What to Do in Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park, located in the Bundibugyo district of western Uganda, is famous for its hot springs and rich wildlife. The park is home to 53 mammals, 9 primates, and 435 bird species, while also having the highest number of butterfly species in Uganda.
The park was established in 1993, and is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Visitors can enjoy various safaris and activities based on their interests and time available, with skilled tour operators helping to choose the best options. Some of these activities include birding, nature walks, Batwa experience, Hot Spring visits, among others.
What to do in Semuliki National Park.
Unique Birding Excursions
Located in Bundibugyo District, western Uganda, Semuliki national park is one of the best birding destinations. The national park has over 435 bird species with 23 endemics to the Albertine region. Bird watching is one of the most done activities in Semuliki national park by birders visiting the western part of Uganda. The activity is guided by armed ranger guides and bird guides who know the best areas to spot the birds.
Bird species to see in Semuliki national park include Shoe bill stork, fire crested alethe, long-crested eagle, yellow-footed flycatcher, mackinnon’s shrike, lesser stripped swallow, brown snake eagle, lizard buzzard, yellow-breasted forest robin, African harrier hawk, white-throated blue swallow, brown chested alethe, African sacred ibis, wood sandpiper, red-billed dwarf hornbill, African pied hornbill, black casqued hornbill, common sandpiper, African palm swift, and white-crested hornbill.
Purple headed starling, rufous side broadbill, African thrush, olive-bellied sunbird, northern grey-headed sparrow, red-tailed ant thrush, rufous flycatcher thrush, green white eye, rufous flycatcher thrush, little greenbul, red-tailed greenbul, splendid starling, xavier’s greenbul, joyful greenbul, yellow whiskered greenbul, green white eye, lesser bristlebill, violet backed starling, and western nicator to mention but a few.
Batwa Experience
Semuliki national park is one of the few places in Uganda where tourists meet the Batwa pygmies. Batwa were initially forest dwellers who lived in Semuliki forest together with animals but in 1993 when the government gazetted the park, they evicted them to create and give animals freedom. They moved out and settled in the nearby areas where tourists could find them.
Since the Batwa people were part of the people that were residing within this tropical rain forest, while gazetting the area, the Batwa were also requested to vacate the premises through the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This is the state body responsible for managing, protecting, and monitoring the country’s wildlife resources.
Boma village and Ntandi village are some of the places where tourists can visit the Batwa. To visit the batwa you will need a guide from the community who acts as a translator while taking you to different homes in the community. On your visit you will be entertained by traditional dancers, you will learn stories of long ago, and you will be able to know how the people in the community live their day to day lives.
Hot springs Visit
Besides the magical hot springs, most of the visitors to Semuliki National Park never leave withoight. The male and female hot springs are located within Semuliki National Park. During a safari in Semuliki National Park, visitors can take a short trek to the hot springs, where they will be guided by armed ranger guides who do provide them with all the necessary park information.
The female hot spring, Nyansimbi, which has a geyser that sprouts water jets three metres above the ground, is the most popular hot spring in the park that leaves most of the visitors in awe. When visitors visit any of the hot springs, they take photos and video recordings of the experience. However, the male hot spring is simply a pool of hot water but with rich history.
Nature walks
Tourists can visit Semuliki national park for nature walk activities which will help them discover the different attractions within the park. Guided nature walks in Semuliki national park are organized to take tourists to different parts of the park using different nature walk trails. The activity gives tourists an opportunity to see wildlife, plants, water sources, and hot springs among others.
Best Time to go to Semuliki
Travellers can go to Semuliki national park at any time of the year but some months are better than others. The dry season months from June to September and December to February are the best to visit Semuliki national park because they have little or no rainfall and plenty of sunshine. During the dry season, the vegetation in the park is short with good views of wildlife, and walking trails are dry and easier to walk through.
Visitors especially budget travelers can visit Semuliki national park in the rainy season to enjoy the discounted accommodation facilities as well as tour packages. The rainy season happens in March to May and October to November attracting few people because of the plenty of rainfall and little sunshine received in the park. In the rainy season, tourists should know that the walking trails are muddy and slippery and the vegetation is tall with unclear views of small animals.
