National Park Uganda

Bird watching is among the main tourist activities in Semuliki National Park. Many birders in Uganda consider Semuliki Park the leading birding destination to spot forest birds in East Africa; it’s comparable to Kibale National Park, a famous site for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Africa.

Within Semuliki, 441 species of birds have been recorded and this checklist includes around 35 Congo guinea bird species that can’t be spotted in any other park in Uganda.

There are no game drives in Semuliki Park; therefore, all the birds are spotted during forest walks! Within this stunning park, there are forest trails that are well maintained, allowing visitors to explore the deeper regions of this rainforest along Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo—an extension of the eastern part of the great Ituri Forest.

A forest walk along the Kirumia Trail offers the best Semuliki National Park birdwatching experience. The Shoebill stork can be spotted during boat rides within the Semuliki River mouth to Lake Albert. Other birding trails include the Sempaya nature walk trail and the Red Monkey Trail.

The different bird species found in Semuliki National Park to look for are:

• Yellow-throated nicator
• Red-billed dwarf hornbill
• Piping Hornbill
• Great blue turaco
• African dwarf kingfishers
• Yellow-throated nicator
• Grey ground thrushes
• White-crested hornbill
• Ross’s Turcos
• Yellow-throated cuckoo
• Blue-headed crested flycatcher
• White-throated blue swallow
• Black dwarf hornbill
• Grey ground throughshes
• Northern bearded scrub robin
• Western bronze napped pigeon

In the evening, it’s possible to hear some nocturnal bird species, for example, the African Wood Owl and even the Buff-spotted Flufftail. It’s possible to spot other birds during the boat ride on the River Semuliki riverine forest or river forest of the River Semuliki.

Cost for Birding Watching in Semuliki National Park, a lovely park with some Central Africa species of birds.

• Non-Foreign Residents: $40
• Foreign Residents; $30
• Citizens of East Africa; 30,000 UGX.

The above is inclusive of the park entrance fees.

2. Exploring Sempaya Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park

Another main adventure among the main tourist activities in Semuliki National Park! Semuliki Park is greatly known for these two hot springs, Sempaya Hot Springs. There is a local story about the formation of these magical hot springs, which captivates tourists more than the scientific justification! A local legend has it that there is a male hot spring and a female hot spring.

Female hot springs are called Nyasimbi, while the male is Bitante. The male hot springs are roughly 12 meters in diameter and they can be visible more than one kilometer away; boiling geyser gushes vapor and bubbling water several meters high.

For a rewarding adventure as visitors explore Sempaya hot springs (a major attraction of Semuliki Park), it’s possible to boil some eggs and bananas in these magical geothermal features that boil over 1000 °C.

As you walk to visit Semuliki hot springs, you’ll go through a forest stretch where primates like red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and baboons are residents. Colorful butterfly species & birds are regularly seen during this hike.

The site for Semuliki Hot Springs is a wonderful cultural site for local people around! Locals believe that these hot springs are home to their ancestral spirits, which are empowered to give wealth and cure diseases, including barrenness in women. So, expect to find people enjoying a natural sauna around; it’s okay to join if you wish.

Note: The geographical formation of Sempaya hot springs is all about volcanicity. When rainwater gets in touch with solid heated-up rocks in the earth’s interior, it’s heated up, and the high pressure forces it to rise on the earth’s surface through cracks, thus forming hot springs.

3. Cultural Encounters in Semuliki National Park in Western Uganda

The area around Semuliki National Park is home to four indigenous tribes. Visitors can choose to visit any of the four tribes living on the edges of the park.

Batwa pygmies are hunters and forest gatherers, while the Bakonjo and Bamba grow crops (rice, matooke/bananas, potatoes, and cocoa) on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori. The Batuku live in the northern section of the park as pastoralists.

Tourism and modernization are changing the lives of these tribes, particularly the Batwa. The Batwa used to live freely in the forests of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of 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. The Batwa grow and smoke marijuana.

On this cultural tour, travelers will interact with the locals and explore the traditions, cultural history, beliefs, and economic activities of people in the community.

4. Game Drives in Toro Semuliki Reserve- Nearby Semuliki Park

Adjacent to Semuliki National Park lies Toro Semuliki Reserve – also managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Unlike Semuliki National Park, Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve features an open savanna grassland that allows visitors to enjoy game viewing through game drives along its 3 game tracks. On a game drive, visitors will spot large Savannah elephants, bushbucks, red legged sun squirrel, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and many bird species.

Lucky visitors in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve can spot the pygmy hippopotamus as well as leopards and the elusive bush babies. Night game drives are possible but they are rarely done!

Travelers should be prepared to navigate the park’s most challenging terrain, especially during the rainy season. It’s better to come with a 4×4 wheel-drive vehicle during such a season.

5. Hiking and Nature Walks in Semuliki National Park Western Uganda

Nature walks in Semuliki Park are done around the Kirumia Trail, which is almost 13 km long, passing through the middle of the forest to the Semliki River. Hikes to explore this trail start at 8 am and it takes visitors 8 hours to rotate around and it’s one of the perfect trails for bird lovers.

The other intriguing trail is the Red Monkey Track, which is estimated to be 11 km long. It passes through the park’s eastern border, which is the stronghold area for the rare DeBrazza’s monkey.

Also, there is the Sempaya Nature Trail, which is 8 km long, offering an opportunity for the visitors to spot numerous primates, and the Sempaya hot springs—magical hot springs with waters boiling at over 1000 °C.

It’s possible to explore all the mentioned forest trails in Semuliki Valley Park any time of the year but a dry season offers the best experience.

