Encompassing 219 square kilometers of East Africa’s only lowland tropical rainforest, Semliki National Park is a true gem, sprawling across the Semliki valley on the remote Western side of the Rwenzori. Located in Bwamba county, Bundibugyo district in Western Uganda, Semliki National Park boasts a unique ecosystem with its predominantly medium altitude moist evergreen to semi deciduous forests supporting over 450 bird species, 9 primates, 65 mammals, 430 butterfly species and over 320 plant species. With majority of Semliki’s forests an extension of Ituri
Forest in DR Congo and two rivers, Lamia and Semuliki running through the park, the views during a safari to Semliki National Park are as stunning as the flora and fauna is plentiful.
A pure birder’s haven, Semliki National Park is home to a variety of unique bird species including the rare Oberlander’s ground thrush, Sassi’s olive greenbul, lyretailed honey guide, Capuchin babbler, Dwarf honey guide, Congo serpent eagle, Nkulengu rail and over 9 hornbill species among others. Equally gifted with abundant wildlife, Semliki provides habitat for a variety of mammal species including the African buffalo, leopard, hippopotamus, African elephant, water chevrotain, African civet, Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel, mona monkey, Beecroft’s Anomalure and
over 9 duiker species.
Semliki National Park’s growing fame is further inspired by the two Sempaya hot springs that remain a marvel for both scientists and traditionalists with the differing explanations for their formation adding further mystery and intrigue to an already fascinating destination. There’s a male and female hot spring, Bintente and Nyasimbi respectively. The male hot spring spreads over 12 meters in diameter and boiling
geyser gushes out steam and bubbling water several meters high and can be seen from as far as 1 kilometer away. A trek to view the hot springs leads through breathtaking views and one is always treated to complimentary bird watching and encounters with small primates as they playfully glide from one tree to another.
With chimpanzee habituation efforts now complete, Semliki National Park offers a lifechanging opportunity for chimp tracking during which encounters with other primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, Central Africa red colobus, Dent’s mona monkeys among many others will excite and thrill the traveler.
An unforgettable cultural experience with any of the four tribes in Semliki’s neighborhood brings one in close contact with the Bakonjo and Bamba who cultivate crops on the slopes of Mt Rwenzori while the Batuku live in the northern part of the park as pastoralists. The Batwa pygmies on the other hand are forest dwellers who still diligently practice forest hunter-gatherer ways.
From calming nature walks to enchanting birding experiences, from a trip to Mungiro falls to a fascinating boardwalk to the Sempaya hot springs sandwiched between stunning sceneries and abundant pant and wildlife encounters, Semliki National Park is as mind-blowing an expedition as anyone can fathom. A true traveler’s paradise.
Visit Semliki National Park today!