What is the Size of Semuliki National Park

What is the Size of Semuliki National Park: Semuliki National Park is one of Uganda’s smallest national parks located in Bwamba Country, Bundibugyo District in western Uganda. This national park was elevated to a national park in 1993 after being gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932. All park activities are now overseen and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Semuliki was once thought to be around 220 square kilometres, but due to human activity and population growth, the park’s area has decreased. Park rangers were introduced when the Uganda Wildlife Authority over management of the park, and they have since taken on various tasks in safeguarding the park. They have made numerous attempts to drive people out of the park and educate them about the value of the park to the nation and the community.

Considering the 53 mammals, 9 primates, and over 435 bird species can be found on the 220 square kilometres of land. These creatures and birds inhabit savanna, marshy vegetation, and lowland tropical rainforests. In addition to its fauna, Semuliki Park is well-known for its two on-site hot springs. There are male and female hot springs in Semuliki National Park close to the Ituri forest.

The attractions in Semuliki national park

Birds

In Semuliki National Park, more than 435 bird species have been identified to date. Twenty-three of these bird species are thought to be native to the Albertine Rift. This little park is one of the best places to go birdwatching in western Uganda because of its abundance of bird species. In Semuliki National Park, you can go bird watching inside the park with armed ranger guides who lead you to the best locations.

Bird species to see include the Fire-crested Alethe, Long-tailed hawk, Great blue Turaco, Capuchin babbler, Forbe’s plover, Long-tailed Hawk, Purple-breasted sunbird,  Red-billed dwarf hornbill,  Gabon woodpecker, Chestnut owlet, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, African piculet, Dwarf honeyguide, Grauer’s cuckoo-shrike, Blue-billed malimbe, Red-bellied malimbe, Ross’s Turaco, Shoebill stork, Blue-billed malimbe, Bates nightjar, yellow-throated nicator, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Long tailed hawk, Piping hornbillWhite-throated Blue Swallow, Piping Hornbill, swamp palm bulbul, White-crested hornbill, Grant’s bluebill, White-bellied kingfisher, Black-dwarf hornbill, among others.

Primates

There are just 9 primates in Semuliki National Park, but chimpanzees are one of them but rarely seen. Although chimpanzee trekking is not permitted at Semuliki National Park, visitors can encounter a variety of primates, including mangabeys, de Brazza’s monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and red colobus monkeys.

Mammals

Other attractions in Semuliki National Park include mammals. While engaging in various park activities, such as nature walks, trekking, or bird watching, visitors can witness the more than 53 mammals that are said to reside within this park. There are no game drives in this park, so visitors shouldn’t anticipate such events. Forest buffaloes, forest elephants, warthogs, crocodiles, sitatungas, hippos, Uganda kobs, leopards, and side-stripped jackals are a few of the mammals found in Semuliki National Park.

Hot springs

Semuliki Park is one of the few national parks in Uganda with hot springs. Semuliki National Park is fortunate to have two hot springs inside the park, which have drawn a lot of visitors from all over the nation. Because it is dominated by a geyser that shoots water up to two metres in the air, the female hot spring is the most well-known. While the male hot spring is merely a pool of hot water that does not boil, the female hot spring has boiling water that can cook eggs.

In conclusion, Semuliki  Park is one of the smaller national parks in the nation, having a total area of 220 square kilometres. The national park is situated close to Rwenzori and Kibale national parks in the Bundibudyo area. Semuliki  Park is accessible from Kampala/Entebbe via Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and Bundibudyo.

Additionally, visitors can drive to Semuliki  Park after taking a plane to Kasese Airport. You must make reservations with one of the airlines, such as Bar Aviation Uganda, Aerolink Uganda, or Kampala Executive Aviation, in order to travel. These airlines operate flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airport to Kasese Airport.