Semuliki National Park was created in 1932 as a forest reserve and later upgraded to national park status in 1993. Located in Bwamba County, Bundibugyo District in western Uganda on the western side of Rwenzori mountains, the park is dominated by an extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. Semuliki also hails as one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests dating to over 12-18,000 years ago. Because of this diversity and grandeur, Semuliki is undoubtedly one of the great destinations to visit within this part of the world.
Semuliki also possesses a decoration of landscapes within its land mass and area. The park contains a plethora of features which are associated with central Africa rather than eastern. This kind of resemblance to central African features enables for a taste of Central Africa without requiring one to first leave Uganda. The Semliki River which also forms an international boundary is a relates to a smaller version of River Congo and provides scenic views to all adventurers and hosts several crocodiles and hippos. Hot springs are seen bubble up from the depths in a perfect fashion that reminds all the powerful geographical forces that have had their impact on the great Albertine rift for the last millions of years. These geothermal regions are located at a place called Sempaya from which they derive their name. Large areas of the low-lying park usually flood during the wet season which reflects a period of time when the entire valley lay at the bottom of a lake for some million years.
Just like most of the other National Parks in Uganda, Semuliki is also gifted with a host of numerous wildlife species that range from mammals to birdlife. The park is known to host an exciting 441 bird species and 53 mammalian species. These 441 bird species provide a great representation of an estimated 40% of Uganda’s total bird species and 66% of the forest bird species. These birds thrive perfectly thanks to the riverine and grassland habitants that underline the park’s ecosystem. The park has 5 bird species that are endemic to the Albertine rift, 46 rare species that can only be found in the Guinea-Congo biome within East Africa. Some of the common bird species in the area include: The Yellow-throated Cuckoo, African Piculet, White-throated Blue Swallow, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Horbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill and the Nkulengu Rail among others.
As for the mammals, the park contains 11 endemics which include the fyling squirrels and the pygmy antelope. Others include the water chevrotain, which is known as the fanged deer, forest elephant, forest buffalo, bush pig, sitatunga and the white-bellied duiker or Dwarf Antelope among others. Several primate species also call the park home. These include the baboon, chimpanzees, grey-cheeked mangabey, Central African red colobus, black-and-white colobus, blue, red-tailed, de Brazza’s, potto and the vervet among others. 30 species of butterflies have been recorded within the park and these include 46 species of forest Swallowtails and Charaxes (75% of Uganda’s total) An estimated 235 species of moths have been classified as restricted. Semuliki is further punctuated by 305 species of trees that include 125 endemic species.
Due to the park’s diversity, it offers scenic views of nature that are explored through game drives and walks. You will see oxbow lakes and rivers like the Kirumia River in addition to numerous wildlife. There’s an observation tower and boardwalk that’s used to view the hot springs at Sempaya. Swimming is another activity that’s usually done in the Mungilo Waterfall while hiking occurs through the 13 km (8.1 mi) Kirumia Trail.
Due to the numerous bird species, bird watching is another interesting activity. For those interested in culture and tradition, there are also community visits to different tribes.
Four distinct ethnic groups surround the park and these include the Bwamba farmers-who inhabit the base of the Rwenzori, the Bakonjo- who cultivate the mountain slopes, the Batuku cattle keepers- who live on the open plains as well as the Batwa pygmies- who live on the edge of the forest and are said to have originated from the Ituri forest.
Getting there.
Semliki National Park lies along the main fort Portal to Bundibugyo road, 52 km from Fort Portal. The ranger post at Sempaya is well signposted although the park headquarters were moved to Ntandi, a further 4.4 km along the road to Bundibugyo. From Sempaya, it is 10.6 km to the village of Kirumia and start of the Kirumia River trail into the forest.