Butterfly Watching in Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is one of the few tourist destinations in Uganda that are endowed with butterfly watching. This is attributed to the park’s unique ecosystem especially of being a typical lowland tropical rainforest that supports flora and fauna. On record, the park has over 448 butterfly species, 435 bird species, 53 mammals, 9 primates, and many others.
The park is located in western Uganda in Bundibugyo district sharing the same border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park was established in 1993 primarily to protect the forest and its wildlife species. Out of the 1240 butterfly species across Uganda, Semuliki alone having 448 butterfly species, this contributes 43% of Uganda’s total population. This makes Uganda the fourth country in Africa with the highest concentration of butterfly species.
Butterfly watching in Semuliki national park
There are no special roads within Semuliki National Park, travellers use the available walking trails to reach out to all park areas. These nature walks are part of the guided safaris that are conducted with the company of armed ranger guides for security purposes because some animals can be dangerous. The fact that Semuliki national park has other wildlife species means that while travellers are walking, they will be able to encounter some of the park animals.
When searching for butterflies, travellers and nature lovers are able to access as many areas of the park as they can. This is purposely done to increase the chances of spotting various butterfly species that have been recorded within the Semuliki park. Travellers who are passionate about seeing diverse butterfly species of Semuliki National Park are advised to do the activity more than once before leaving the park.
Butterfly Species to See in Semuliki national park
During your butterfly watching safari in Semuliki national park, expect to see numerous butterfly species while moving around the park. Some of these butterflies to see include euphaedra rattrayi, blue monarch, common glider, forest glade nymph, soldier commodore, andriasa contraria, euphaedra eberti, plain vagrant, common glassy Acraea, common blue banded forester, nemetes sailer, violet banded palla, cucumber moth, bicyclus alboplagus, catuna crithea, gregori’s brown pansy, mylantria xanthospila.
Charaxes fulvescens, charaxes pollux, bicyclus, euphaedra alacris, choroclanis virescens, biston abruptaria, pikachu moth, belenois solilucis, little pansy, tailed bush brown, toothed stately bush brown, chiasmia fulvisparsa, lycoa Acraea, Euphaedra hollandi, becker’s creamy yellow glider, sarothroceras banaka, cymothoe Cyclades, veined swordtail, African caper, angular glider, mung bean moth, savanna pathfinder, and mulberry hawkmoth.
Bethune baker’s bush brown, dark yellow forest sylph, euphaedra edwardsii, rhipidarctia crameri, bicyclus mollitia, variegated pearl, common palm forester, cymothoe ochreata, euriphene saphirina, zebra pyrale, hill bush brown, common mother of pearl, amata marina, polyptychus carteri, cymothoe confusa, African leaf butterfly, rhodope dotted border, common nephele, euphaedra hybrida, coffee berry moth, fulvous hawk, small black bush brown, marcipalina umbrosa.
aletis helcita, orange streak Acraea, common pathfinder, haritalodes polycymalis, cymothoe Cyclades, variable diadem, boisduval’s tree nymph, square winged red charaxes, marcipalina conjuncta, blue diadem butterfly, peneleos Acraea, simple orange forester, neuroxena ansorgei, chirinda bush brown, cadarena pudoraria, spiny bollworm, common ginger white, painted pearl, and widespread forester, among others.
Other activities to do in Semuliki National Park
Butterfly watching is best done in Semuliki park in the whole of Uganda because of the high population of species found there. Apart from butterfly watching, the national park is also popular for others activities such as bird watching where by the park hosts over 435 bird species.
Semuliki national park also hosts chimpanzees, although these are very rare due to the nature of the vegetation cover, but on a lucky day travellers can encounter these chimpanzees. Finally, Semuliki national park has hot springs and these magical sites are normally visited during nature walk activities extending to Sempaya hot springs.
What is the Best Time for Butterfly Watching in Semuliki National Park
Travellers that are planning to visit Semuliki National Park for butterfly watching in can visit the park at any time of the year however the dry season is arguably the best time. Months of June to September and December to February are the ideal months to visit the park since they little to no rainfall with much sunshine. During this season, the walking trails are always dry and easier to go through while the vegetation cover is short and scattered with clear views that supports photography of the butterfly species.
