Flight Safaris in Semuliki National Park
Flight Safaris in Semuliki National Park: In the lowland area within the western arm of the East African Rift Valley is where Semulik National Park is located. This is one of the newly established national parks that can be easily accessed by both air and road transport within a single day. The park is situated in Bundibugyo District along the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This protected area was established in 1993 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the its vegetation cover and other attractions such as wildlife including animals and birds.
Today, Semuliki National Park is home to over 435 bird species, 448 butterfly species, 53 mammals, and 9 primates. It is also one of the most visited national parks in western Uganda due to its attractions. In addition to the wildlife, the national park has two hot springs, and because it was once home to the Batwa pygmies, visitors can locate them near the park’s boundaries. Semuliki National Park is open year-round, so visitors can enjoy a variety of activities there. Although majority of the tourists visiting Semuliki get there by road, however those travellers who hate travelling long distances can opt to fly by air.
Flight Safaris in Semuliki National Park
Although Semuliki National Park does not have airstrips within its premises but they are some air strips nearby the park. The closest is Kasese Airstrip which tourists can use during their flying safari. More still, various airline companies such as Aero Link, Pearl Sky, Bar Aviation and others transfer travellers from Entebbe or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kasese Airstrip and after travellers connect to Semuliki National Park.
Generally, flight safaris are convenient and time saving especially to travellers who are always on busy and tight schedules, hence reducing on the travel time and also saving them from the bumpy roads of Uganda, commonly known as African Massage.
For travellers to have a flight safari to Semuliki National Park, you must contact your tour operator in advance about 3-4 months in order to plan accordingly. This helps the local tour operator to book your seat with the airline company early enough.
Travellers always use road transport from Kasese airport to Semuliki National Park, which is not too far away. It takes around two hours for visitors to drive from Kasese to Semuliki National Park via Fort Portal and Bundibudyo. Travellers that like to visit the park more quickly and in an opulent manner use flying safaris.
Things to do a flying safari in Semuliki national park
Bird watching
With over 435 bird species identified to far, Semuliki Park is an excellent place to go birdwatching. Since the park is among the top birding locations in western Uganda, bird viewing is one of the most popular activities done here. Visitors to the park get the opportunity to witness some of the 435 bird species, of which 23 are thought to be indigenous to the Albertine region.
Among the park’s fauna are the Congolese serpent eagle, great blue turaco, northern bearded scrub robin, shoe bill stork, Grauer’s cuckoo-shrike, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, yellow-throated nicator, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Black-dwarf hornbill, black-chinned quailfinch, pale-fronted negrofinch, Fire-crested Alethe, African pygmy goose, Xavier greenbul, great white pelican, long-tailed hawk, and swamp palm bulbul.
Orange Cheeked Waxbill, Blue-billed Malimbe, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Black-Dwarf Hornbill, Gabon Woodpecker, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, White-bellied Kingfisher, Ross’s Turaco, White-crested Hornbill, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Long-tailed Hawk, Yellow-throated Nicator, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, and Spot-breasted Ibis are just a few birds to see on a flying safari in Semuliki National Park.
Butterfly watching
Flight Safaris in Semuliki National Park: In addition to hot springs and birds, Semuliki National Park is well-known for having the largest butterfly population. With 448 different species of butterflies identified, the national park boasts the most butterflies in the nation. One of the things you may do on a flying safari in Semuliki is observe butterflies.
In order to see these lovely animals, visitors can search the park for butterflies with the help of a knowledgeable guide and a butterfly guide. Andriasa contraria, Bicyclus, Bicyclus alboplagus, Becker’s creamy yellow glider, Mylantria xanthospila, Euphaedra eberti, Cymothoe cyclades, Boisduval’s tree nymph, common glider, woodland glade nymph, spiny bollworm, and Sarothroceras banaka are among the butterflies to watch out for in Semuliki.
Mulberry hawkmoth, Small black bush brown, soldier commodore, euphaedra rattrayi, veined swordtail, belenois solilucis, blue monarch, cymothoe ochreata, common blue banded forester, little pansy, polyptychus carteri, common mother of pearl, widespread forester, common glassy Acraea, cucumber moth, euphaedra edwardsii, and biston abruptaria are a few other butterflies.
Best Time to have a Flying Safari to Semuliki National Park
While flying safaris to Semuliki National Park are available to luxury travellers at any time of year, certain months are better than others. It has been established that the optimum time of year to take a flying safari through Semuliki Park is during the dry season. There is little to no rainfall and lots of sunshine from June to September and December to February, which is ideal for flights and the majority of park activities.
Since Semuliki National Park is always open, visitors who have time during the wet season can also take a flying safari there. Visitors should be aware that the park is experiencing its rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November. The park is muddy and slick due to heavy rainfall and little sunshine, and the dense undergrowth makes it difficult to see animals.
