Attractions in Semuliki National park : Semuliki is among the safari destinations of Uganda and it is located in the western part of the country. This national park is known for the Sempaya hot springs which are the male and female hot springs. Semuliki national park is also home to a variety of bird species including endemic bird species.
Semuliki national park is home to over 441 bird species and about 51 species of wildlife including baboons, forest elephants, antelopes, colobus monkeys and many others. These and many other attractions can be seen during tours to the destination.
Park entrance fees for Semuliki national park is 35 USD for foreign nonresidents, 25 USD for foreign residents and 15,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. This fee is valid for a single entry in the national park.
There is a lot to do during a tour to Semuliki national park and some of the activities include the following;
Birding
Semuliki national park is a good birding destination in Uganda with over 441 bird species such as black dwarf hornbill, Maxwell’s black weaver, yellow throated cuckoo, Malachite kingfisher, great white pelican, crested flycatcher, Ross turaco, red billed dwarf hornbill, swamp palm bulbul, purple breasted sunbird, orange weaver, yellow throated nicator, dwarf honeyguide and many others.
The different birding spots in Semuliki national park include Sempaya, Ntandi, kirumia trail and also around the Semuliki river.
Visiting Sempaya hot springs
The Sempaya hot springs are a major attraction in Semuliki national park and it brings both domestic and international visitors to the destination. The male hot springs are known as Bitente and the female hot springs are known as Nyasimbe.
Sempaya hot springs are used for different purposes by the locals including healing, rituals, talking to gods, blessings, protection among others. The bamba people visit the hot springs for rituals and sacrifices to the gods are also done by the locals around the hot springs.
When visiting the Sempaya hot springs, you will also see coins in the water which were used during rituals by the locals. Other things to do at the hot springs include boiling eggs especially by the female hot springs which are over 1000 degrees Celsius.
A ranger guide accompanies tourists after a short briefing at the park headquarters. This is followed by a walk through the forest to the female hot springs which are located a short distance from the park headquarters of Semuliki national park.
Wildlife viewing
Semuliki national park is also a place where wildlife species can be encountered especially in the forested area. Some of the wildlife species which can be seen include red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys.
Some of these wildlife species can be seen during nature walks or the tour to the hot springs which goes through the forest. many bird species also live in the trees and can be seen when visiting Semuliki national park.
Nature walks
When visiting Semuliki national park, another activity which is carried out is the guided nature walks. This activity is done in the forest with a ranger guide and there are different trails followed during the experience.
The trails include the Sempaya nature trail, Kirumia trail and the red monkey trail and each of these trails offer unique experiences in different parts of Semuliki national park.
The red monkey trail is about 11 km long and goes from the eastern boundary of the national park to the Semuliki river. Some of the primate species which can be seen when following this trail include the debrazza monkey.
Another trail followed during a tour in Semuliki national park is the Sempaya nature trail. This trail leads to the Sempaya hot springs and tourists during the nature walk along this trail pass through forest where primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys among others can be seen. This trail also has beautiful scenery and many bird species can also be seen along the way.
The third trail which is used during nature walks in Semuliki national park is the Kirumia trail which is about 13 km and goes through the forest to Semuliki river. This trail is recommended for birders visiting the national park, Attractions in Semuliki National park
Cultural tours
Visiting the locals around Semuliki national park is another exciting activity to do. During these cultural tours, tourists get to experience the way of life of the locals, visit their homesteads, enjoy traditional dance performances and so much more.
Some of the locals to interact with during a visit to Semuliki national park include the Bakonjo and Bwamba who are farmers, the Batuku who are cattle keepers and also the Batwa people who are known for being hunter gatherers.
These locals live on the edge of the forest and have unique cultures. The Batwa are known for being hunter gatherers and they used to live in the forest and survive by hunting, and gathering fruits and they would also use different plants for medicinal purposes , Attractions in Semuliki National park
How to get to Semuliki national park
Semuliki national park is located in western Uganda and can be accessed by driving from Kampala to Fort portal via Mubende and then to the national park which takes about 5 to 6 hours. And another way to get to the national park is by using the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kasese route which takes about 7 to 8 hours of driving.
