Budget Activities to Do Semuliki National Park
Budget Activities to Do Semuliki National Park: Semuliki national park is one of the few national parks in the country where tourists can have budget affordable safaris while on a tour in Uganda. This article will give you an insight about budget activities travellers can participate in without breaking the bank in Semuliki National Park. Due to its unique attractions and rich ecosystem, the park has attracted several travellers especially birdwatchers across the world to come and witness its unique biodiversity. The park has friendly and affordable activities that may suit your budget such as birding, nature walks, primate viewing, among others.
Semuliki National Park in western Uganda offers affordable activities and accommodations, with prices starting at $70. The park, spanning 220 sq. km, is home to various attractions like mammals, primates, birds, and hot springs. It became a national park in 1993 after being designated as a forest reserve in 1932. Budget travellers can enjoy many activities but should select a few to save money.
Budget Affordable Activities in Semuliki National Park
Bird Watching
One of the best places in western Uganda for birdwatching is Semuliki National Park. 23 of the 435 bird species found in the national park are endemic to the Albertine region. Due to its low cost, birding at Semuliki National Park is accessible to all sorts of travellers.Besides, Semuliki is one of the unique places in Uganda where you can spot the iconic Shoebill in the country.
During your budget safari in Semuliki National Park expect to see several bird species such as the Yellow-throated nicator, black throated coucal, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Grauer’s cuckoo-shrike, Great blue Turaco, Yellow-throated nicator, black chinned Quailfinch, African, Hartlaub’s duck, White-throated Blue Swallow, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Zenker’s honeyguide, Long tailed hawk, Capuchin Babbler, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, White-crested hornbill, and Congo serpent eagle.
Other species of birds to see include Nkulengu rail, malachite kingfisher, Long tailed hawk, African piculet, Abyssinian ground hornbill, orange cheeked waxbill, crested malimbe, white-bellied kingfisher, lyre-tailed honey guide, icterine greenbul, red-rumped tinkerbird, piping hornbill, maxwell’s black weaver, marsh tchagra, gabon woodpecker, Purple-breasted sunbird, White-crested hornbill, red-necked falcon, leaf love, blue-headed crested flycatcher, pennant winged nightjar, and African piculet, among others.
Nature walks
Among the things visitors can do while on a safari at Semuliki National Park are nature walks. One of the best ways to experience Semuliki National Park’s rich biodiversity is to take a guided nature walk. You may see over 435 bird species, 53 animals, and 9 primates while taking a nature walk in Semuliki National Park. They cost $30 for foreign non-residents, and $15 for foreign residents, and UGX10,000 for East African citizens.
To allow visitors to get up close and personal with nature, Semuliki National Park offers a variety of nature walk pathways. The 13-kilometer Kirumia route passes through the Semuliki River. For those who enjoy birds, this trail is ideal. You may get close to De Brazza’s monkeys by following the 11-kilometer Red Monkey Trail. Last but not least is the 8-kilometer Sempaya Nature Trail, which leads to the park’s male and female hot springs.
Primate Viewing
Semuliki national park is one of the places in Uganda where tourists can meet primates including primates. The chimpanzee population in Semuliki national park is very low but still visitors can as well witness and have an encounter with these apes. The spotting these primates is very affordable to all tourists who would love to meet the apes in their natural habitat. Other primates to see include De-brazza monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, among others.
Boat Rides
A guided boat ride can be conducted on River Semuliki in Ntoroko downstream to Lake Albert bus on some conditions. The boat rides are not on every part of the park’s waters, and these rides are mainly done as part of game and bird watching safaris. Expect to see several wildlife species such as crocodiles, sitatungas, waterbucks, elephants, and various birds such as the Shoebill, Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, African Open Bill and others. This boat ride helps travellers to get close to some wildlife species especially mammals and birds that are hard to see on land including the iconic Rwenzori Mountains and the rift valley.
The lake shares borders with the park and it is a major spot for boat safaris. It is best for tracking shoebills in the papyrus vegetation where River Semuliki enters the Lake Albert. This guided activity allows canoeing experience conducted by the local guides around the swamps. You can also have breathtaking views the hazy blue mountains of DRC Congo across the lake, water falls, and fishing villages.
When to have budget safaris in Semuliki national park
Tourists can have budget safaris in Semuliki national park at any time of the year. Both the dry season and the rainy season have advantages so a traveler will have to choose what is good for them. The dry season has good weather characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. This means that the park is dry and everywhere is easier to access. The vegetation is short with good views of wildlife and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Tourists can also have budget safaris in Semuliki national park during the rainy season which occurs from March to May and October to November. This is when the park is experiencing too much rainfall and little sunshine so the park trails are muddy and slippery, and the vegetation tends to be tall giving unclear views of some animals. Tourists that want budget affordable safaris in Semuliki national park can try this season because it is when the lodges reduce prices and the tour packages are discounted.
