The Batwa People in Semuliki National Park

The Batwa People in Semuliki National Park: This park is located in the western part of Uganda in Bundibugyo District and one of the national parks that used to be home to the forest custodians or Batwa pygmies. This small sized national park that spans over 220 sq.km is not only popular for its rich biodiversity, but also home to the Batwa people who used to live along with diverse mammals.

These Batwa people used to live entirely in Semuliki National Park not until 1993 when the government of Uganda gazetted the area as a national park. In order to protect wildlife and Semuliki forest’s ecosystem, the Batwa Pygmies were evicted out of the forest park and settled in the nearby areas.

After leaving, the Batwa pygmies settled near Semuliki National Park and can now be found in Ntandi and Boma villages for cultural experience. Some have maintained their culture, while others have intermarried with the existing tribes. Tourists can take a cultural tour to these villages with a local guide who shares insights and translates. Visitors can participate in various community activities, such as cooking traditional meals and learning about local medicine from traditional healers.

Expect to learn about the stories of the past by visiting the community’s elderly men. These seniors always relate tales of their time spent coexisting with wild animals in the jungle. They will teach you and describe the various local foods they consumed, the local herbs they used, and the methods they employed to hunt various animals for flesh. Traditional dancers always provide tourists with theatrical and dance entertainment at the end of their visit.

How much does it cost to see the Batwa pygmies of Semuliki National Park?

The Batwa People in Semuliki National Park: There is a fee that visitors must pay in order to see the Batwa pygmies in Semuliki National Park. The Batwa communities receive this money to enhance their standard of living and invest in their small businesses. Both foreign and non-foreign inhabitants must pay UGX 10 USD dollars 10,000 to see the Batwa pygmies.

Other Attractions to See in Semuliki National Park

Birds

Semuliki National Park is home to over 435 bird species, most of which are visible to visitors during birdwatching excursions. 23 of these bird species are reportedly unique to the Albertine Rift region and cannot be found anyplace else in the world. If travellers and birdwatchers make use of the professional birding guides, expect to see a variety of bird species in addition to the Batwa pygmies.

Bird species to see include shoe bill stork, Yellow-throated cuckoo, Crested Malimbe, long tailed hawk, Ross’s Turaco, Blue-billed malimbe, White-crested hornbill, Black-dwarf hornbill, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, White thighed hornbill, White-throated Blue Swallow, Orange Cheeked waxbill, Spot-breasted Ibis, White-tailed Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Rufous-sided broadbill, and Northern bearded scrub robin.

Other bird species are Red-thighed Sparrow hawk, Black-Dwarf hornbill, Black-Dwarf hornbill, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Capuchin babbler, Northern bearded scrub robin, Red-bellied Malimbe, Long-tailed Hawk, Sassi’s olive greenbul, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-throated nicator, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Forbe’s plover, Leaf-love, Zenker’s honeyguide, and Purple-breasted sunbird, and Nkulengu rail.

Butterflies

The Batwa People in Semuliki National Park: Since it boasts the most butterflies in the whole country, Semuliki National Park is a well-known destination. When visitors venture into the national park, they can observe 448 different species of butterflies. If nature lovers devote enough time to butterfly watching in Semuliki National Park, they will be able to observe about half of the species that have been identified.

Butterflies’ species to see in Semuliki include common glider, veined swordtail, euphaedra rattrayi, Peneleos Acraea, cymothoe confusa, andriasa contraria, hill bush brown, common mother of pearl, choroclanis virescens, euphaedra hollandi, euphaedra edwardsii, violet banded palla, savanna pathfinder, forest glade nymph, soldier commodore, euphaedra eberti, euphaedra alacris, becker’s creamy yellow glider.

Zebra pyrale, common nephele, cadarena pudoraria, variegated pearl, amata marina, marcipalina conjuncta, orange streak Acraea, coffee berry moth, boisduval’s tree nymph, toothed stately bush brown, marcipalina umbrosa, neuroxena ansorgei, haritalodes polycymalis, common palm forester, euriphene saphirina, sarothroceras banaka, Chirinda bush brown, rhipidarctia crameri, and chiasmia fulvisparsa and others.

Hot springs

Two host springs including the female and the male, can be seen within Semuliki National Park. The female hot spring, with a geyser that gushes water up to 2 metres into the air, is the most popular, however visitors are welcome to visit either or both of them. The water at the female hot spring can make tea, porridge and boil eggs because it is over 100 degrees Celsius. The water in the male hot spring is simply hot, but not as hot as that water in the female hot spring.

When should one visit Semuliki national park?

Semuliki National Park is open to tourists all year round, although the best time to visit this park is during the dry season. The majority of park activities are supported by the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. It is marked by intermittent rainfall and lots of sunshine. The roads leading to the park are passable during the dry season, and the short vegetation offers good views of wildlife.

During the wet season, when the lodges are offering discounts, tourists, particularly those on a tight budget, can visit Semuliki National Park. The park receives a lot of rainfall during the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November. A few tourists come to the park because the vegetation grows too tall, making it difficult to see animals, and the rain makes the walking pathways muddy and slick.

Getting to Semuliki to visit the Batwa pygmies

Visitors can use road transport to reach Semuliki National Park and see the Batwa pygmies. Due to its affordability, road transport is the most popular means of transit among visitors to Semuliki National Park. Travellers go from Kampala to Bundibugyo, the park’s location, via Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, and Fort Portal. When travelling to Semuliki National Park via road, visitors are always treated to capivating views of the park’s various attractions.