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Deep in the Semliki valley sits the Semliki National Park, Uganda’s newly established Park. It covers a total area of 220 square kilometers. Mostly occupied by the Savannah grasslands and lush vegetation, this Park is bordered by the escarpments of the Western Albertine Rift valley, Rwenzori Mountains of the moon and the Ituri Forest Reserve of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Semliki National Park is often not included in most of tourists’ itineraries to Uganda but this place is inspiring with diverse biodiversity which include primates, mammals, hot springs, and different birds together with tropical forest jungles.

Semliki’s unique geography is exhibited by its broad diversity of Wildlife species inhabited including the Central African species like forest elephants, East African Savannah species such as leopards, lions and antelopes.

Over and above that, Semliki is recorded with eleven unique species that are not found anywhere else in Uganda, these include two types of flying squirrel, six types of bats and pygmy antelopes.

Birding life in this Park includes the endemic and non-endemic species, you are most likely to spot the rarely seen shoebill species within the wetlands of the Park. Primates like Chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, baboons and more are found within the lush forest canopies.

Though the Park is packed with a diverse biodiversity, major draw here is the Sempaya hot springs (male and female) usually reached via walking trails. These hot springs are nestled in the middle of palm trees and tropical rain-forests.

What impresses most with these springs is a geyser shooting up from the 8m wide opening in a low salt sculpture. The temperature of water here reach up to 100°C.

How to get there

This Park is majorly accessed by road means and there are two route options to go as highlighted below – Safe journey to Semliki National Park.

Kampala- Mityana – Mubende – Fort portal highway is the shortest route, it’s about 180km taking about 5-6 hours for the drive.

Alternatively, you can go via Kampala – Fort portal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese though this is somehow longer, it’s about 465km taking about 7-8 hours for the drive.

With this route, there is a possibility of stopping en route to other spots like Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park or Lake Mburo National Park. From Fort portal town, Sempaya gate is 59km and park headquarters at Ntandi are 6km further along the road.

Things to do in the Park

Visit Sempaya Hot-Springs

This is the major draw for visitors to Semliki National Park. It includes the male hot spring known as Bitende and the female hot spring called Nyasimbi. This female hot spring is renowned for its boiling geyser which spurts boiling water and steam to about 2 meters high in air.

Tourists and interested locals usually visit to witness the springs’ ability of boiling eggs and bananas by its hot waters with reach up to 100 degrees Celsius by temperature. This is a guided tour and it costs $15 USD per person.

Game Drives

The action packed 53 different types of mammals in Semiliki valley are best explored on a game drive using a Safari jeep with a pop up roof. Of the 53 varied mammals, 27 are larger animals and eleven of them are only found here such as flying squirrels, fanged deer and more.

This game driving is worth sighting different forest elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards. Both Nocturnal and daytime game drives are offered here on daily basis.

Hiking & Nature Walks.

Several guided nature walks are offered through different hiking and nature trails depending on your interests.

Some of the usual species on the available trails include hippopotamus and Crocodiles in river semliki, birds, monkeys, forest elephants and more on display.

Length of nature walks or hiking excursions range from few hours to full day. Some of the essential things to take note of include hiking shoes, light rain jackets, long sleeved shirts, insect repellents, together with day pack with food and bottled water. This costs $30 USD per person.

Visit Bambuti Pygmies

These people inhabit the suburbs of the Park on both sides of Semliki River. They are closely related to the Basu pygmies of Democratic Republic of Congo though some people mistakenly relate them to the Batwa pygmies of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park.

Bambuti and Batwa were both forest dwellers but their culture and way of living differ. These previously forest dwellers are now upgrading to civilized human beings, they live in communities and can be visited on daily basis.

Their Bambuti guides are available to lead you through the experience. It costs $10 USD per person.

Birding in Semliki

For seekers of birding encounters, Semiliki is truly inspirational. This valley is packed with over 440 species, part of which are forest bird species. This region also receives migrant species from Congo region of Africa and Albertine Rift endemic species.

With all this, Semliki valley is a haven for bird watching. Birders usually spot plenty of species such as yellow throated cuckoo, Piping hornbill, red billed dwarf hornbill, black dwarf hornbill, white throated blue swallow, Yellow throated nicator, red bellied malimbe, chestnut breasted negrofinch to mention but a few.

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