INTRODUCTION.
Semliki National Park was gazetted in October 1993 making
it one of Uganda's newest National Parks. It occupies a
flat to gently undulating landform ranging from 670 -760
meters above Sea level. This park harbours a large number
of predominantly Central African species which cannot be
found anywhere else in East Africa and these include some
of the continent's most spectacular and sought-after birds
such as; Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed
Honey guide Black-wattled Hornbill and the Nkulengu Rail.
LOCATION.
Semliki National park is located in the extreme west of
Uganda in Bundibugyo. It lies along the Uganda and Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) border within the western arm of
the Rift valley. The park covers an area of 220 sq km and
covers an eastern extension of the vast Ituri Forest. It
forms part of the forest continuum during the climatic upheavals
of the Pleistocene, and is one of the richest areas for
both flora and fauna in Africa most especially birds.
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ACCESSIBILITY
You can access the park from Kampala using two major roads;
Kampala-Fort portal via Mubende, which is a 4-5 hours drive,
and Kampala-Fortportal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese (7-8
hours).
SAFARI ACTIVITIES.
Scenic viewing. Semuliki national park has got fantastic
scenery made up of hot springs, tropical forests, Semuliki
river meanders with many other ideal attractions. At 'Mungu
Ni Mukubwa' while in the mountains, the road offers breathtaking
scenic views of the meandering Semuliki River, fuming hot
springs and the tropical rain forests extending up to Ituri
forest in DRC. Two Hot springs situated in a tract of hot
mineral encrusted swampland is rich in visible birds, insects
and mammalian life. These two meters jet of hot water (130oC)
and a pool (12 m diameter) of oozing boiling water (106oC)
can boil food especially eggs in the natural boiler within
only ten minutes.
NATURE WALKS.
Semuliki jungle life is breathtaking especially for birders,
primate, and butterfly and plant lovers. This jungle walks
always starts from Sempaya Gate and takes about 2 hours
ending to the Hot Springs through the rainforest with Palm
Trees and partly muddy ground. While on the walk, tourists
have a chance to see primates like Mangabeys and Blue Monkeys,
mammals such as forest buffaloes, elephants, sitatungas,
leopards, pygmy hippopotamus, as well as birds such as Hornbills,
Honey guides and Palm nut Vultures. There are also 305 species
of trees recorded and 125 species are restricted to this
park alone. |
COMMUNITY WALKS.
"Batwa”, a local pygmy Ituri ethnic group of people
is found near the park. They were the inhabitants of Semuliki
Forest and they basically depend on fruit gathering and hunting
in the forest. Today there is a mixture and cultural exchange
with other ethnic groups. A community visit to the pygmy village
near Sempaya Gate will enable you witness these people's lifestyles,
traditions, dances, and give you an opportunity to buy souvenirs.
BIRD WATCHING.
Birding is another tourism activity that is carried out
during the safari. The varying vegetation types found in
the park offer birders a chance to see different birds,
which include forest birds, wetland birds, grassland birds
as well as water birds. The area around the geothermal hot
springs at Sempaya is not only very scenic but also offers
some great birding most especially during nights.
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