6. Semuliki National Park Activities:  Chimpanzee Trekking in Semuliki Park

Since chimpanzees in Semuliki National Park live in a dry forest habitat, trekking chimpanzees in Semuliki National Park is unique compared to Uganda chimpanzee safaris in Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, or Kyamburo Gorge.

When foraging for food, the chimpanzees of Semukili National Park move deeper into the forest. As a result, guests shouldn’t anticipate an effortless time locating the chimpanzees, but watching them move on two legs just like humans do is a wonderful safari experience worth undertaking.

The chimpanzee population of Semuliki has been through a habituation period as part of a wildlife research program’s efforts to learn more about the relationship between the apes’ bipedal gait and the emergence of a new species.

Visitors on this primate walk in Semuliki Forest will join a team of researchers on this primate walk in the forest. The trekking technique is similar to other sites, but trekkers shouldn’t expect to view the chimpanzees because they travel so fast and distant.

Travelers going for a chimpanzee tracking experience should come with some snacks and even enough drinking bottled water.

Semuliki Park authorities have set up rules for trekking chimpanzees in Semuliki Forest in Bundibugyo District. You’ll be briefed about these chimp tracking rules by park rangers from the park headquarters.

• All trackers must be at least 12 years old.
• It is important to not litter the forest.
• To view a lot in the forest, try to remain as silent as possible.
• Never get closer to the chimpanzees than 10 meters
• It’s not a beneficial idea to imitate chimpanzee calls since you never know what you might be saying!
• You are not allowed to eat, drink, or smoke while you’re in the presence of chimps.
• Don’t run after the chimps
• Avoid taking pictures with a flash camera.
• There is a one-hour time restriction for visits with the chimpanzees.

7. Boat Cruising on Semuliki River

Mostly, a boat ride on the Semuliki River (one of Semuliki National Park attractions) is done by bird lovers to spot various waterbird species, including the rare Shoebill, African Openbill, African Jacana, Kingfishers, and Squacco herons, among many others. Hippos and crocodiles can be encountered during the ride.

This boat cruise takes you up to Lake Albert, Uganda’s biggest lake in the Western Rift Valley.

8. Semuliki National Park Activities: Butterfly Watching in Semuliki National Park

Butterfly watching is another unique safari experience for tourists on Uganda safari tours in Semuliki Park. Within this Semuliki, 35 species of butterflies are endemic and most of them belong to the Lycaenidae family.

The most common butterfly species in Semuliki to look for are Graphium antheus, Papilio zalmoxis, Papilio antimachus parva, and Papilio nireus.  The swallowtail butterfly is one of the biggest butterfly species in the Semuliki protected area.

Sempaya hiking trail offers the best experience for butterfly-watching.

Note: Like all living things, butterflies typically only live between 20 and 40 days. Only a few can go up to 9 months. Butterflies lay eggs just like any other insect. Eggs, larvae, pupa, and adulthood are the four phases that make up the whole process. A caterpillar is the name given to the lava of a butterfly.

When is the Best Time to Visit Semuliki National Park on Uganda Tour?

At any time of the year, travelers can visit Semuliki National Park; however, if you can, try visiting Semuliki National Park during the dry months of June-August and even early September, as well as December-February.

Semuliki Park receives marginal rainfall during these dry months and normally the trails for birding are dry and, therefore simple to explore. This park becomes more difficult to navigate during the wet seasons (December–March and October–November). As the rivers rise to their banks, the park experiences flooding in most of the areas.

How Do I Get to Semuliki National Park?

Semuliki National Park- (upgraded to national park status in 1993) can be accessed using two routes from Kampala. The shorter route from Kampala to Fort Portal via Mubende takes about 6-7 hours, whereas the longer route from Kampala through Masaka, Mbarara, and Kasee takes around 7-8 hours to drive.

The advantage of using the prior route is the numerous route stopovers. Among these are the Equator Monument and even national parks such as Lake Mburo Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, & Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

If one reaches Fort Portal town, you’ll drive 52 km to reach a junction that leads to Semuliki Park. In the wet season, visitors are advised to visit Semuliki NP using a 4×4 wheel tour vehicle.

Packing List for Semuliki National Park Uganda Safaris

Normally, visitors on Uganda safaris visiting Semuliki National Park are interested in birding expeditions. For that case, the Semuliki Uganda trip should include most safari items for a wonderful birdwatching adventure.

The following is the required packing list for a Uganda tour in Semuliki Forest Reserve- one of the less visited national parks of Uganda with wonderful attractions.

1. A camera with a nice lens
2. Day pack bag
3. Insect repellent
4. Binoculars to view birds well from a distance
5. Long-sleeved shirt and trousers
6. Hiking boots
7. Raincoat
8. Personal toiletries
9. A sun hat
10. Bottled drinking water as well as
11. Energy-giving snacks

Best Accommodation in Semuliki National Park for Tourists

There are a lot of places for tourists to stay in Semuliki National Park Game while they are on their vacation. But these places to stay are grouped into different categories, such as budget, moderate, and high-end. Most places are outside Semuliki Park; however, the distance is convenient for tourists undertaking Uganda safaris in Semuliki Forest Reserve.

As you explore Semuliki NP, it’s possible to spend a night in Fort Portal City, Bundibujo town, or Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve.

The common accommodations for Semuliki forest include: Semuliki Safari Lodge in Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Ntoroko Game Lodge, Campsite and Bandas of Uganda Wildlife Authority, Hotel Vanilla, Kirimia Guesthouse, etc.

For a memorable adventure, tourists should supplement tourist activities in Semuliki National Park with other Uganda safari activities for instance;  chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park as well as wildlife viewing tours in Queen Elizabeth Park or Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. With better planning, it’s possible to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

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