Semuliki Valley National Park is one of the smallest forested parks in Uganda and is part of the Kibale conservation area covering a total surface area of 220km with an altitude between 670-760m above sea level. It started as a forest reserve created in 1932 and was upgraded into a national park in 1993. Semuliki National Park lies across the floor of the Semuliki Valley on the remote, western side of the Rwenzori and is dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. This is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests; one of the few to survive the last ice age, 12-18,000 years ago.
It’s a major birding destination and as a result, it’s known as a Birders Haven because it hosts around 435 bird species representing 34% of Uganda’s bird species. Some of which cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa and the continent’s most spectacular birds. There are other species of primates living in this forest which include; red-tailed monkeys, grey-checked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons among others. It also neighbors Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve which harbors some species of mammals including; Leopards, Forest Elephants, white-tailed mongoose, and diminutive genet among others.
It’s also majorly known for its hot springs; the Sempaya hot springs both female and male that bubble up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley during the last 14 million years. Sempaya hot springs are the most tourist attraction that put Semuliki amongst top travelers’ dream destinations. The female hot spring is a geyser of very hot water that bubbles a few meters above ground whose cloud of steam is visible a distance away. The male hot spring is a dull pool of boiling water a kilometer apart. The water from the hot springs is saline and rich in mineral content. The indigenous people in the neighborhood perform traditional rituals at the hot springs to communicate with their ancestors. They believe they are home to their ancestors who disappeared in the hot spring and still exist there. They often go there to seek blessings.
The local community is composed of the Batwa pygmies that originated from the Ituri forest but were settled in the community after gazetting it into a national park. They have a rich cultural history and do not miss doing the Batwa trail experience while on your tour in this park.
Some of the Tourist activities include
Birding: Semuliki National park is known as a Birders Haven because hosts over 435 bird species representing 34% of Uganda’s bird species. Some of which cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa and the continent’s most spectacular birds like shoe bill stork which can be close quarters on Lake Albert edge, white created Horn bill, Great blue, and much more. These birds are commonly in places like Kirumia River, Ntandi and Sempaya
Nature walk to Sempaya Hot springs; This is one of the most tourist attractions that make Semuliki National park attractive to most travelers. Clients take nature walk to these hot springs both female and male hot springs which boil at 99 degrees C. Most travelers come with eggs to experiment and boil them in the bubbling waters and they always get ready after like 5 minutes. These hot springs have a cultural attachment to the neighboring community who gather there during special times in the year to seek for blessing from their ancestors whom they believe still live in these hot springs. This walk will take you 3 to 4 hours with an UWA Ranger guide. Some people come to bath in these waters from hot springs because they believe they cure some skin diseases.
Cultural experience; The community neighboring the park include the Bakonjo, Bamba and the Batwa pygmies who used to stay in Ituri Forest before they were relocated in Ntandi community. These Batwa will lead you to a cultural walk experience where they will explain how they used to rely on the forest entirely for their livelihood, and this activity normally ends with lots of entertainment from Batwa women groups. This activity supports them as source of their livelihood.
Game drive; This can be done from Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve which is 45 minutes’ drive from the park. Some animals that can be sighted include; Forest elephants, Buffaloes, water buck, bush buck and other antelopes. This can be done on your way from Semuliki national park as you connect to other tourist destinations.
