Semuliki National Park
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Semuliki National Park
Highlights
- Great for First Time Adventurers
- Keep An Close Eye On The Nature And Wild Life.
- Make Memories For Life Time.
The Park is 220km in size with an altitude of 670-760m above sea level. Semuliki forest reserve was created in 1932 and ungraded to National Park status in 1993. This is the only tract of true lowland tropical forest in East Africa hosting 441 recorded bird species and 53 mammals. The large areas of this low lying park might flood during the wet season which is a reminder of the time when the entire valley lay at the bottom of a lake for seven million years. The distinct ethnic groups that live near the park, Bwamba farmers live long the base of the Rwenzori while the Bakonjo dig the mountain slopes. The Bakutu cattle keepers live on the open plains and Batwa pygmies are traditionally hunter gathers and live on the edge of the forest.
Semuliki National Park stretches across the floor of Semliki valley on the remote western side of the Rwenzori. The National Park is dominated by the eastern most leeway of the great Ituri forest of the Congo Basin. This is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio diverse forests; one of the few to survive the last ice age 18000 years ago.
The Semliki Valley contains many features associated with central rather than eastern Africa. The Thatched huts are shaded by west African oil palms, The Semliki River is a miniature version of the Congo River, the central African Wildlife species, and the local population that includes the Batwa Pygmy community that came from the Ituri. The park contains evidence of even older processes. The Hot springs fizz up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley during the last 14 million years.
Birders who make it to Semuliki will also be rewarded with some of Africa’s best forest birding. Sempaya and Ntandi offer excellent viewing of the birds including the white crested Horning, Red billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, yellow throated Nictor, Great blue and Ross’s Turacos. The area around the Kirumia River is another top birding spot. The shoebill stork is seen at close quarters on Lake Albert and forest walks that are good for tracking water birds.
Cultural encounters in Semuliki
The Batwa’s hunter gatherer life style also means they have always been dependent on Semuliki forest for food, shelter, medicine and tools, though this is starting to change as a result of interaction with other local communities. Tourism offers an alternative source of income for the Batwa and offers them the opportunity to maintain and display their rich cultural history through music and dance performances at Ntandi. They also produce intricate handcrafts for sale.
The Hot springs in Semuliki
Hike through the monkey filled forest to the these boiling, pouring springs, and cook your eggs and plantain in the bubbling waters! The hour long trail to the outer, male spring leads through a patch of forest where red tailed monkeys, grey checked mangabeys as well as black and White colobus monkeys are common. The tree house enroute offers an aerial view. A 30-minute hike through palm forest from the main road leads to the inner female spring dominated by a boiling waters and enjoyed by hungry hikers.
Game drives in Semuliki
The three tracks cross the savannah grassland of Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Smaller forest and larger savannah elephants are seen here regulary along with buffaloes, waterbucks, crocodiles, warthogs and Uganda kobs. You can also see the pygmy hippos, leopards, and the elusive bushbabies. Game drives in the wildlife reserve can take place in the morning, afternoon and at night after dark, the visitors may come across the nocturnal species like the white tailed Mongoose.
Hiking and Nature walks in Semuliki
The 13km Kirumia trail runs through the heart of the forest to the semuliki River. This 8-hour round trip starts at 8am and is perfect for the birders. The 11km red Monkey track follows the park’s eastern border which is a stronghold of the rare debrazza’s monkeys to the Semliki River. Just alongside the 8 km sempaya Nature trail, you can view the hot springs and primates. This 2-4-hour hike can take place in the morning or in the afternoon.
How to access Semuliki Valley National Park
Just from Kampala to Fort Portal, there are two major roads; Kampala – Fort Portal via Mubende and Kampala- Fort portal via Masaka, Mbarara, Kasese. There are 59km from Fort portal to Semuliki National Park and then 6km to reach the park headquarters at Ntandi. The first route via Mubende is shorter from Kampala with just 180km driven for 4-5 hours compared to the second one that has got 465km and it offers a more adventurous experience even before reaching Semuliki National Park. Both private and public means of transport can be used to fort portal and any public transport heads between Fort portal and Kasese can drop you there. Those who would want to use private vehicles to the park, a 4x4 vehicle is recommended most especially during the wet season.