SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK.

Semuliki National Park in Uganda is a great place to connect with nature in its purity and experience the beauty of the country. The park is known for its diverse wildlife collection, hot springs with interesting history and not forgetting lush forests. Semuliki National Park is a great place for a variety of touristic activities that are supported by its diverse landscapes. There is something for everyone in Semuliki! The park is one of Africa’s richest areas in terms of floral and fauna diversity.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK.

Semuliki was first gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932. This was a move by the British colonial government to help protect the precious natural beauty of the park. The animals within the area were facing terror from the locals who used to hunt them down for food and others would just kill them for trespassing in their gardens.

In 1993, Semuliki got upgraded to a national park by the independent Ugandan government

LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK.

Semuliki National Park lies across the floor of the Semuliki River valley in the remote ends of the western sides of the Rwenzori Mountains. Semuliki National Park is about 180 kilometers away from Kampala – the capital city of Uganda.

Visitors to Semuiki National Park travel along the Kampala – Fort portal road through the areas of Mubende. It takes about 4 to 5 hours to access the park along that route. Travelers can also opt to access the park through the Kampala – Fortportal – Mbarara – Kasese road which is about 465 kilometers and takes about 7 to 8 eight hours to reach the park. Semuliki is adjacent to the Rwenzori Mountains national Park.

UNIQUENESS AND THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK.

Semuliki National Park is popular for its extraordinarily diverse flora and fauna species. The park is different from the rest mainly because of its diverse array of landscapes, and lush intact tropical rainforests that are home to various primates, birds, and other wildlife.

At least 435 species of birds are sighted in the park not forgetting 235 moth species. There’s surely a lot to observe when in Semuliki. The tilted hills even make the views while in the park even more appealing. It is by far one of the most idealistic places for eye-catching photography and videography.

Semuliki boasts a habitat of over 120 mammals encompassing the primates especially the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons not forgetting the antelope species, elephants, and a series of wildcats.

Semuliki National Park hosts two gigantic hot springs that are not only good-looking but also have interesting folklore associated with them which gets travelers excited. The hot springs have a traditional attachment to the local tribes. They played a big role in the ancient traditional society.

ACTIVITIES DONE IN SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK

Semuliki National Park, due to its exceptional natural endowments offers room for a variety of tourist activities. These include;

Birding. The bird-watching activity in Semuliki has got to be one of the most enjoyable in the country. Travelers have hundreds of bird species to marvel at up close in the trees with literally no hassle. Certainly, the birds live in the tree canopies and feed in the nearby wetlands. So all it takes is being quiet, patient, and keeping an open eye. Binoculars are a substantial thing in this activity because you’ll certainly not miss out on viewing birds that are both near and far.

Game drives in the Toro – Semuliki game reserve. These game drives allow the guests to experience more of the endowments of the park. Travelers get the opportunity to observe the diverse creatures in the park especially the wildcats. Hippos are also especially along the Semuliki river banks. The game drive are done in 4WD vehicles. Therefore, travelers reach all corners of the reserve and have a glance at the wildlife therein.

Cultural and Community Encounters. Guests to Semuliki meet and interact with some of the diverse ethnic groups in Uganda. The groups have different ways of life that are interesting to learn about and experience. The fact that they are so welcoming is another reason for one to check them out. Visits are launched to the Batwa, Bakonjo, and Batooro homesteads.

Nature walks. They help the traveler to experience the natural feel of the forest and appreciate the park’s endowments more. In addition, the cool natural breeze one experiences on the nature walks is therapeutic and helps one reflect on the wonders of life.

Visiting the Sempaya hot springs. The hot springs have both male and female versions according to the theories of the locals. A look at these hot springs will leave you mesmerized. The springs have great heat that boils an egg within the shortest time possible!

BEST TIME TO VISIT SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK.

The dry seasons of the year are certainly the best moments to undertake visits to Semuliki National Park. Dry seasons have low rainfall. Therefore this allows the travelers to explore more of the park’s endowments with weather no interruptions. Important to realize that dry seasons of the year refer to the times of June to September and early December to late February. In summary, the dry seasons encompass the peak seasons and they are the best times for travel.

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