Size of Semuliki National Park: Semuliki National Park is a small park with plenty to see, covering only 220 square kilometers. In the western region of Uganda, Semuliki National Park is situated in the Bundibugyo district. 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 National Park was once thought to be around 220 square kilometers, but due to human activity and population growth, the park’s area has decreased. Park rangers were introduced when the Uganda Wildlife Authority took 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.
Nine primates, 53 animals, and over 435 bird species can be found on the 220 square kilometers of land. These creatures and birds inhabit savannah, swampy vegetation, and lowland tropical rainforests. In addition to its fauna, Semuliki National 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.
What to see in Semuliki national park
Different Species of 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.
The African piculet, dwarf honeyguide, Grauer’s cuckoo-shrike, blue-billed malimbe, red-bellied malimbe, Ross’s Turaco, Shoebill stork, and Bates nightjar are among the birds found in Semuliki National Park. Grant’s bluebill, White-bellied kingfisher, White-crested hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Black-dwarf Hornbill, Honeyguide with a lyre tail, Piping hornbill, long-tailed hawk, Forbe’s plover, Great Blue Turaco, Capuchin babbler, Fire-crested Alethe, Long-tailed Hawk, Sunbird with purple breasts, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Gabon woodpecker, Chestnut owlet, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, White-throated Blue Swallow, Piping Hornbill, and swamp palm bulbul among others.
Primates
There are just nine primates in Semuliki National Park, but chimpanzees are one of them. Although visitors can observe other primate species, chimpanzee trekking is the only primate trekking activity offered in the park. Chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, mangabeys, and de Brazza’s monkeys may all be found at Semuliki National Park.
Mammals
Other features 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-striped jackals are a few of the mammals found in Semuliki National Park.
Semuliki Hot springs
Semuliki National 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 meters in the air, the female hot spring is the most well-known. The female hot spring has boiling water, which can cook eggs, while the male hot spring is just a pool of hot water that does not boil.
In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the smaller national parks in the nation, having a total area of 220 square kilometers. The national park is situated close to Rwenzori and Kibale national parks in the Bundibudyo area. Semuliki National Park is accessible from Kampala/Entebbe via Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and Bundibudyo.
Additionally, visitors can drive to Semuliki National 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.