Semuliki National Park – A True Birders’ Haven. This is our complete guide to Semuliki National Park Uganda which contains all you need to know about this beautiful national park. Here you’ll find up-to-date information on the park’s attractions, activities, the best time to visit, location, and accommodation options. We’ll also show you how to effectively plan your safari by providing sample packages with a free quote to assist you in planning your trip to Semuliki National Park Uganda.
Bird species in Semuliki National Park include the Spot-breasted Ibis, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-throated Coucal, White-billed Kingfisher, Piping Hornbill, and many more. Semuliki National Park covers about 220 sq km, the park is considered a birder’s paradise due to its unique woodland bird species. The national park is famous for its hot springs and it is a habitat for over 441 bird species and 53 animals.
Semuliki National Park is found in Bwamba County, a rural section of the Bundibugyo District in the Western Region of Uganda. Semuliki was designated a national park in October 1993, making it one of Uganda’s latest. The National park has 85 sq miles of East Africa’s unique lowland tropical rainforest. The national park is one of Africa’s rich locations for floral and faunal diversity, with an infinite of bird and butterfly species. The government organisation of wildlife in Uganda called Uganda Wildlife Authority manages the park. The park is a habitat for wildlife like the Spot-breasted Ibis, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-throated Coucal, White-billed Kingfisher, Piping Hornbill, and many other bird species.
The alluring bird list in Semuliki national park like the Albertine Rift endemics, the park specials’ and other “restricted range” specials, make Semuliki a haven destination for serious birders. The 6km public road between Ntandi and Sempaya offers clear views into the forest canopy. The Kirmia Trail (14 km), which traverses to the heart of the forest and the Semuliki River, offers the chance to check off plenty of ‘specials’ on your bird list.
Although day walks are possible, this trail is most rewarding with an overnight camping trip. Birding highlights include Albertine Rift Endemics like the dwarf honeyguide and purple-breasted sunbirds. 35 Congo-Guinea biome species are found nowhere else in East Africa, these include black dwarf hornbill, Nkulengu rail, Congo serpent eagle, Gabon woodpecker. Other species with very limited ranges include the white-tailed hornbill, capuchin babbler, blue-headed crested flycatcher, and the orange weaver.
Semuliki national park has a network of game drive tracks that are used to explore the grassland of the Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve. Forest and savannah elephants are both usually seen around the park with buffalos, waterbucks, crocodiles, warthogs, and Uganda kob. Sometimes, it is possible to see lions, leopards, and bush babies.
Semuliki national park has a number of short trails throughout the Sempaya cater for nature lovers and birders. Nature and birding walks are available in the national park, and night hikes into the forest to seek out for nocturnal primates. Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve.
The National park offers guided nature walks of 4-6 hours through the Mugiri River Forest provided the opportunity to find habituated chimpanzees and other primates and birdlife.