Safaris to Semuliki national park

Safaris to Semuliki national park Uganda’s national park situated in the western part of the country on the borders of Uganda with DR Congo. Semuliki national park is one of the newly gazetted national parks in Uganda managed and controlled by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Semuliki national park was gazetted in 1993 and today it has 435 bird species, 9 primate species, 448 butterfly species, and 53 mammal species so far recorded.

With so many attractions in Semuliki national park, there are so many safaris that can be done in the park. tourists do get involved in different park activities based on what they are interested in seeing and also the time they have on the safari. A good tour operator will always choose the best for their tourists while in the park for they know the interesting activities there.

Safaris that can be done in Semuliki national park

Butterfly watching safaris

Semuliki national park is home to the highest number of butterflies in Uganda, tourists can always have butterfly safaris to the park to see the different species that live there. There are over 448 butterfly species in Semuliki national park and the more time tourists dedicate to searching the more species they come across.

Butterfly watching in Semuliki, tourists will be able to see Chiasmia fulvisparsa, variegated pearl, haritalodes polycymalis, common palm forester, boisduval’s tree nymph, mylantria xanthospila, rhipidarctia crameri, square winged red charaxes, gregori’s brown pansy, simple orange forester, euphaedra hybrida, coffee berry moth, bicyclus mollitia, common pathfinder, sarothroceras banaka, toothed stately bush brown, cymothoe ochreata, dark yellow forest sylph, and spiny bollworm.

Bethune baker’s bush brown, neuroxena ansorgei, fulvous hawk, hill bush brown, African caper, veined swordtail, euphaedra edwardsii, peneleos Acraea, blue diadem butterfly, mung bean moth, small black bush brown, euriphene saphirina, marcipalina conjuncta, orange streak Acraea, chirinda bush brown, tailed bush brown, African leaf butterfly, zebra pyrale, common nephele, and cucumber moth to mention but a few.

Bird watching safaris

Ober 435 bird species have been recorded in Semuliki national park and this has made it one of the best birding destinations in the western part of Uganda. Birders can have a bird watching safari in Semuliki national park where they can spend a day or two searching for different bird species in the park. Bird watching is better done with a bird guide and it’s the armed ranger guides that protect tourists during the activity.

A bird watching safari will give birders an opportunity of seeping bird species such as Great blue Turaco, Shoe bill stork, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Red-thighed Sparrow hawk, Red rumped Tinkerbird, White-throated Blue Swallow, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Eastern-bearded greenbul, Grant’s bluebill, fiery- breasted bush-shrike, Yellow-throated nicator, Northern bearded scrub robin, Hartlaub’s duck, Rufous-sided broadbill, and Orange-tufted sunbird.

Maxwell’s black weaver, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Yellow-throated Nicator, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Crested Malimbe, Purple-breasted sunbird, Blue-billed malimbe, swamp palm bulbul, Long tailed hawk, White-tailed Hornbill, Sassi’s olive greenbul, Capuchin Babbler, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Crested Malimbe, Red-billed Dwarf hornbill, Long-tailed Hawk, Gabon woodpecker, and Piping Hornbill among others.

Cultural safaris

A long time ago, Semuliki national park used to be the home of the Batwa pygmies but in 1993 when the government was gazetting the area as a national park these people were evicted out. The batwa decided to settle around the park boundaries and this is where tourists can find them while on a cultural safari.

The Batwa pygmies of Semuliki national park stay in the surrounding villages for example Ntandi and Boma. Tourists can always visit these villages with a local guide who knows the different areas of the community. On arrival at any of the communities of the Batwa, tourists are always welcomed by traditional dancers who are good at dancing and singing.

At the Batwa homes, you will meet different people with different stories and they will be able to tell what they do for a living. Some of the people in the community are traditional healers, others are farmers, and others are elders who tell stories of what happened a long time ago in the jungle. You will be able to know how the Batwa survived in the forest alongside the jungle while living with wild animals.

Are safaris in Semuliki national park worth the money?

Yes, every safari in Semuliki national park is worth the money, and tourists who have traveled there before can testify. Your safari in Semuliki national park will leave you satisfied because you get to see most of the things you want to see in the park. There are armed ranger guides who make sure that you are safe in the park and they also help you access most of the park areas.

best time to visit the Semuliki park

Discussing the best time to visit the Semuliki park, tourists can have safaris in Semuliki at any time of the year however it was discovered that the dry season from June to September and December to February is the best time to visit the park. This is because the months are characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. During this season, the walking trails are dry and easier to walk through while the vegetation is short with good views of park attractions.

Tourists more so budget travelers can have safaris in Semuliki national park during the rainy season and they will benefit from discounted accommodation facilities as well as discounted tour packages. Tourists should come knowing that this is the period the park is receiving plenty of rainfall and this means that the walking trails are muddy and slippery and the vegetation is tall with unclear views of the attractions of the park.