Semuliki Valley National Park is located on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley in western Uganda. It is one of the most diverse but less explored Uganda safari destinations.
The park covers a land area of 220 square kilometers with different ecosystems. These include a lowland tropical rainforest, swamps, and an open savanna grassland with scattered trees.
Semuliki Valley National Park was established in 1993 to protect the unique wildlife in the area. It is secluded in the Bundibugyo District near the Uganda DRC border making it an exclusive Discovery Journeys destination.
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Discovery Journeys ToSemuliki Valley National Park
Wildlife in Semuliki Valley National Park
Semuliki Valley National Park has the eastern extension of the Great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. Most of its wildlife species are therefore associated with the Central African ecosystems.
Its lowland tropical rainforest is home to primates including chimpanzees, monkeys, and baboons. It is also home to forest elephants, buffaloes, and several antelope species. De Brazza’s Monkey is Semuliki’s wildlife highlight though rarely seen.
The park is a birder’s paradise with over 400 bird species including Albertine endemics. Notable birds include the African Crake, shoebill stork, grey kestrel, and red-throated bee-eater.
Semuliki Valley National Park is also home to over 200 moth species, and 300 butterfly species.
Activities in The Park
Game drives
The Semuliki Valley is a great game drive area for savanna wildlife encounters. While there you get to see elephants, the Uganda Kob, waterbucks, and buffaloes.
Semuliki Valley National Park has a stable pygmy hippo population that is endemic to the park. For the best game drive experience we recommend early in the morning or the evening hours. Early morning game drives allows an opportunity to catch up with early risers and nocturnal wildlife.
Birding
Semuliki Valley National Park’s unique birdlife and diversity make it a top Uganda birding destination. 35 of its over 400 bird species are of the Guinea-Congo Forest Biome. It has 23 bird species endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley and 12 other species nearly endemic to the Valley.
The pre-historic Shoebill stork, Uganda’s most sought-after bird is also present in the park. Migratory birds from North Africa and Europe are present in the park from November to April making birding journeys more enjoyable.
March is a peak bird breeding season and the best time to visit the park for birding safaris.
Hotsprings Visit
Semuliki Valley National Park lies in an area with active Volcanicity. It has geysers and hot springs with hot waters ranging from 38 to 100 degress celsius.
The Sempaya hot springs is the most popular attraction. Its hot waters continuously gush out at a high pressure leaving you in awe of nature. While at the hot springs you get an opportunity to boil eggs that get ready in under 5 minutes.
The hot springs also have medicinal healing and significance to the local community.
Nature Walks
The park offers the best-guided nature walks of all Uganda safari destinations. Its major activities like birding, hot spring visits, and chimpanzee trekking are best enjoyed on foot. It has well-developed nature walk trails with impressive scenic views.
Batwa Community Visit
Discovery Journeys to Semuliki Valley National Park are complete with a community visit to the Batwa. These initially lived in the forest but were evicted to pave the way for wildlife conservation and ecosystem recovery.
They now live on the outskirts of the forest and have had to adapt to new ways of survival. The Batwa community visit takes you back in time as they demonstrate their initial ways of life. These include hunting and gathering using rudimentary tools.
Accommodation in Semuliki Valley National Park
Semuliki Safari Lodge
Semuliki Safari Lodge is the park’s only luxurious safari lodge. It is located in the Semuliki Wilderness providing a perfect escape for wildlife enthusiasts. The lodge is eco-friendly and was built using local materials that blend with nature.
It has spacious self contained cottages with a view of the wilderness. Other amenities at Semuliki Safari Lodge include a swimming pool, and exquisite dining area. The lodge is ideal to base from when exploring Semuliki Valley National Park.
Ntoroko Game Lodge
Ntoroko Game Lodge is a deluxe lodging option located on the shores of Lake Albert. Its uninterrupted views of the Lake makes it iconic and an ideal place to relax.
The lodge has self contained cottages with a viewing area where one can relax and get fully immersed with nature. It offers boat trip excursions, fishing, and birding journeys along Lake Albert. It is also ideal to base from when exploring the parks primates and savanna wildlife species.
The UWA Bandas and Kirimia Guesthouse are budget options to consider when on a budget safari.
Getting there
Semuliki Valley National Park is best accessed by road transport. It takes a 7 to 8-hour drive to get to the park from Kampala, Uganda’s Capital City. The park is accessed through Fort Portal City in Kabarole District or through Kasese District though the latter route is longer.
You can also fly to from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airfield and connect to the park by road. Charter flights can be arranged directly landing near Semuliki Valley National Park.
Best time to Visit
The park can be visited any time of the year. For the best birding safaris we recommend a visit from November to April. The dry season from December to March and June to September remains the best time for overall wildlife viewing. It can be explored alongside other Uganda safari destinations like the Rwenzori Mountains, Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburo National Park.
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