Birding in Semuliki national park

Birding in Semuliki national park: Uganda is a prime destination for a bird watching holiday at any time of year. Semuliki national park is one of the best bird watching destinations one could ever visit while in Uganda. It’s located in western Uganda Bundibugyo district near mountain Rwenzori on the borders of Uganda with DR Congo. Semuliki national park harbors a total of 435 bird species and 23 have been recorded as Albertine rift endemics.

Semuliki national park is an excellent centre for bird watching in Uganda because the diverse range of habitats supports a great diversity of bird species making a bird watching safari in the park very rewarding. Semuliki national park will give you an opportunity to spot more than half of the birds living here f you have a good birding guide.

Semuliki national park is an incredible birding destination, and all you need is just a good birding guide. The lowland tropical forest, ironwood, savannah grassland, and the riverine swampy forest are home to a variety of bird species some of which can’t be found anywhere in the country.

How much is bird watching in Semuliki national park

The birders must pay park entrance fee to first access Semuliki national park. The entrance fee to Semuliki national park is $35 for foreign non-residents, $25 for foreign residents, and UGX15,000 citizens of East Africa member states. Bird watching is free however birders who want guides it comes at a cost. Bird lovers who want to see the shoe bill by boat do pay $100 for foreign non-residents, $80 for foreign residents, and UGX100,000 citizens of East Africa member states.

How is bird watching done in Semuliki national park?

Bird watching in Semuliki national park starts at any time of the day with a briefing about the activity from the ranger guide. Birding can be done in the morning and also in the afternoon depending on the traveler’s itinerary. Different trails are used to look out for birds in the park and among these include Kirumia trail, red tailed monkey trail, Nyuburogo gorge trail, and Sempaya nature trail among others.

Bird watching lasts for as many hours as one wants and good bird lovers are able to meet so many of the bird species that have been recorded here. Good bird guides do take birders to the best areas of the park where birds concentrate. During bird watching, bird lovers are able to meet different attractions of the park which include mammals, primates, hot springs, and vegetation among others.

What birds are found in Semuliki national park?

Semuliki national park is a great birding safari destination and these are some of the birds found within this park. Shoebill stork, Gabon woodpecker, Black-Dwarf hornbill, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Orange Cheeked waxbill, piping hornbill, chestnut-bellied helmetshrike, Red-bellied Malimbe, Yellow-throated nicator, Blue-billed malimbe, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Fire-crested Alethe, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Gabon woodpecker, Zenker’s honeyguide, Leaf-love.

African piculet, Black-dwarf hornbill, Dwarf honeyguide, Rufous-sided broadbill, Long-tailed Hawk, Black-Dwarf hornbill, Xavier greenbul, Red-eyed puffback, Forbe’s plover, Purple-breasted sunbird, Northern bearded scrub robin, White thighed hornbill, Great blue Turaco, Crested Malimbe, Nkulengu rail, icterine greenbul, malachite kingfisher, Chestnut owlet, White-bellied kingfisher, Maxwell’s black weaver, White-crested hornbill, Long-tailed hawk, Capuchin babbler, Green-tailed bristlebill.

Eastern-bearded Greenbul, Sassi’s olive greenbul, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Red rumped Tinkerbird, yellow-throated nicator, Capuchin Babbler, Grant’s bluebill, Blue-billed malimbe, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, pale-fronted negrofinch, Spot-breasted Ibis, Bates nightjar, swamp palm bulbul, Yellow-throated cuckoo, White-tailed Hornbill, Dusky nightjar, Blue-billed malimbe, Eastern-bearded greenbul, Hartlaub’s duck, Ross’s Turaco, Red-billed Dwarf hornbill.

Grauer’s cuckoo-shrike, fiery- breasted bush-shrike, Piping Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Red-bellied malimbe, Yellow-throated Nicator, Grant’s bluebill, Black-throated coucal, Spotted honeyguide, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Long tailed hawk, White-crested hornbill, black-chinned quailfinch, Orange-tufted sunbird, African pygmy goose, Crested Malimbe, great white pelican, Red-thighed Sparrow hawk, White-throated Blue Swallow, swamp palm bulbul, Congo serpent eagle, and Northern bearded scrub robin among others.

What to carry for bird watching in Semuliki national park?

While on your birding tour to Semuliki national park remember to carry your light backpack, binoculars, field guide book, voice recorder, a camera, a pair of binoculars, enough drinking water, packed lunch, pen, sunscreen, waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved clothes, long cotton shoes, and a walk stick among others.

Best time for a Semuliki bird watching safari

Safari in Semuliki national park offer excellent birdlife all year round. Avid birders will want to visit between November and April because that is the period for migratory birds and it’s also a breeding season. The rainy season is therefore the best time to go bird watching in Semuliki national park because the population of birds to see is very high.

Yes, it does rain heavily during the rainy season but it does not mean it rains every day. Some days are sunny however the trails remain muddy and slippery. With a good bird watching guide, you will be able to more than half of the bird species in Semuliki national park. Bird lovers can also do bird watching in the dry season when the weather is favorable.

Accessing Semuliki national park

Accessing Semuliki national park by road: Semuliki national park is accessed by road transport within a single day. It’s a 300 km journey from Kampala and it does take 4 to 5 hours depending on the nature of the roads and the speed of the driver. From Kampala/Entebbe, tourists go through Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and finally, Bundibugyo where the park is located.