Affordable tours in Semuliki national park
Affordable tours in Semuliki national park: Semuliki national park is one of the protected national parks in western Uganda Bundibudyo district. The national park was gazetted by Uganda Wildlife Authority 1993 with the aim of protecting different wildlife as well as the only tropical rain forest in East Africa. Today Semuliki national park protects 53 mammals, 9 primates, 435 bird species, and 448 butterfly species.
Semuliki national park is one of the most affordable destinations in Uganda that every tourist can manage to visit. There are no expensive activities in Semuliki national park meaning a tourist will need less money to visit this park. For a safari to be affordable in Semuliki national park, tourists will always have to choose a few important activities, and also choose the right affordable tour operator.
Affordable tours in Semuliki national park
Bird watching in Semuliki
Bird watching is a very affordable activity within Semuliki national park where birders pay $30 for foreign nonresidents, $25 for foreign residents, and UGX20,000 for citizens of East African member states. Semuliki national park is home to over 435 bird species making it one of the best birding areas in the western region. Bird lovers can afford birding within this park and therefore they should try it out while on a safari there.
Bird watching in Semuliki national park will enable tourists to see bird species such as Ross’s Turaco, Northern bearded scrub robin, Shoe bill stork, great white pelican, malachite kingfisher, Congo serpent eagle, Grant’s bluebill, Xavier greenbul, Fire-crested Alethe, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Zenker’s honeyguide, White-crested hornbill, Orange Cheeked waxbill, Black-dwarf hornbill, Great blue Turaco, and Long-tailed hawk.
Other bird species include African piculet, Dwarf honeyguide, Forbe’s plover, yellow-throated nicator, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Long-tailed Hawk, Rufous-sided broadbill, Black-Dwarf hornbill, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Purple-breasted sunbird, White-bellied kingfisher, Yellow-throated Nicator, Yellow-throated cuckoo, Long tailed hawk, Grant’s bluebill, Gabon woodpecker, Yellow-throated nicator, and Piping Hornbill among others.
Nature walks in Semuliki
Nature walks in Semuliki national park cost $35 for foreign nonresidents, $15 for foreign residents, and UGX10,000 for citizens of East Africa members states. Tourists who want to explore nature will always find the activity affordable. Nature walks are the best way tourists can see all the attractions of the park because they walk to different areas of the park with an armed ranger guide.
Nature walks in Semuliki national park are done using trails such as Mugiri River trail, Sempaya cultural trail, Kirumia trail, and Nyabsurogo trail to mention but a few. During nature walks, tourists will be able to see birds, mammals, primates, water sources, vegetation, butterflies, and hot springs among others.
Butterfly watching
With Semuliki national park having the highest number of butterflies in Uganda, tourists who love butterfly watching will always afford the activity once they are having a safari in the park. So many butterfly species most of which can be seen in other parts of the country will be seen in Semuliki national park.
Butterfly watching in Semuliki national park gives tourists an opportunity of seeing species such as Blue monarch, African leaf butterfly, painted pearl, andriasa contraria, African caper, cymothoe confusa, euphaedra edwardsii, mung bean moth, soldier commodore, euphaedra rattrayi, nemetes sailer, chirinda bush brown, mylantria xanthospila, simple orange forester, variable diadem, variegated pearl, biston abruptaria, angular glider, and pikachu moth.
Other butterfly species to see include Veined swordtail, amata marina, plain vagrant, widespread forester, zebra pyrale, euphaedra eberti, rhodope dotted border, hill bush brown, dark yellow forest sylph, cymothoe ochreata, euriphene saphirina, coffee berry moth, cucumber moth, gregori’s brown pansy, neuroxena ansorgei, bicyclus mollitia, cadarena pudoraria, and common nephele to mention but a few.
Cultural visits in Semuliki
Semuliki national park was once the home of the Batwa pygmies who are currently living around the park boundaries. The batwa were evited out at the park was being gazetted and they decided to settle in areas that are near the park. Today tourists can meet and interact with the batwa pygmies in Ntandi and Boma village near the park.
Cultural safaris to the Batwa pygmies are very affordable as they are charged $10 for foreign and non-foreign residents and UGX10,000 citizens of East African member states. Tourists who want to visit the Batwa can always communicate with their tour operators in advance so that they book with the locals. A guide is always from the local community and he acts as a translator during the visit.
Tourists are taken to any of the villages where the Batwa pygmies live and here they can interact with the locals. On arrival, tourists are welcomed by traditional dancers who entertain the guests through dance and drama. After the warm welcome, tourists visit different homes where they meet different local people, learn about their way of living, and also meet the elders who tell stories of long ago.
The most appropriate time to visit Semuliki national park
Tourists can visit Semuliki national park at any time of the year however the most appropriate time is the dry season. The dry season in Semuliki national park happens from June to September and December to February when there is little or no rainfall and plenty of sunshine. During the dry season, the walking trails in the park are dry and easier to walk through, the vegetation is short with good views of attractions and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Tourists can still visit Semuliki national park during the rainy season which happens from March to May and October to November. This season favors budget travelers who can benefit from the discounted accommodation facilities as well as tour packages. During the rainy season, tourists should expect plenty of rainfall and little sunshine. The walking trails are slippery and the vegetation in the park is tall with unclear views of wildlife.
