Size of Semuliki national park
Size of Semuliki national park: At just 220 sq. km, Semuliki national park is a small park with a lot to see. Semuliki national park is located within Bindibugyo district in the western part of Uganda. This national park was gazetted in 1932 as a forest reserve and later in 1993 it was upgraded to a national park. Today, Uganda Wildlife Authority manages and controls all the activities that take place in the park.
Present day Semuliki national park is believed to have been more than 220 sq. km but because of the increase in population and human activities, the size of the park has reduced. When the Uganda Wildlife Authority took over the management of the park, park rangers were introduced these have played different roles in protecting the park. They have tried a lot in chasing the people from the park and they have taught people the importance of the park to the country and the community.
The 220 sq. km piece of land is home to over 435 bird species, 53 mammals, and 9 primates. These animals and birds live in the lowland tropical rainforest, savannah, and swampy vegetation. Besides wildlife, Semuliki national park is renowned for its two hot springs located within the park. Semuliki national park hosts female and male hot springs near the Ituri forest.
The attractions in Semuliki national park
Bird species in Semuliki
There are over 435 bird species that have been so far recorded in Semuliki national park. It’s said that 23 of these bird species are endemic to the Albertine Rift region. The high number of bird species within this small park has made it one of the best birding destinations in western Uganda. Bird watching in Semuliki national park is carried out inside the park with armed ranger guides who take you to areas with the best spots.
Bird species in Semuliki do include the African piculet, Dwarf honeyguide, Grauer’s cuckoo-shrike, Blue-billed malimbe, Red-bellied malimbe, Ross’s Turaco, Shoebill stork, Blue-billed malimbe, Bates nightjar, White-crested hornbill, Grant’s bluebill, White-bellied kingfisher, Black-dwarf hornbill, yellow-throated nicator, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Long tailed hawk, Piping hornbill, Fire-crested Alethe, Long-tailed hawk, Great blue Turaco, Capuchin babbler, Forbe’s plover, Long-tailed Hawk, Purple-breasted sunbird, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Gabon woodpecker, Chestnut owlet, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, White-throated Blue Swallow, Piping Hornbill, and swamp palm bulbul among others.
Primates
Semuliki national park is home to only 9 primates but among these include the chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking is the only primate trekking activity that takes place in the park however tourists are able to see other primate species. Inside Semuliki national park you meet chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, mangabeys, and de brazza’s monkeys.
Mammals in Semuliki
Mammals are other attractions in Semuliki national park. There are over 53 mammals said to be living within this park and tourists can see them while carrying out different park activities like nature walks, trekking, or bird watching. There are no game drives carried out within this park so tourists should expect such activities here. Some of the mammals in Semuliki national park include forest buffaloes, forest elephants, warthogs, crocodiles, sitatungas, hippos, Uganda kobs, leopards, and side-stripped jackals among others.
Hot springs in Semuliki
Not every national park in Uganda has hot springs and Semuliki national park is among those few that have. Semuliki national park is blessed with two hot springs which are all inside the park and have attracted so many tourists from different parts of the country. The female hot spring is the famous one because it is dominated by a geyser that sprays water to a height of up to 2 meters. The female hot spring has boiling water which can cook eggs while the male hot spring is just a pool of hot water that does not boil.
In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth national park covers a total area of 220 sq. km and it’s one of the smallest national parks within the country. The national park is located in Bundibudyo district near national parks Rwenzori and Kibale. To access Semuliki national park from Kampala/Entebbe, you go through Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, and then Bundibudyo where the park is located.
Tourists can also fly to Kasese airstrip and then drive to Semuliki national park. To fly you will have to book with any of the airline companies Bar Aviation Uganda, Aerolink Uganda, or Kampala Executive Aviation. These airline companies have flights starting from Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe international airport to Kasese airstrip.